The regular season has concluded in Minnesota girls high school hockey and the next step begins on The Road to the X and the state tournament. Here's a preview of the eight Class A sections.
Starting with Section 1, the Dodge County Wildcats are the top seed as they look for thir first trip down Highway 52 to St. Paul. But can they get past the second seeded Albert Lea Tigers, who they beat in the regular season 4-2 on December 10. Will the Tigers extend their winning streak or will the Wildcats finally take home the Section 1 title trophy?
In Section 2, the top seeded Mankato East Cougars are in the hunt for their second straight trip to state. Can they get past the second seeded Litchfield/Dassel-Cokato Dragons and the third seeded Hutchinson Tigers?
The top seed in Section 3 is the Luverne Cardinals, who also look for a return trip to St. Paul. They split their season series with the second seeded New Ulm Eagles. Is a thrid meeting possible in the section final?
There could be a celebration in Inver Grove Heights if the top seed in Section 4, the Simley Spartans wins their first state tournament berth. Simley, on a six game winning streak, has beaten second seeded and perennial power the South St. Paul Packers twice this season. Can they make it three in a row if the two teams meet in the section final?
The Section 5 pairings have not been posted as of this post but it looks like the Orono Spartans will get the top seed. They enter section play on a seven game winning streak and will have to get past the Holy Angels Stars and the Mound-Westonka Whitehawks.
Also unavailable are the Section 6 pairings. There ware only two teams with winning records in the section. They are the Fergus Falls Otters and the Willmar Cardinals. The Otters have won four straight games and could be the favorite to return to the X for the first time since 2019.
Heading north to Section 7 where the top seeded Proctor/Hermantown Mirage, last year's class A runner up is two wins away from their third straight trip down I-35 to St. Paul. But there's a hot new contender in the Twin Ports, the second seeded Duluth Marshall Hilltoppers. The Hilltoppers have won four straight games since losing 4-3 to the Mirage. Another contender is the third seeded Moose Lake Area Rebels. Can Duluth Marshall dethrone Proctor/Hermantown from the section hilltop or will the Mirage take home their third straight section title?
Finally, in Section 8, the pairings have not been posted but there is no doubt that the defending Class A champion Warroad Warriors will be the top seed. The Warriors three losses were to Class AA schools Benilde-St. Margaret's, Edina and defending Class AA champion Andover. They will have to get past the only other team in Section 8 with a winning record, the Crookston Pirates.
Next: The eight Class AA sections.
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