The WIAA began sponsoring a tournament program in boys hockey in 1971. Superior won the first championship, defeating Madison West, 7-3, in the championship game.

The first State Tournament was held at the Dane County Coliseum in Madison. The tournament has been conducted in Madison every year except in 1974 and 1975 when it was held in Green Bay. The Hartmeyer facility in Madison has been the site of some of the State Tournaments, but the Coliseum has been used exclusively since 1980.

Superior leads in most State championships won with 12. Madison Memorial has won eight, and Madison East has won four titles.

Seventeen different schools have won State championships. Superior is the only program to win three consecutive State titles (1994-96). Superior and Madison Memorial are the only programs to win back-to-back titles. Superior has done it twice including its string of three championships (1981-82) and Madison Memorial has accomplished this feat twice (1976-77, 1979-80).

Superior leads in State Tournament appearances with 35. Madison Memorial is next with 29. Northland Pines is third on the list of appearances with 18, and Stevens Point has been to State 17 times. Madison East has made 14 appearances; Eau Claire Memorial, Fond du Lac and Wausau West have made 13, and Madison West has made 12.

Prior to official WIAA involvement in hockey, the Madison schools conducted an invitational from 1964 to 1970 (except for 1966). Eagle River (now Northland Pines) won the first championship, Madison East won the next three, and Superior won the last two.