2022 MINNESOTA STATE HIGH SCHOOL BOYS HOCKEY TOURNAMENT CLASS A QUARTERFINAL SCHEDULE
(Games played Wednesday, March 9 at Xcel Energy Center, St. Paul)
11:00: Monticello vs. Warroad (Seed 2)
1:00: Mankato East/Loyola vs. Mahtomedi (Seed 3)
6:00: New Prague vs. Hermantown (Seed 1)
8:00: Alexandria (Seed 5) vs. Minneapolis (Seed 4)
Examining the field: If there's one thing certain about this year's edition of the state boys hockey tournament, there will be two new champions since Gentry Academy and Eden Prairie did not qualify. Leading off the festivities is the Monticello Moose, in their fourth trip down I-94 to the X. The Moose were the fourth seed in Section 5 and took home the title trophy with three one goal wins, including a semifinal victory over the top seeded Little Falls Flyers. Things will get tough for Monticello as they face the Warroad Warriors, playing in their 23rd state tournament. The Warriors enter the tournament with a nine game unbeaten streak. They faced the Hermantown Hawks on January 15 and lost 4-3. Two weeks after the girls team won the Class A championship, can the boys bring another trophy to "Hockeytown USA"? They have a good chance.
Closing the afternoon session is the Mankato East/Loyola Cougars, continuing an even numbered year pattern of playing in St. Paul. It's their fourth trip overall and includes 2018 and 2020. The Cougars have one five straight games, including a 6-0 shutout of the top seeded New Ulm Eagles. They will face a very tough Mahtomedi Zephyrs who have scored 25 consecutive goals in four games. The key to the Zephyrs run is goalie Ben Dardis, who broke the career goalie shutout record in February with his 18th shutout. Hopefully, Gopher head coach Bob Motzko will be in attendance because he could use him next season to help lead Minnesota to the Frozen Four. Can Mahtomedi's high powered offense and Dardis' defense lead Mahtomedi to their quest for their first Class A title since 2020.
Despite the racism controversy that has plagued New Prague, the Trojans will open the evening session against the top seeded Hermantown Hawks. It's the third trip to St. Paul for the Trojans and first since 2015 as they recovered from a seven game losing streak in the regular season. New Prague, the fourth seed in Section 1, beat the top seeded Northfield Raiders in overtime and the Albert Lea Tigers in the title game. Their opponent, the Hermantown Hawks, makes their 18th trip down I-35 and haven't lost a game since they were defeated by the Maple Grove Crimson 6-3 on January 29. Is another state title in the works for the Twin Ports powerhouse?
The last game of the day pits the fifth seeded Alexandria Cardinals against the fourth seeded team from Minneapolis. The Cardinals make their sixth trip down I-94 to St. Paul and are on a 12 game unbeaten streak. Minneapolis, the team with no nickname, represents the state's largest city for the first time by a public school since 1994. The last Minneapolis school to qualify? The Edison Tommies. Joe Dzeidzic, an Edison alum, leads Minneapolis after defeating the Delano Tigers in the Section 2 final. Park yourself in front of the TV or streaming device for this game, it should be a great game to end the Class A quarterfinals.
Next up, the Class AA preview.
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