All-area hockey teams
Four local hockey teams stood out all season and it is reflected in the Journal Sentinel’s all-area squad.
State runner-up Waukesha (26-4), state-qualifier Arrowhead (24-3-1), University School (20-7) and Homestead (18-7) were a combined 88-21-1 this year.
So it is no surprise the four schools have 11 of the 12 players on the all-area team. And four of the athletes also were on the team last season.
The coach of the year is from Waukesha, as well. Raja Aylsworth led the Wings to their first appearance in the state championship game.
Waukesha made its tournament debut last season and advanced to the semifinals. This year, the team lost to Hudson, 2-1, in the final to become the only area team to make it that far in the last seven seasons.
The Wings got there riding a nine-game winning streak that included two wins over Arrowhead. The first was the final game of the regular season which allowed them to share the Classic 8 Conference championship with the Warhawks, and they also won the rematch in the state quarterfinals.
FIRST TEAM
Forwards
Nick Epperson, sr., University School: The first-team all-state selection had a team-high 65 points and 35 goals, including five of them in three playoff games. “He’s quite possibly the most explosive player I have ever coached,” Wildcats coach Jason Woods said. “His speed and shot are something more hockey players only dream about.”
Ian Malcolmson, sr., Waukesha: The coaches’ association’s state player of the year ended with 48 goals and 39 assists for 87 points in 27 games. His 79 regular-season points led the state. “He contributed in every facet of our game plan,” Aylsworth said. “He was a very unselfish player for as many goals as he scored.”
Eric Sinson, jr., Brookfield: Sinson, an all-state honorable mention pick, managed to score 35 goals to go with 30 assists for 65 points in 27 games. “Eric constantly strove to be better in all aspects of his game, and it pushed his teammates to do the same,” Stars’ coach Greg Copeland said.
Defensemen
Elijah Tormala, sr., Arrowhead: The all-state first team selection was second on the team with 32 assists and also scored 15 times. “He’s a great leader and a highly skilled player,” Arrowhead coach Carl Valimont said. “He probably has a nice future in furthering his career.”
Dylan Cox, sr., Arrowhead: Like Tomala, Cox also made first-team all-state after totaling 17 goals and 19 assists for 36 points in 28 games. “I think between him and Tormala, they are probably the best pair in the state,” Valimont said. “They’re worthy of all the accolades they got.”
Goalie
Peter Genatempo, jr., Arrowhead: He finished with a 15-2 record, six shutouts, a 1.20 goals-against average and a .938 save percentage to receive all-state honorable mention. “He really played well,” Valimont said. “He’s solid and great on his angles. He had a great year.”
SECOND TEAM
Forwards
Logan Geisness, sr., University School: The all-state honorable mention pick led the state with 41 assists in 27 contests and also finished with 18 goals.
Jaxon Carr, jr., Arrowhead: He led his team with 59 points and 28 goals in helping the Warhawks made the state tournament for the first time since 2009. He also made all-state honorable mention.
Jackson Katz, jr., Homestead: Another all-state honorable mention player, Katz’s 37 goals ranks fourth highest in a Highlander season. He also had a team-high 49 points in 25 contests.
Defensemen
Casey Roepke, fr., University School: He is the only freshman to make all-state. Roepke, who received honorable mention, recorded 19 points, including 14 assists, in 26 games. “He’s equally skilled at playing all three zones of the rink,” Woods said.
Nathan Schimpf, sr., Homestead: Schimpf had 20 points in 25 games and won numerous awards at the school, including team most valuable player, and has a full scholarship to study at Northwestern. “He is an amazing young man,” Highlanders’ coach Tony Navarre said.
Goalie
Garrett Larsen, soph., Waukesha: The only sophomore to make all-area, Larsen compiled a 26-4 record with a .919 save percentage and a 1.77 goals-against average. Said Aylsworth: “He made some of the most acrobatic saves that I’ve ever seen by a high school goaltender this year.”
Editor's Note
Our area hockey player of the year, along with athletes of the year from all WIAA sports, will be announced as part of our inaugural high school sports awards show this spring. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel High School Sports Awards will be held at 8 p.m. May 17 at the Pabst Theater. The show will feature various awards, entertainment and guest speaker Jordy Nelson of the Green Bay Packers. Tickets are $35 and can be purchased at pabsttheater.org/show/sportsawards2017. For more information about the show, go to sportsawards.jsonline.com.