The memory of 2015 still stings.
Middleton’s hockey team was the No. 1 seed in its sectional last winter. But in the sectional finals, the Cardinals were upended by second-seeded Madison Memorial and fell short of a trip to state.
Middleton is determined not to let that happen again in 2016.
The Cardinals received the No. 1 seed in their sectional one again. Middleton earned a first round bye, then hosts the winner of eighth-seeded Monona Grove or ninth-seeded Oregon on Feb. 19 at Capitol Ice Arena at 8 p.m.
The sectional semifinals are Feb. 23 and the sectional finals are Feb. 27 at 7 p.m. at Sun Prairie Ice Arena.
While Middleton was the No. 1 seed in the sectional, its path to state won’t be easy. Madison Edgewood is seeded second, followed by Waunakee, Verona, Sun Prairie, Madison Memorial, Madison West, Monona Grove, Oregon, DeForest, McFarland and Madison La Follette/East.