Greater Milwaukee area programs in the field of Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association statewide boys and girls hockey teams are beginning to emerge as state title contenders as the postseason looms in mid-February.

The road to state begins with the start of regional play Feb. 18, sectionals beginning Feb. 25 and concluding with the WIAA state boys and girls hockey tournaments March 6-8 at Bob Suter’s LEGACY20 Arena in Middleton.

Here are five boys and girls programs gearing up for WIAA state runs, along with three sleeper teams to keep an eye on over the latter half of the season.

Arrowhead Warhawks boys hockey

The Arrowhead boys have not reached the WIAA state tournament since 2017, but the Warhawks look like a program that can contend with just about any team they meet on the ice this season. A 13-3 record entering the week speaks to their dominance, but even their losses have come close to some of the best programs in the state. Losses of 8-6 to Brookfield, 4-3 to Fond du Lac Springs and 7-4 to Muskego co-op all were late-breaking wins for the opponent in the third period. Those losses all came on the road, which Arrowhead has improved on over the course of the season. The Warhawks have won five straight on the road as part of an eight-game winning streak dating to Dec. 26. Arrowhead has scored with some of the best teams in the state led by Jack McKenna’s 55 points, but the defense led in goal by Ethan Burkard has also excelled. Seven opponents have been held to one goal or less, including two shutouts. Arrowhead will need that defense to travel should it make a run in the WIAA postseason.

Brookfield Stars boys hockey

The Brookfield-based co-op consisting of Brookfield Central, Brookfield East, Wauwatosa East, Wauwatosa West, Menomonee Falls and Sussex Hamilton students reached the WIAA state title game last year, losing 3-1 to Notre Dame in the title game. The 2024-25 team has come back on a mission this year, surging to a 14-2 record through action Wednesday night. It was an undefeated regular season up until a home and away series with Lake Forest Academy (Ill.) on Sunday and Monday, but the Stars have largely dominated in-state competition. Most notable of their 14 wins was a 7-2 rematch of last year’s state title game over Notre Dame, in which Brookfield scored seven unanswered goals to earn the victory. Other quality wins include a 4-2 decision over Madison Edgewood on Jan. 4 and victories over the top three teams trailing them in the Classic 8 Conference (9-3 over West Bend, 7-1 over KMMO and 8-6 over Arrowhead). The Stars are bursting with star potential, featuring two of the state leaders in points in Connor Hillig (55) and Cooper Simon (53) supplemented by the contributions of Adam Sexton (34), Parker Dysart (33) and Jack Templeton (28). This team is loaded with talent and experience, an excellent combo to have for any team looking to make a run in late February or early March.

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Lakeshore Lightning girls hockey

Winning and losing have come in spurts for the Lightning this season, but there have been far more good stretches than bad for a team entering the week 12-5-1 on the season. A 3-2 Nov. 29 win over current Badger Conference leader Beaver Dam and knocking off Arrowhead in a 3-1 final Jan. 7 are feathers in the cap of the Lightning, but a couple other matchups with top teams in the state have not gone their way. A Jan. 28 meeting with the Fond du Lac Warbirds (14-4) will be a good test for Lakeshore as it attempts to prove it is in the conversation as a title contender. The Lightning can get scoring from a variety of avenues with seven players accumulating double-digit points, but will rarely find themselves in high-scoring affairs. Elizabeth Bowers (91.2 save percentage) has been a stalwart in goal, shutting out five opponents this season.

Muskego co-op Ice Force boys hockey

Muskego co-op’s three-headed attack of Ben Brown (52 points), Andrew Kunz (43) and Rogan Dewane (30) has led the Ice Force to a 12-5 record as the team chases a program-first state appearance. The Ice Force thrive in high scoring games, going 10-1 this season when scoring six goals or more. On the season, Muskego has hovered around the bottom half of the top 10 in goal-scoring for the state. The Warriors are set to face West Bend on Saturday in a matchup of teams chasing Brookfield for the Classic 8 Conference title. Matchups with Brookfield on Feb. 1 and McFarland on Feb. 7 should also provide a barometer for where this team is at as the postseason looms.

University School of Milwaukee boys hockey

Aside from a 10-1 Jan. 18 loss to SPASH, one of the leading statewide contenders for a WIAA state title, USM has looked the part of another potential contender with an 11-4 record. Another of those four losses came 5-2 to SPASH earlier this year, putting a dent in an otherwise stellar performance this season. The Wildcats are one of just three teams to knock off Neenah/Hortonville/Menasha this year, beating the Rockets 4-3 on Jan. 9. USM also beat another conference leader out of the Big 8 in Middleton on Jan. 17, winning 5-4. This is a young and emerging program, with five of its top six scoring leaders being juniors or younger. That list includes sophomore Everett Waltersdorf (27 points), junior Tyler Cook (25), senior Mateo Nunag (21), junior Henry Bechthold (18), junior Liam Fetherston (13) and junior Davie Moalusi (11).

Sleeper programs to watch

Arrowhead girls hockey, KMMO boys hockey, West Bend boys hockey