Its intense, its exhilarating, it has a cult-like following, it is the most watched and most talked about High School hockey tournament in the world. It is the Minnesota High School Boys Hockey Tournament, known to many as simply the 'Tourney'. Before T.J. Oshie became a household name nationwide due to his shootout skills in this year's Sochi games, Oshie became a household name amongst people in the State of Hockey when he helped lead the Warroad Warriors to two state titles in 2003 and 2005 respectively. I know I won't forget seeing Oshie, and his bleached blonde hair clad team taking home the title in Class A. With all due respect to college hockey and NHL hockey the Boys High School Hockey Tournament is arguably almost as big and visible as those other two entities which speaks to the 'Tourney'' ability to resonate with hockey fans of all ages. Lou Nanne wrote in his Minnesota North Stars book how the High School State Hockey tournament's deal used to be the same (in terms of dollar amount) as it was to broadcast the North Stars for an entire season. Wrap your mind around that for a moment, an entire season's worth of NHL broadcasts were equalled by a high school hockey tournament that lasts just 4 days.
The big talk of the tournament beyond the fact that this is the first tournament since 2005 that St. Thomas Academy and Breck (highly rated Warroad was also knocked out in section play) are not in this one, but whether the tournament has been watered down by the fact so many high school players defected to play junior hockey. 41 players who could've potentially played for their respective teams left for junior. Some have wondered if the excitement will still be there if perhaps it does not feature as many star players that may eventually be the T.J. Oshie's of the future. Only time will tell, but if you need a reason to get excited just think of listening to Gary Thorne doing the play by play? How awesome is that? "Oh mercy" is right. So how do these teams match up? Who does the State of Hockey News expect to win the title for their respective class?
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As has been the case the last few years the teams are seeded #1-thru-#5 and with some of the aforementioned perennial power houses out of the 'Tourney' this year's tournament has the makings of one of the more wide open contests in recent memory. We will preview all of the Quarterfinal action which will begin on Wednesday with Class A, and Class AA on Thursday. You can see a full schedule here at SBNation's article. We will not only analyze these teams but we'll also provide our prediction for who we think will prevail in each matchup as well as who will be the state champion for each class. So without further adieu.
Class A
#1 East Grand Forks (25-2-1) vs. Orono (19-8-1) ~ East Grand Forks won the Mariucci Conference title this season and that is no small feat considering it is a mix of Class A and AA schools including fellow AA qualifier Roseau. That was a major reason why the Green Wave were given the #1 seed in this year's tournament. The Green Wave do not feature a giant scorer, but like their name they attack in waves. East Grand Forks has two very solid scoring lines that make them a nightmare to match up against. Led by senior #18 Brandon Loven (12 goals) and a host of talented underclassman in juniors #20 Reed Corbid (12 goals) and #9 Dixon Bowen (13 goals) as well as sophomores #19 Tanner Tweten (13 goals) and #18 Grant Loven (11 goals) its all about depth. The Green Wave also have a tremendous defense that can shut down virtually any opponent which is how they punched their ticket to the tournament after beating a very potent Warroad squad. Junior goaltender #30 Josh Weber has the ability to stonewall any potential threat that manages to get past their stingy blueline. The Orono Spartans on the other hand have a far more modest attack led by senior #5 Jake Flemmer (13 goals) and junior #12 Joey Luedtke (12 goals). The Spartans will want to keep games low scoring where they hope junior goaltender #33 Jonathon Flakne (18-7-1, 2.03GAA and .911%SP) can make enough stops to win the game.
Prediction: I am not sure this will be a mega blowout, but I do not expect Orono to give East Grand Forks much trouble at all. They simply will overwhelm the Spartans as they have most of their opponents this season. The scary thing about East Grand Forks is they are a fairly young team so we might be seeing this club here for a while.
#2 Hermantown (21-4-2) vs. Luverne (27-0-0) ~ I think this could be one of the most intriguing matchups of the quarterfinals in either class. If any team is 'owed' a state tournament via karma for coming so close so often its Hermantown. The Hawks qualified for the 'Tourney' time after time only to lose to St. Thomas Academy. The Cadets moved up to Class AA this year and failed to make it to State and the question is will this be the year Hermantown's to win it all? The Hawks again feature terrific depth up front as seniors #23 Scott Wasbotten (16 goals) and #8 Kori Ochs (14 goals) as well as juniors #7 Ryan Kero (18 goals) and #6 Nate Pionk (16 goals) and sophomore wunderkind #27 Cole Kopeke (17 goals) give Hermantown two lines that can score with anyone. Some criticize Hermantown's schedule as well as some of their results against Class AA opponents, but the Hawks usually raise their game for the 'Tourney.' Between the pipes Hermantown has options as seniors #35 Adam Smith and #33 Jace Thomas have split duties all season long and both are very capable. Cue Underdog theme song, Hermantown's opponent is one of the bigger unknowns of the tournament in undefeated Luverne. Luverne may play the weakest schedule of all state qualifiers but if you're looking for sexy statistics and offensive firepower the Cardinals have loads of it. Up front the Cardinals have a plethora of big scoring forwards in seniors #33 Gunnar Olson (31 goals) and #9 Logan Norman (21 goals) as well as junior #22 Toby Sengvonxay (19 goals), sophomore #8 Chaz Smedsrud (35 goals) and 8th grader #7 Jaxon Nelson (26 goals) which give Luverne a very dangerous top two lines. Between the pipes senior goalie #1 Kendall Meyer (18-0-0, 1.19GAA, .948%SP) will hope to stave off Hermantown's powerful attack.
Prediction: I think this game could be a run and gun type of scoring fest. Although I think the biggest X-factor is Hermantown's superior experience and Head Coach Bruce Plante who will likely put Luverne on its heels right away. Either way we'll find out just how good Luverne really is. Also, as a side note I think Luverne is the clear cut favorite to win the annual Hockey Hair Award given to the team that sports the best flow, Luverne has an embarassment of riches in this category.
#3 New Prague (21-4-3) vs. Chisago Lakes (20-8-0) ~ The Trojans are making their first trip to the State Tournament and have to feel good about being the #3 seed. Part of that comes from the fact New Prague tested itself against some other quality foes and held their own against Class AA qualifier Eagan. New Prague has a fair amount of firepower up front as seniors #26 Augie Isaacson (23 goals) and #18 Austin Kilian (18 goals) as well as sophomore #10 Alex Gregor (18 goals) form a powerful trio. The Trojans are big and physical and junior goaltender #1 Conner Wagner is solid. Their opponent, Chisago Lakes is another relative unknown after a strong finish in a steadily improving Mississippi 8 Conference. The Wildcats are led by seniors #7 Trevor Lushanko (21 goals), #14 Brandon Gillespie (19 goals) and #10 Ryan Chambers (12 goals) who pace Chicago Lakes' offense. However their true strength lies between the pipes as junior #31 Jake Dubose (10-6-0, 1.94GAA, .920%SP 5SO) is one of the better goaltenders in the tournament.
Prediction: I think this game is another one that could be more interesting than many expect. Chisago Lakes overcame a dangerous Princeton squad to get to the tournament and New Prague might suffer from a mix of state tournament jitters as well as the 'moment' of being there as well as being the favorite. I thnk New Prague wins, but in a close one however an upset wouldn't totally shock me either.
#4 St. Cloud Cathedral (20-7-1) vs. #5 Totino-Grace Eagles (17-10-1) ~ The Crusaders are one of those teams where we might be wondering 'what if' by the time the tournament is over. Austin Poganski, a highly touted North Dakota-recruit passed on his junior & senior year at St. Cloud Cathedral to play junior for the Tri-City Storm of the USHL. That aside, the Crusaders rallied back for a strong 2nd half of their season before winning the section final over Alexandria. The Crusaders are led up front by senior #17 Will Hammer (22 goals), junior #28 Matt Fritz (13 goals) and talented sophomore #2 Logan Neu (16 goals). St. Cloud Cathedral can defend well enough, with decent defensive corps that play against junior goaltender #35 Zach Fritz. Totino-Grace surprised a few by qualifying for sections after rallying back to beat Mahtomedi in their section final to create the all private-school matchup. The Eagles' do not possess a ridiculous amount of scoring depth up with seniors #21 Nick Tandeski (15 goals) and #22 Kai Barber (15 goals. Totino-Grace prefers to keep games close and they feel comfortable in that environment. Between the pipes, senior goalie #30 Dominic Wippler will carry the load for the Eagles.
Prediction: I think this game is a virtual toss up as one would expect from the #4 / #5 match up. I think Cathedral's superior offense might be the x-factor but as Totino-Grace's rally in the section final proves, St. Cloud Cathedral can never feel too comfortable with the lead.
Class A Prediction: I think Hermantown will take advantage of the opportunity to win the state tournament. The Hawks' bench boss Bruce Plante has been rather vocal about the advantages of metro-area privates schools that compete at the Class A level. I think his team will respond in kind and will beat East Grand Forks in what should be a tremendous game.
Class AA
#1 Edina (23-4-1) vs. Stillwater (16-10-2) ~ While there are a lot of teams the tournament hasn't seen in a while or at all one team that is back yet again is perennial power Edina. The Hornets are a hockey machine and perhaps no other team in the tournament can match the Hornets strength of schedule nor their success against the other top teams in the state which made them a logical 1st seed. Edina has sons of former NHL'ers sprinkled throughout its lineup and that includes leading scorer in senior #12 Miguel Fidler (16 goals) and #9 Cullen Munson (17 goals) as well as sophomore #7 Keiffer Bellows (10 goals). The Hornets have plenty of speed and their tough schedules makes them ready for almost any pressure packed moment the tournament can put against them. Edina can also be quite stifling defensively and always possess a terrific level of grit. Between the pipes, senior goaltender #30 Andrew Rohkohl (18-4-1, 1.93GAA, .922%SP, 3SO) is one of the best in the state will no doubt be a major obstacle for any opponent to overcome. Their opponent is the upstart squad of Stillwater. Having watched Stillwater play my alma mater (Elk River) on Hockey Day Minnesota made me appreciate the size, and defensive style means the Ponies can keep games close and when you do that anything can happen. The Ponies are led up front by seniors #8 John Heddle (15 goals) and #21 Sam Sagissor (12 goals) and statistically they certainly do not jump out at you. They may have advanced on a strange goal, but beating Hill-Murray is still should garner some respect for Edina not to take them too lightly. Between the pipes, the hero of the section final was sophomore goaltender #30 Josh Benson who shut the door against the Pioneers time after time, he will find himself very busy in this game.
Prediction: Stillwater is a nice story, but its going to end right away as Edina will take care or business in this one. The Hornets' still have that knack for making opponents pay even for the smallest mistakes and we've seen that be a huge reason they end up being crowns champions more often thant not. Edina should win by 4 or 5 goals.
#2 Lakeville North (23-4-1) vs. Roseau (20-7-1) ~ In other years the seeding would've been switched as Lakeville North, the seemingly perennial state qualifier out of a notoriously weak Section 1AA would feel happy to just have made it. But not this year. Lakeville North is no longer the plucky squad that enters the tournament with a .500 record, but rather a club that is a strong pick to win it all. The Panthers are led by a trio of St. Cloud State commits in brothers in juniors #3 Jack Poehling (23 goals) and #7 Nick Poehling (11 goals) as well as freshman #4 Ryan Poehling (11 goals). I don't envy the broadcasters trying to juggle this group of names all night. The Panthers have speed, skill and do as good a job at shutting opponents down as they do lighting them up on the scoreboard. Between the pipes, Lakeville North has a #1 and #1A goaltender option in senior #1 Will DuPont (13-1-0, 1.93GAA, .904%SP) and 6'3" freshman puckstopper #29 Jake Oettinger (7-2-0, 1.86GAA, .931%SP) which give Panthers' head coach Trent Eigner plenty of confidence. On the other side of it is another tradition hockey power, in Roseau. The Rams are still a school that could opt to play in Class A but continue to defy the odds by more than holding their own in Class AA. Roseau is led by one of the best duos in the tournament in seniors #19 Alex Strand (25 goals) and stud North Dakota-recruit #18 Zach Yon (33 goals). Yon is especially dangerous. Between the pipes, the Rams will be leaning heavily on senior goaltender #1 Ryan Anderson (17-7-1, 2.20GAA, .901%SP).
Prediction: It will be interesting to see how well Lakeville North handles being a favorite in this tournament. The Panthers somewhat used to being one-and-done in its state tournament history. However, people have been doubting the Panthers all season long and all they do is keep winning. I expect Lakeville North to want to make a statement against Roseau. Even with a super stud like Zach Yon, I don't think he'll be enough to beat the Panthers.
#3 Eden Prairie Eagles (17-8-3) vs. Centennial (16-10-2) ~ This is another interesting matchup, as the Eden Prairie Eagles seemed to be on the cusp of solidifying themselves as a top team in Class AA only to stumble from time to time. The Eagles are led by seniors #25 Steve Spinner (17 goals) and team captain #4 Luc Snuggerud at defense as well as sophomore forward #16 Michael Graham (16 goals). Eden Prairie doesn't have the 'wow' factor of other clubs but they have the potential to beat anyone, including top seeded Edina. Steve Spinner is about as clutch a goal scorer as you can find in the tournament. Between the pipes, the Eagles look to senior #31Jake Gerdes to carry the mail. Facing Eden Prairie is a bit of late bloomer in Centennial. The Cougars are led by senior #20 Ryner Gorowsky (20 goals) and junior #17 Connor Lovick (16 goals). Centennial surprised fellow Northwest Suburban Conference foe Blaine in the section final. Senior goaltender #1 Blake Miller will have to dig deep if the Cougars are going to have any chance at all.
Prediction: Centennial is not a team the Eagles can overlook. If the Cougars can score early all bets are off, but that being said I don't see that happening. Eden Prairie's strong defense will be too much for Ryner Gorowsky to overcome. Expect a 4-2 finish.
#4 Duluth East (21-6-1) vs. #5 Eagan (18-9-1) ~ This game is a bit personal for me for two reasons. 1. Duluth East was the team that eliminated my alma mater in overtime in the Section 7AA final. The Greyhounds do not have the high end skill of previous squads but they are a well-rounded club that is able to get enough scoring from senior #25 Philip Beaulieu (17 goals) and junior #19 Nick Altmann (17 goals) because they are strong enough defensively to not need a ton of offense to win games. Duluth East's junior goaltender #31 Gunnar Howg (16-5-1, 1.92GAA, .910%SP) and his 6'2" frame covers a lot of net. Now for the other reason this game is of personal interest to me. 2. I student taught with Wildcats' Head Coach Mike Taylor a while back and have been following the steady rise of Eagan's program ever since. The Wildcats knocked off St. Thomas Academy in the sectional final and are led offensively by seniors #24 Jack Jenson (16 goals), #7 Jack Stebbing (16 goals) and 6'4" defenseman #5 Nick Wolff (8 goals) who is one of the higher rated high school players in the nation as stated by NHL's Central Scouting who had him 97th amongst North American skaters. Between the pipes Eagan will look to junior #35 Andrew Lindgren (15-9-1, 1.78GAA, .932%SP) considered to be one of the better high school goalies in the state.
Prediction: I am really rooting for Eagan in this game, not only because of my ties to the team but I like the way this team plays. They are fast, hard charging and I think their defense is what could be the difference in a soft upset of Duluth East. Both teams are no stranger to the state tournament and I have little doubt Mike Taylor and Duluth East's Mike Randolph will have their team's amped for what should be a close game. I am expecting a 4-3 thriller.
Class AA Prediction: I going with Lakeville North. The Panthers have good balance and they've been told they 'can't' for too long. I think they'll upset Edina in the final in a game where people will be surprised how well rounded the Panthers are. I think it will be a nailbiter but I think Edina's expectation of easily dismissing the Panthers will lead to a little overconfidence which is precisely what Lakeville North thrives on.
That's it folks, so who are you rooting for in the Tourney? Who do you think will win it all? Please share your thoughts in the comment section below.
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