BY JULIE SCHOOLEY

FOR CITY TIMES

WISCONSIN RAPIDS — On Saturday, Jan. 21, the Wisconsin Rapids RiverKings clinched their spot in the postseason, after beating the Minnesota Squatch, and they haven’t looked back.

The RiverKings still have the remainder of the month of February to get through until the playoffs begin and they plan to take advantage of the fact that all their remaining games are on home ice.

“Let’s take it game by game,” said Coach Paul Pechmann, on getting the team ready for the postseason. “We have to win. We are already in playoff mentality. That’s what we are working for.”

As of Feb. 1 the RiverKings are in fourth place in the USPHL Premier Midwest West Division, with a 20-16-1 record.

Leading the RiverKings this season is Will Tricarico, who has scored 30 goals and has 19 assists. Tobias Falkeid has added 17 goals and 16 assists to help the team.

Wisconsin Rapids has upcoming homes games with the Hudson Havoc on Saturday, Feb. 11, the Minnesota Mullets on Friday, Feb. 17 and Saturday, Feb. 18, and the Steele County Blades on Friday, Feb. 24 and Saturday, Feb. 25. All games will be held at the South Wood County Recreation Center, and all games begin at 7 p.m.

Round one of the playoffs is scheduled for the first week of March.