Two former three-team conference will combine to form a more competitive six-team conference this winter as the MVC and Coulee combine to create the Western Wisconsin Hockey League.
Onalaska/La Crosse, Holmen/Aquinas/Luther/G-E-T/C-FC, Tomah/Sparta, West Salem/Bangor, Black River Falls and Viroqua will now compete under one umbrella and against five teams instead of two to win a conference championship.
All three MVC teams finished with a 2-2 record in head-to-head matchups last season, and Black River Falls went 3-1 to win the Coulee.
“By bringing together programs from the Coulee and MVC Conferences, we’re creating exciting new matchups and ensuring a bright future for high school hockey in western Wisconsin,” MVC commissioner Ben Leibl said.
Black River Falls senior Calvin Lakowske scored 56 goals and had 30 assists last season and will be the leader as the Tigers try to win the first WWHC title.
Onalaska/La Crosse senior Jackson Egan (14 goals-14 assists-28 points), Onalaska/La Crosse junior Grayson Andel (12-14-26), Tomah/Sparta senior Blake Haun (10-16-26), Holmen/Aquinas junior Brody Slusser (11-15-26), West Salem/Bangor senior Terryn Bolland (9-13-22) and Holmen/Aquinas senior Jack Barth (14-6-20) figure to be other top offensive players in the new conference.
The first night of conference games is scheduled for Dec. 9 and will have Tomah/Sparta vs. Onalaska/La Crosse at the OmniCenter, the Avalanche at Black River Falls and Viroqua vs. West Salem/Bangor at The Panther Den.
