The Middleton boys’ hockey season began with tryouts on Nov. 10, 11, and 12, 2025. With the tryouts led by head coach and Middleton High School teacher Jochen Hylbert, the top 20 players were chosen, forming Middleton’s 2025-26 varsity hockey team. The first game took place on Nov. 25, 2025, only a little over a week after tryouts. With a match-up against the Stevens Point Area High School Panthers, a dominant Division One team, the Cardinals were defeated. However, this defeat only ignited a spark of motivation as Middleton went on to win the next game on Dec. 4, 2025 against the Verona Area High School Wildcats.
By Dec. 28, 2025, the tight-knit team was feeling strong as they headed to the Neenah Tournament, held at the Community First Champion Center in Appleton, Wisconsin. In three tight games, the Cardinals lost against some of the state’s best teams, but they came home ready to train harder than ever. The Wausau Tournament took place soon after, from Jan. 9 to Jan. 10. Middleton nearly beat the Eau Claire Memorial High School Old Abes in their second game of the tournament after going into overtime, but Eau Claire managed to score an additional goal to win the game, concluding the second tournament for this season.
By the end of the season, the Middleton varsity hockey team was feeling proud with wins in school-to-school matches against teams such as Madison West, Madison Memorial, Oregon, Janesville, and more. The Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association sectional playoffs began on Feb. 17, with the Cardinals crushing the Reedsburg Area High School Beavers in round one. Just two days later, the team played their last match as Middleton was defeated by the Sun Prairie Cardinals, the second-best team in the section. Still, the varsity team finished third overall in the Big Eight after a season of ups and downs.
The biggest win for the team, however, was how close they became throughout the season.
One of MHS’s hockey team members remarked, “The season was great because we became like a family. The coaches, managers, and parents were a big support on and off the ice.”
Despite becoming so close, three seniors have to say goodbye to the team this year. Senior Night, held on Feb. 10, celebrated players Matt Sanger, Patrick Passini, and Tommy Kydd. Graduating this year, the three players leave with plans for college. But for now, the Middleton varsity hockey team is celebrating an amazing season.
