2023 State Class AA Girls Hockey Tournament Preview

 2023 MINNESOTA STATE CLASS AA GIRLS HOCKEY TOURNAMENT QUARTERFINAL SCHEDULE

                   (Games played Thursday, Feburary 22 at Xcel Energy Center, St. Paul)

11:00:  Rosemount vs. Andover (Seed 2)

 1:00:   Lakeville North vs. Edina (Seed 3)

 6:00:   Centennial/Spring Lake Park vs. Minnetonka

  8:00:  Moorhead (Seed 5) vs. Gentry Academy (Seed 4)

                                          EXAMINING THE FIELD

 After the Class A schools conclude quarterfinal play on Wednesday, it's the Class AA schools turn in the X's spotlight.  First up is the Rosemount Irish, returning to state for the first time since 2011 battling the defending Class AA champion Andover Huskies.  Rosemount was the number two seed in Section 3 and earned the trip to St. Paul with a 3-2 overtime win over the Cretin-Derham Hall Raiders.  It won't be an easy task for the Irish against the Huskies who are playing in their fourth straight tournament and eighth overall.  Andover is on a 12 game winning streak and has outscored their Section 7 opponents in three games 29-1.  They are the favorites to return to the Class AA title game but could Irish eyes be smiling after an upset?  

Closing the afternoon session will be the Lakeville North Panthers, playing in their fifth state tournament and their first since 2014.  The Panthers earned their fifth trip up I-35 with a 5-3 win over the Northfield Raiders.  Things get tough for Lakeville North as they face the third seeded Edina Hornets, playing in their eighth straight tournament and 13th overall.  Edina has won eight state titles and could set up a semifinal showdown with Andover.  Is an All Lake Conference final in the works?  

Opening the evening session is the tournament's only co-op team, Centennial/Spring Lake Park.  It's the first appearance from the Circle Pines based school since 2021 and the fifth overall.  They were the second seed in Section 5 and beat top seeded Maple Grove 2-1 in the title game.  But the Cougars have a tough task ahead in the top seeded Minnetonka Skippers.  The Skippers ship sails into St. Paul for the eight time and the fifth straight year with an outstanding defense that has recorded 15 shutouts and an offense that has outscored their Section 2 opponents 24-1.  Last season, Minnetonka lost to Andover in the Class AA championship game.  Can they upgrade their medals from silver to gold?  

Wrapping up Quarterfinal Thursday is the fifth seeded Moorhead Spuds and the fourth seeded Gentry Academy Stars.  The Spuds are the only first time team in this year's tournament and beat the Roseau Rams in the Section 8 final.  Three of their eight losses were to powerhouses Warroad and Andover.  The Gentry Academy Stars, in their third straight trip to state, have won nine straight games and made it through a tough Section 4 with a 4-1 win over the Hill-Murray Pioneers.  Will this finally be the year a Moorhead hockey team takes home the gold medals or will the red hot Stars shine en route to a possible showdown with Minnetonka.  

There's plenty of outstanding action beginning Wednesday.  Hopefully the impending snowstorm won't keep fans from heading to the X.