While the State High School Girls Hockey Tournament gets underway this week in downtown St. Paul, section play begins in boys hockey. Here's a preview of the eight Class A sections.
In Section 1, it's been a big year so far for hockey in the Key City. First, the Mankato East/Loyola girls hockey team is in the state tournament for the second consecutive year and now their male Cougar counterparts have the number one seed. It should be an interesting race with the second seeded Minnesota River Bulldogs, the third seeded Albert Lea Tigers and the fourth seeded Rochester Lourdes Eagles. The Eagles are looking for their first trip to St. Paul since 2013 but can they beat the top seeded Cougars?
The Section 2 tournament will take place this year at The Rec Center in St. Louis Park instead of Parade Ice Garden in Minneapolis and fans in the St. Louis Park area will get to see the top seeded and defending Class A champion Orono Spartans embarked on their return trip to the X. The Spartans have won five of their last six games. Orono's Wright County Conference rival, the Delano Tigers is the second seed and on a seven game unbeaten streak. The two teams split their season series. The third seeded Mound-Westonka/Watertown-Mayer Whitehawks and the fourth seeded Breck Mustangs are also in the hunt.
Heading south to Section 3 where the top seeded Marshall Tigers look to return to the X for the first time since 2013. The Tigers have not lost a game since the Minnesota River Bulldogs beat them 4-1 on January 5. Last season's section champions, Litchfield/Dassel-Cokato is the second and the third seed is the New Ulm Eagles. Doo't count out the fourth seeded Luverne Cardinals who have gone 6-5 after losing five straight games.
Section 4 has the look of a very tough section led by the top seeded Totino-Grace Eagles. Looking to keep the Eagle fan buses from heading down I-694 are the second seeded Mahtomedi Zephyrs, the third seeded Northfield Raiders and the St. Paul Johnson Governors, who are looking for their first state tournament berth since 1995. Also in the mix are the fifth seeded St. Paul Academy Spartans and the sixth seeded South St. Paul Packers. Who will emerge with the championship trophy in Roseville on March 1? No clear cut favorite.
Section 5 has the top seeded Monticello Moose who are in the hunt for their third straight trip down I-94 to the X. Hoping to end Monticello's section reign is the second seeded North Branch Vikings and the third seeded Princeton Tigers, who ended the regular season with a seven game losing streak. Can the Tiger offense turn on the red light and vie for their first trip to state since 2016?
Great news for hockey fans in The Granite City. The St. Cloud Cathedral Crusaders are the number one seed and the favorites to earn their ninth trip to St. Paul. The Crusaders got off to a great start, going 12-0 before losing 2-1 to the Hermantown Hawks on January 4. Also in contention is the second seeded Sartell-St. Stephen Sabers, the third seeded Alexandria Cardinals and the fourth seeded Little Falls Flyers.
To quote a phrase from the classic sitcom Seinfeld, the Hermantown Hawks are "masters of their domain." The domain is Section 7, where they are the top seed and looking for their 10th consecutive trip down I-35 to St. Paul. The Hawks have been unbeaten since December 29 when they lost to the Rosemount Irish 3-2 in a holdiay tournament in Duluth. Looking to end Hermantown's section reign is the second seeded Duluth Denfeld Hunters and third seeded Greenway/Nashwauk-Keewatin.
Closing the Class a section preview is Section 8, which could be a five team race that starts with the top seeded East Grand Forks Green Wave. There's also the second seeded Thief River Falls Prowlers, the third seeded Warroad Warriors, the fourth seeded Crookston Pirates and the fifth seeded Detroit Lakes Lakers. Who will come south to St. Paul?
Next up, the eight Class AA sections.
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