2020 Class AA State Girls Hockey Tournament Quarterfinal Preview

 2020 STATE CLASS AA GIRLS HOCKEY TOURNAMENT QUARTERFINAL                               (GAMES PLAYED THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 20 AT XCEL ENERGY CENTER IN ST. PAUL) 

11:00: Farmington vs. Andover (Seed 2)
 1:00:  Roseau vs. Minnetonka (Seed 3)
 6:00:  Burnsville vs. Edina (Seed 1)
 8:00:  Hill-Murray (Seed 5) vs. Maple Grove (Seed 4)

Examining the field:  The opening game of the state Class AA tournament has a familiar ring to it as the same two teams that played in last year's first quarterfinal game begin the afternoon session as the Farmington Tigers face the second seeded Andover Huskies.  The Tigers season has been like riding the roller coaster at ValleyFair.  They started 0-3, won four straight games and have had a number of winning and losing streaks until section play where they extended their winning streak to four.  Now they face their toughest test in the Huskies, who began the season with a 1-0 win over the Edina Hornets.  Led by The Kaiser Sisters, Madison and Sara, Andover's only two losses have been to state tourney participants Breck and Hill-Murray.  Since Andover High School opened at 2002, the trophy case has been bare of state championship trophies.  Could this finally be the year where they end the Hornets championship reign? 

Concluding the afternoon session is the only northern school in the Class AA field the Roseau Rams.  The Rams make their sixth trip to St. Paul and first since 2017.  Roseau will take on the third seeded Minnetonka Skippers, The Skippers are in their second straight tournament and seventh overall.  But there is new leadership for the team that plays their home games at Pagel Center, Tracy Cassano.  She replaced long-time head coach Eric Johnson and so far she has guided them to a successful season and a possible rematch with Andover.  Minnetonka lost to the Huskies November 23 3-1. There could be a rematch in the semifinals. 

Now to the evening session where the Burnsville Blaze, seeded third in Section 3 are on a six game winning streak that included an overtime win against the Eastview Lightning in the section semifinals.  They will have a tough test ahead against the top seeded and three time defending champion Edina Hornets.  Sami Reber's bunch has been unbeatable since they lost their season opener to Andover and they have allowed only two goals in two games this season.  Can the Hornets enter the record books with their fourth consecutive state title? 

If you're watching the evening session on prepspotlight.tv, do not adjust your computer monitor since there's another green and white team ready to take the ice in the fifth seeded Hill-Murray Pioneers who are back at the X after losing to White Bear Lake in last year's section final.  They will face the fourth seeded Maple Grove Crimson who shutout the Pioneers 3-0 on January 11.  Can they make it two straight against Hill-Murray or will there be a lot of green to match the color of the arena's green seats in Friday's semifinals? 

Let the tournament begin!  There could be history in the making Saturday night.