After examining the eight Class A girls hockey sections, it's time to preview the eight Class AA sections.
One thing that's certain about Section 1 is there will be no All Lakeville Final due to section realignment. The Minnesota State High School League moved Lakeville North into Section 3and it could mean that the top seeded Lakeville South could continue their even number year pattern of heading to St. Paul. The Cougars will have to get past the second seeded Farmington Tigers and the third seeded Dodge County Wildcats.
For the first three years of the 2010s, the Minnetonka Skippers dominated Class AA hockey, winning three consecutive state titles. Now under first year head coach Tracy Cassano, the Skippers are the top seed in Section 2. It could be a fourth battle this season with the second seeded Eden Prairie Eagles if they meet in the section final or will the third seeded Holy Family Catholic Fire stay hot after concluding the regular season with two consecutive shutouts.
If there's any guarantee in Section 3, there will be a team from Apple Valley playing for a trip down I-35E to St. Paul. The top two seeds are the Apple Valley Eagles and the Eastview Lightning. The Lightning swept the season series with the Eagles, winning both games by one goal. Don't count out the third seeded Burnsville Blaze or the fourth seeded Eagan Wildcats.
Last year, the White Bear Lake Bears ended the Hill-Murray Pioneers Section 4 title reign of six consecutive years. But there's good news for Bill Schafhauser's bunch, the Pioneers have the number one seed. There's a strong possibility of a season opening rematch with the second seeded Stillwater Ponies, who they beat 6-1 on November 9. The third seeded Roseville Raiders head into section play with four wins in their last five games.
Five of the six teams in Section 5 have winning records as the top seeded Maple Grove Crimson and the second seeded Blaine Bengals have first round byes. Third seeded Champlin Park-Coon Rapids in also in the hunt and the opening round game between the fifth seeded Centennial Cougars and the fourth seeded Rogers Royals indicates that there's no clear cut favorite to head to the X.
To Section 6, where the top seeded Edina Hornets begin their quest to vie for their unprecedented fourth straight Class AA championship. It won't be easy for Edina with the second seeded Blake Bears, the third seeded Wayzata Trojans and the fourth seeded Benilde-St. Margaret's Red Knights. Keep your eye on this section. Could Edina's title reign come to an end?
Heading north to Section 7, the top seeded and top ranked team in Class AA the Andover Huskies won their first 17 games, including the season opener against Edina. Their only losses have been to Breck and Hill-Murray. Looking to keep the Huskies from making their third straight trip to St. Paul are the second seeded Forest Lake Rangers and the third seeded North Wright County River Hawks.
Wrapping up this section preview is Section 8, where no pairings have been posted at blogging time but the Roseau Rams could be the top seed, entering section play with an eight game winning streak. Last year's surprise team, Brainerd/Little Falls, who lost to Edina in double overtime in the Class AA finals is looking for its third straight section title and moving into the section after years of dominating Section 6A is the Alexandria Cardinals. It should be a very interesting section.
There's plenty of outstanding girls hockey coming up as the Road to St. Paul begins.
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