While the state girls hockey tournament is underway at the X, it's the boys turn on the Road to St. Paul starting with a preview of the eight Class A sections.
The top seed in Section 1 is the Dodge County Wildcats. The Kasson based team is three wins away from its first trip up Highway 52 to St. Paul but first they have to get past the second seeded Mankato West Scarlets and the third seeded Faribault Falcons.
The St. Louis Park Rec Center will be the site for the Section 2 tournament as the top seeded Orono Spartans, who won the Class A title in 2018 are en route to their 10th trip to state. Looking to keep the orono buses in the garage are the second seeded Delano Tigers and the third seeded Mustangs. Could it be a big year for Breck if the boys team heads to state after the girls defend their Class A crown?
Over in Section 3, the top seeded Hutchinson Tigers are roaring toward their first trip to the X since 2009 but they will have to contend with the second seeded Litchfield/Dassel-Cokato Dragons and the third seeded New Ulm Eagles. One quarterfinal matchup to keep an eye on id the fifth seeded Luverne Cardinals and the fourth seeded Marshall Tigers.
Back to the metro and Section 4 where the top seed is the Mahtomedi Zephyrs. But looking for it's 23rd trip to state is the second seeded St. Paul Johnson Governors. The third seed and in the hunt for their first trip to state is Gentry Academy. What's a Gentry Academy? It's a private school located on the campus of the Vadnais Heights Sports Center. Who will prevail and earn a state tournament berth?
The Monticello Moose is the top seed in Section 5 but the second seeded North Branch Vikings are in the hunt for a return trip down I-35 to the X. They will have to get by the third seeded Pine City Dragons.
In Section 6, the top seeded and defending Class A champion St. Cloud Cathedral Crusaders have brought excitement to Granite City hockey fans by being the dominant team this season in Class A. But they will have to get past the second seeded Alexandria Cardinals and the third seeded Little Falls Flyers.
Now this sounds familiar. The Hermantown Hawks are the top seed in Section 7. Last season, they lost to Greenway/Nashwauk-Keewatin which is seeded third. The second seeded Duluth Denfeld Hunters are also in the hunt.
Wrapping up the Class A preview is Section 8, which could be a tough section with the top seeded Warroad Warriors, the second seeded East Grand Forks Green Wave, the third seeded Thief River Falls Prowlers and fourth seeded Kittson County Central.
Next up. The eight Class AA sections.
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