Marathon Cup hockey tournament set to begin Thursday as Wausau West attempts to continue almost unbelievable win streak.

The 2025 edition of the Marathon Cup hockey tournament is ready to face off starting on Thursday with the semifinals at the Greenheck-Turner Community Center at D.C. Everest. The first semifinal will feature defending tournament champion Wausau West vs. East-Merrill United. Hear that game live on 98.9 WXCO, online at wxco.fm, mobile devices by searching WXCO and on the Civic Media app starting with the pregame at 5:06 pm and the face off set for 5:30. After that it’s the second semifinal with D.C. Everest meeting Mosinee.

For East-Merrill United, D.C. Everest and Mosinee the question is whether one of them can stop one of the most amazing win streaks in Wisconsin high school sports. Wausau West has won the Marathon Cup tournament every year since 2006, an amazing 18 consecutive titles. 37 straight wins in Marathon Cup tournament play. Over those years the Warriors have defeated outstanding competition with teams from Mosinee and D.C. Everest making it to the state tournament during the years of the West dominance of the Marathon Cup.

The task for Wausau West’s opponents won’t be easy this year as the Warriors are off to a 5-0 start including wins over traditional state powers Notre Dame Academy, Eau Claire Memorial and University School of Milwaukee. Offensively West has been led by Cooper DePuydt and Owen Pergolski with 7 goals each. Goaltender Julian Scalcucci has been stellar with a 4-0 record, 1.50 goals against average and .957 save percentage. Scalcucci made 54 saves on 55 shots last Saturday in the Warriors’ latest win, 2-1 at University School of Milwaukee.

East-Merrill United has a 1-4 mark so far this season but have shown the ability to put the puck in the net early. The Bluejacks have scored at least four goals in three games led by Jackson Pierce with 7 goals so far this season. EMU will need to find a way to slow down their opponents however, as they have allowed at least 6 goals in each of their first five games.

The second semifinal on Thursday looks to be an intriguing match-up with D.C. Everest hosting Mosinee. Everest has a number of experienced players back this season but are off to a 2-3 start (1-1 in the WVC), including a 3-2 OT loss at Marshfield on Tuesday that kept the Evergreens from moving into first place in the WVC. Everest features one of the top goalies in the state in senior Griffen Bunnell. Bunnell is 2-2 this season but has some outstanding numbers in stopping the puck with a 2.19 GAA and a .922 save percentage.

Mosinee is off to a 2-1 start overall and 1-1 in the Great Northern Conference following a 7-5 comeback win over Madison Memorial on Saturday. Mosinee scored four unanswered goals in the 3rd period of that game to turn a 5-3 deficit into a win. Tyler Baars had a hat trick in that game and has 4 goals on the season. Mosinee’s only blemish so far is a 3-2 loss at Northland Pines last Thursday where the Eagles scored in the final moments to win despite being outshot 25-17 in the game.

In addition to the hockey, the Marathon Cup also features the “Hockey Against Hunger” campaign. Each school and team competes to see who can collect the most food and hygiene items for the Salvation Army. Fans are encouraged to bring items to the Marathon Cup games on Thursday and Saturday to help in the fight against hunger.