By Jacob Heid

Sports Writer

STEVENS POINT – The Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association (WIAA) recently released the playoff brackets for the boys’ hockey tournament. 

The area teams of Stevens Point Area Senior High (SPASH) and the Pacelli hockey co-op now know when and where they will be playing to open the playoffs. 

The Panthers have two more games to play before they reach the playoffs, but they will get a game off before playing. 

SPASH, sitting at 19-3 (9-0) as of Feb. 7, has captured the No. 2 seed in section one. 

The Panthers will face the winner of No. 7 Eau Claire North or No. 10 D.C. Everest on Thursday, Feb. 16, or Friday, Feb. 17, at KB Willett Arena. The puck drop is set for 7 p.m. 

The Cardinals, on the other hand, sit in the Division two bracket in section two. 

Pacelli has three games to go before the playoffs, finishing with a back-to-back on Thursday, Feb. 9, and Friday, Feb.10. 

The Cardinals sit at 11-10 overall and got the No. 8 seed to start tournament play. 

They travel to the Northwoods, where they face top-seeded Lakeland on Thursday, Feb. 16, at 7 p.m.