After examining the eight Class A sections, it's time to preview the Eight Class AA sections.
The top seed in Section 1 is the Northfield Raiders. The Raiders only loss this season was to the Dodge County Wildcats. Can they get past the second seeded Lakeville South Cougars and the third seeded Farmington Tigers to head up Highway 3 to St. Paul?
This could be the start of a big tournament season for Minnetonka fans as the top seeded Skippers enter Section 2 play on an eight game winning streak. Looking to keep the Minnetonka fan buses in the garage are the second seeded Eden Prairie Eagles and the third seeded Holy Family Catholic Fire.
In Section 3, the top seed is the Lakeville North Panthers. But looking to end their 16 year state tournament drought is the second seeded Cretin-Derham Hall Raiders. The two teams met in the third place game of the Eden Prairie tournament December 29 with the Panthers winning 3-1. Is a rematch possible in the section final?
To Section 4, where the top seeded Hill-Murray Pioneers have been a dominant team this season in Class AA. But getting to the X won't be an easy task with second seeded Stillwater, third seeded Woodbury and fourth seeded White Bear Lake. Don't count out the fifth seeded and defending Class AA champion Gentry Academy Stars. It's a tough section but who will emerge with the championship trophy?
The pairings have not been released for Section 5 but co-op teams could dominate the top four seeds, starting with Centennial/Spring Lake Park. Roseville/Mahtomedi and Champlin Park/Coon Rapids are also in the hunt along with nonhyphenated Maple Grove.
Over in Section 6, the top seeded Benilde-St. Margaret's Red Knights have a shot at ending the second seeded Edina Hornets run of nine straight trips to St. Paul. They're the only two teams in the section with a winning record and look toward a rematch of the December 5 game which was won by BSM 5-2. Can the Red Knights return to the X after a 10 year absence?
The Andover Huskies are the top seed in Section 7 and lost in last year's Class AA final to Gentry Academy. In order to get a return trip to state for the seventh straight year, they have to get past second seeded Grand Rapids/Greenway and the third seeded Blaine Bengals.
Finally, in Section 8, the top seeded Moorhead Spuds are on a roll, ending the regular season on a 12 game winning streak. They have not lost a game since they came up short against the Minnetonka Skippers on December 26 2-1. They could face the second seeded Roseau Rams, a team they beat twice in the regular season.
Let The Road to St. Paul begin.
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