2022 MINNESOTA STATE CLASS A GIRLS HOCKEY TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
(Games played Wednesday, February 22 at Xcel Energy Center, St. Paul)
11:00: Mankato East vs. Orono (Seed 2)
1:00: Albert Lea vs. Proctor/Hermantown (Seed 3)
6:00: River Lakes Stars vs. Warroad (Seed 1)
8:00: Luverne (Seed 5) vs. South St. Paul (Seed 4)
Examining the field: The 2022 edition of the Minnesota State High School Girls Hockey Tournament gets underway with the Mankato East Cougars in their third trip to St. Paul facing the second seeded Orono Spartans, who are in their first state tournament. The Cougars, the first Big Nine Conference team in the tournament is on a seven game winning streak. They have not lost a game since January 18 when they lost 5-2 to the Owatonna Huskies. It will be their first game against a team from the Twin Cities as they face the Orono Spartans, coming out of a tough Section 5 in their first trip down I-394 to the X. The Spartans beat the Holy Angels Stars 5-4 in the section final. They have won 13 out of their last 14 games with their only loss to the Benilde-St. Margaret's Red Knights. Can they head back to the west metro with a trophy?
Wrapping up the afternoon session is another first time team, the Albert Lea Tigers. Coming out of the state's smallest section, Section 1, the Tigers, the second Big Nine Conference school in the tournament has a tough task ahead in the defending state Class A champion Proctor/Hermantown Mirage. The Mirage have played a brutal non conference schedule that included several state tournament team. Three of their losses were to Warroad, Edina and Andover. They did play Orono on November 19 and lost to the Spartans 6-3. Could a rematch be possible in the semifinals?
Opening up the evening session is another first time team, the River Lakes Stars. The Paynesville based team had to wait a day for the Section 6 final in Fergus Falls due to a snowstorm and it paid off as the Stars beat the host Otters 3-1. They will have a rough road in their path in the top seeded and top ranked team for most of the season, the Warroad Warriors. The Warriors, in their 13th state tournament have won seven straight games since they lost to the top ranked and top seeded team in Class AA the Andover Huskies. Last time Warroad won the state Class A title was 2011. Could they end the 11 year drought?
Concluding Quarterfinal Wednesday is the fifth seeded Luverne Cardinals and the fourth seeded South St. Paul Packers. The Cardinals earned their fourth trip to St. Paul on Reagan Bjork's goal in double overtime to beat the New Ulm Eagles in the Section 3 final. Once again veteran Packer head coach Dave Palmquist has a team in the state tournament. South St. Paul, the number two seed in Section 4 beat the Chisago Lakes Wildcats to earn their 16th state tournament berth. If you're looking for one game to attend on Wednesday, this is the one to watch. Can the Cardinals become the first Section 3 team to advance to the semifinals or will the Packers be on their quest for their first state title since 2006?
Next up, the Class AA preview
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