2024 State Class AA Girls Hockey Tournament Quarterfinal Preview

 2024 MINNESOTA STATE HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS HOCKEY TOURNAMENT CLASS AA QUARTERFINAL SCHEDULE

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

11:00:  Roseau vs. Hill-Murray (Seed 2)

  1:00:  Rosemount vs. Andover (Seed 3)

  6:00:  Maple Grove vs. Minnetonka (Seed 1)

  8:00:  Northfield (Seed 5) vs. Edina (Seed 4)

Examining the field:  While the Class A teams take a breather, except for consolation action, it's the Class AA teams that populate the Xcel Energy Center.  First up is the Roseau Rams, in their seventh state tournament.  They used a strong third period comeback to beat the top seeded Moorhead Spuds in the Section 8 final.  They will face the second seeded Pioneers, in their 10th trip to state and looking for their fourth championship game berth after coming out of a rugged Section 4.  Can the Pioneers climb back to the top of the hill?  

The afternoon session wraps up with the Rosemount Irish facing the third seeded Andover Huskies.  It could be a long day for the Irish as they face the Huskies, playing in their fifth consecutive tournament and eight overall.  Last year, Andover fell to Gentry Academy in the Class AA final.  Could they upgrade their medals from silver to gold? 

Opening the evening session will be the Maple Grove Crimson and the top seeded Minnetonka Skippers.  The Crimson are headed down I-94 to the X for the fifth time and have won nine of their last ten games, their only loss coming against Hill-Murray in the regular season finale.  The top seeded Skippers are back in St. Paul for the sixth straight year and ninth overall.  Their only losses were to Hill-Murray and Edina.  Could a third meeting with Edina occur in the semifinals?  

Wrapping up the quarterfinals is the fifth seeded Northfield Raiders and the fourth seeded Edina Hornets.  The Raiders, in their fourth state tournament have lost only one game in regular season play to the Dodge County Wildcats.  Their toughest challenge is coming in the fourth seeded Edina Hornets, who haven't missed a state tournament since 2015.  Edina beat the top seeded Benilde-St. Margaret's Red Knights 5-4 in the Section 6 final to earn their 14th state tournament berth.  Are the Raiders for real and could send Edina to the consolation bracket?  

Enjoy the action this week.