After examining the eight Class A sections, here's a preview of the eight Class AA sections.
In ?Section 1, the Farmington Tigers, last year's state Class AA consolation champions are the number one seed. The Tigers have won five of their last six games, their only loss was to the second seeded Lakeville South Cougars. Lakeville South has gone 14-5 since they got off to a 2-4 start. Look out for the third seeded Rochester Mayo Spartans. They have lost only one game to a Minnesota team since Red wing beat them 6-2 on December 19 and it was the Owatonna Huskies. Can the Spartans end an 11 year drought without a Rochester based team heading to St. Paul? It should be interesting.
Over in Section 2, the top two teams are from the Lake Conference, the top seeded Eden Prairie Eagles and the second seeded Minnetonka Skippers. The two teams played each other three times this season with Minnetonka winning two of three games. Eden Prairie ended the season with three straight losses and they need to get back on course in order to set up a fourth battle with the Skippers. Looking to spoil the Lake's dominance are the third seeded Shakopee Sabers and the fourth seeded Holy Family/Waconia Wildfire.
To Section 3, where the top seeded Eagan Wildcats look to return to the X for their first trip since 2013. They are one of two teams with a winning record in the section, the other is the third seeded Park of Cottage Grove Wolfpack. The Wildcats district rival the Apple Valley Eagles is the second seed.
In Section 4, the top seeded Hill-Murray Pioneers have won 10 of their last 11 games including consecutive shutouts of Elk River/Zimmerman and Benilde-St. Margaret's. In order for the green clad Pioneer fans to return to the X's green seats, they will have to get past the second seeded Mounds View Mustangs, who have won nine of their last 10 games, including five shut outs. Also in the hunt is the third seeded White Bear Lake Bears.
Going to Section 5, it looks like the best field of any section in the state. It also shows that the Northwest Suburban Conference is one of Minnesota's most competitive girls hockey conference. First of all, there's the top seeded Centennial Cougars who lost two of their three games to the Blake Bears. Look out Centennial, the second seeded Maple Grove Crimson has not lost a game since they were beaten in overtime by Elk River/Zimmerman on December 12. They also have five ties and if the two teams meet in the section final, bring a thermos of coffee, it could last well into the night. But wait, there's more. There's the third seed Blaine Bengals, who got off to a 7-0-1 start, the fourth seeded Rogers Royals and the fifth seeded Champlin Park/Coon Rapids Bluebirds. Who will come out of this section? There's plenty of great action coming to the Roseville Skating Center.
The good news is the two top seeds in Section 6 are the defending Class AA champion Edina Hornets and the defending Class A champion Blake Bears. The bad news is only one team will head to St. Paul. There could be a rematch of the January 20 game where the Hornets beat the Bears 5-2. Before you stand in line outside the Parade Ice Garden for the section final on February 16, the two teams will have to get past the third seeded Wayzata Trojans and the fourth seeded Cretin-Derham Hall Raiders. Should a Blake-Edina final come to fruition, pickup takeout at any of the eateries along Hennepin and Lyndale Aves. and get to the arena early. The place should be packed and difficult to find a parking spot.
In Section 7, another Northwest Suburban Conference team that has had a stellar season is the top seeded Andover Huskies. Two of their five losses has been to the Centennial Cougars. They will have to get past the second seeded Forest Lake Rangers, who they beat 4-2 on December 14. Another section team the Huskies beat is third seeded Grand Rapids/Greenway.
The pairings have not been posted for Section 8 but it could be the first of several trips to the Twin Cities for Roseau fans since the girls hockey team could get the number one seed and the defending state Class AA champion girls basketball team could head back to Target Center in March. But first, the Rams will have to contend with Brainerd/Little Falls, North Wright County and St. Cloud. Could there be excitement in the Granite City for Icebreaker fans? It's a tough section to forecast.
That's the section pairings as the Road to St. Paul gets underway this week.
No comments:
Post a Comment