2019 STATE CLASS A GIRLS HOCKEY QUARTERFINAL SCHEDULE
(WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 20 AT XCEL ENERGYCENTER, ST. PAUL)
11:00: Fergus Falls vs. Breck (Seed 2)
1:00: Mankato East/Loyola vs. Mound-Westonka/Watertown-Mayer/Southwest Christian) Seed 3
6:00 St. Paul United vs. Warroad (Seed 1)
8:00: Rochester Lourdes (Seed 5) vs. Proctor-Hermantown (Seed 4)
EXAMINING THE FIELD
The 25th edition of the Minnesota State High School Hockey Tournament gets underway Wednesday as the Fergus Falls Otters make their first trip to St. Paul since 2009 after ending the Alexandria Cardinals six year title reign. They will battle the second seeded and defending state Class A champion Breck Mustangs who had no problem advanced to seventh state tournament with a 7-0 win over the Minneapolis Novas. Allyson Qualley clinch the Mustangs state berth with a pure hat trick in the first period. Breck has played a brutal schedule with seven of its eight losses coming against Class AA schools. Their only loss to a Class A team was to the Warroad Warriors. Could there be a possible rematch with Warroad or will maroon and gold clad Otter fans witness an upset?
Concluding the afternoon session is the Mankato East/Loyola Cougars facing the third seeded Mound Westonka/Watertown-Mayer/Southwest Christian Whitehawks. The Cougars are making their second straight trip to the X and are on a five game winning streak. As for the Whitehawks, they are unbeaten in 27 games, five of them ending in ties. Veteran head coach Bob Kuehl is a co-coach along with Clare Goldsmith. Kuehl's daughter Taylor was an outstanding player who went on to play at Ohio State. Will she be back to cheer on the Whitehawks who look to extend their unbeaten streak to 28 and a possible showdown with Breck?
Now to the evening session as surprising St. Paul United returns for their fourth consecutive state tournament and fifth overall as they have a difficult task ahead in the top seeded and unbeaten Warroad Warriors. SPU has the only losing record in the Class A field but they pulled the upset in the Section 4 final with a 2-1 win over the South St. Paul Packers. Last season, the Warriors were defeated by the Breck Mustangs in last year's Class A final. This season they have a great shot at winning their fourth state title. That could be good news for fans in "Hockeytown USA" if the black and gold brings home the gold medals back to the Lake of the Woods.
Wrapping up the Class A quarterfinals is the fifth seeded Rochester Lourdes Eagles and the fourth seeded Proctor-Hermantown Mirage. What a season it has been for the Lourdes athletic program. The football team, led by Chad Jungels won the state Class AAA title and many of the fans who packed US Bank Stadium will probably head up Highway 52 to see the first team from Rochester to play at the X. It's no Mirage for head coach Glen Gilderman as he leads Proctor/Hermantown to their fourth trip to state but has never brought home the title trophy up I-35. It should be an outstanding match up to close out the Class A quarterfinals.
Next: The Class AA preview
No comments:
Post a Comment