It’s the most wonderful time of the year (in my humble opinion). The highly anticipated state hockey tournament has finally arrived. Eight teams from throughout the “State of Hockey” will descend on the Xcel Energy Center in downtown St. Paul to compete for the coveted title of State Champion. It is on this hallowed ice that legends are born and lifetime memories are made.  Here is my preview of the eight teams that battled their way out of sections and into the limelight:

Roseau:  The tiny town of Roseau, barely south of the Canadian border, has made itself an almost annual fixture here at the State Tournament. Nevertheless, despite their thirty-three state appearances, they have not been to the Xcel since 2010 and will be hungry to add an eighth state championship to their trophy shelf. The Rams possess two excellent goal scorers in senior Zach Yon (#18) and senior Alex Strand (#9) to help them achieve this. Both are extremely dangerous and dynamic forces that Roseau will be relying on. However, Roseau, being such a small school with an enrollment of only 371 students, always has some issues with depth and traditionally only runs two lines, which could lead to tired legs. Look for this to be a possible factor late in a game.

#2 Lakeville North: Lakeville had a complete cakewalk through three weak teams in sections (Dodge County, Owatonna, and Farmington) to get to state. Even so, the Panthers should not be taken lightly. Last year, when Lakeville made it to state, they were the clear underdogs, but this year, they possess the number two seed behind Edina and are currently ranked second in state (according to hockeyhub.net) with an impressive regular-season record of 20-4-1. This team is clearly a force to be reckoned with. The second seed will afford the Panthers a chance to go deep in the tournament, as they will be trying to win their first-ever state championship.

Centennial: The Cougars upset a very good Blaine team 2-1 in the section final to secure a trip to St. Paul. Centennial is peaking at exactly at the right time. Headed by their star player Ryner Gorowsky, who has contributed heavily to this state tournament run, the Cougars, while unseeded in the tournament and not ranked in the top twenty teams in the regular season (as of Feb. 19 on hockeyhub.net), still manage to find themselves in the hunt for glory. If the Cougars hope to make a deep run in the tournament, it will likely be due to some outstanding offense by Gorowsky.

#3 Eden Prairie: I have never seen a goal quite as epic as the one that sent the Eagles to the state tournament over Benilde-St. Margaret’s. Senior Jack Keeley (#12) proved to be the hero in overtime, as shorthanded, he picked up the puck off a blocked shot, and on what appeared to be a fairly benign play at first, beat the BSM defender as he cut to the middle and fired a shot into the top shelf to beat the goaltender. The Eagles will likely be looking to build on this momentum to carry them through the tournament. Ranked seventh in the state according to hockeyhub.net, and with standouts such as senior Steven Spinner (#25), Luc Snuggerud (#4), and of course Jack Keeley, the Eagles, with their high seeding, have a solid chance of making a run at the championship game.

Stillwater: There must have been magic in the air for the State Fairgrounds Coliseum’s last game, because the Ponies somehow managed to pull off a 2-1 win in the section final over annual hockey superpower Hill-Murray. Stillwater is obviously the State Tournament’s Cinderella story, and this in itself makes them dangerous.  The Ponies are deadly right now, with their goaltender playing rock-solid, and all the pucks seeming to bounce their way.  They were unranked throughout the entirety of the regular season and did not have a very good record.  Yet, Stillwater is here for the first time, and they are the darlings of the tournament, which makes them poised as a threat.

#1 Edina: With the number one seed and the number one regular season ranking, the Hornets are the clear favorite to win it all. With Hill-Murray, Wayzata, BSM, Blaine, and other heavyweights knocked out, this is Edina’s tournament for the taking. The Hornets are stacked this year, from Mr. Hockey candidate Tyler Nanne to All-Metro First Team Miguel Fidler to Division I recruit Dylan Malmquist to brick wall goalie Andrew Rohkohl, just to name a few.  The depth and talent of this team is incredible, with star players performing well, many underclassmen stepping up, and four impeccable lines that can skate with just about anyone in the state.

#4 Duluth East: The Hounds’ nail-biting overtime victory over Elk River in the section 7AA final punched them a ticket to the not-so-unfamiliar State Tournament. East always seems to find a way to make the trip down to St. Paul, and this year is no exception, as The Hounds managed yet again to put together a winning squad. They sit at eighth for the regular season rankings, with a respectable record of 18-6-1. In most years, Duluth East is known for their blend of talent, physicality, and “grind.”  This year will be no different, as long-time Coach Mike Randolph will look to steer the team to victory against formidable opponents.

#5 Eagan: Ranked only seventeenth in the regular season, Eagan sat as a measly fourth seed heading into the section playoffs. However, what transpired next was hardly unexpected, given Eagan’s history of excellence. The Wildcats eked out a close victory over top-seeded Cretin-Derham Hall, and then proceeded to shock the Minnesota hockey world with a win over the newly Class AA-inaugurated St. Thomas Academy. Eagan has gone through this season with pronounced physical play in order to disrupt their opponent. Despite this, Eagan is far from a pure grit team. They possess many players with exceptional talent that are proven offensive threats, such as seniors Jack Jensen, Nick Wolff, and Tommy Muck, and an outstanding junior goaltender in Andrew Lindgren.  

Matt’s picks:

Quarterfinals:

Roseau vs. Lakeville North, Lakeville North

Eden Prairie vs. Centennial, Eden Prairie

Stillwater vs. Edina, Edina

Duluth East vs. Eagan, Eagan

Semifinals:

Lakeville North vs. Eden Prairie, Eden Prairie

Edina vs. Eagan, Edina

Finals:

Edina vs. Eden Prairie, Edina