2021 State Class A Boys Hockey Tournament Preview

 2021 STATE CLASS A BOYS HOCKEY TOURNAMENT QUARTERFINAL SCHEDULE

               (Games played Tuesday, March 30 at Xcel Energy Center, St. Paul)

11:00: Northern Lakes vs. Gentry Academy (Seed 2)

 1:00:  Litchfield/Dassel-Cokato vs. East Grand Forks (Seed 3)

 6:00:  Dodge County vs. Hermantown (Seed 1)

 8:00:  Delano (Seed 5) vs. Little Falls (Seed 4)

Examining the field:  The 2021 edition of the state boys hockey tournament begins with a couple of first time teams as the Northern Lakes Lightning battles the Gentry Academy Stars.  The Lightning, comprised of students from Pequot Lakes, Aitkin, Crosby-Ironton and Pine River-Backus have won four of their last five games.  They beat the Monticello Moose in the Section 5A final 6-3.  Who is this Gentry Academy?  It's a school based in Vadnais Heights and their girls team is a game away from advancing to their first Class A championship.  As for the unbeaten boys team, the Stars ended Mahtomedi's Class A title with a 7-3 win in the Section 4A title game.  The Stars are a high scoring team, scoring 10 or more goals in six games.  Will the Lightning strike first or will the Stars stay unbeaten?  

The afternoon session wraps up with the Litchfield/Dassel-Cokato Dragons facing the third seeded East Grand Forks Green Wave.  The Dragons make their fifth trip down Highway 12 to St. Paul and are on a quest for their first state title.  It won't be easy against the Green Wave. who are in their 13th state tournament trip.  East Grand Forks has been playing well following a 2-4 start and bring a six game winning streak into the Class A quarterfinals.  They wrapped up the Section 8A title with double overtime win over the Warroad Warriors.  The Green Wave won consecutive state Class A championships in 2014 and 2015.  Can they add another to their trophy case?  

Another first time team opens the evening session as the Dodge County Wildcats head up Highway 52 to the X to face the top seeded Hermantown Hawks.  It's the 17th trip down I-35 for the Twin Ports area school whose only loss was to the Grand Rapids Thunderhawks 6-3 on March 4.  In a five game stretch this season, the Hawks outscored their opponents 47-1.  Hermantown has three state Class A title trophies.  They are the favorites.  Can they win number four?   

Closing Class A quarterfinal play is the fifth seeded Delano Tigers and the fourth seeded Little Falls Flyers. The Tigers make their third straight appearance and fourth overall.  They are on an 11 game unbeaten streak and are 12-1-1 since losing four games in a row.  The Flyers head down Highway 10 for the sixth time to St. Paul and their first since 2012.  It would take double overtime for Little Falls to win the Section 6A trophy as they beat the Fergus Falls Otters 2-1.