The field is set and the puck is about to drop on the Class A Tournament
by Robert Brent, Let’s Play Hockey
Eight teams. One goal.
Now that the eight teams have gotten through the trials and tribulations of section hockey and emerged as survivors, they will hit the ice at Grand Casino Arena beginning today with hopes of continuing their winning ways.
Only one team will end their 2025-26 season on a winning streak. Last season it was Dodge County winning not just their first title in program history, but the first title for a “southern Minnesota” program. They dethroned the Warroad Warriors who were looking for their fourth consecutive crown.
Both teams are back and both are as hungry as ever. This year they won’t meet in the finals, but could meet in the semifinals as both are in the same bracket. Warroad garnered the No. 1 seed while the Wildcats are the No. 4 seed and will take on No. 5 Proctor/Hermantown. The Mirage are making their sixth straight appearance and won their first and only state title in 2021. They are a strong No. 5 seed and it wouldn’t be surprising to see them competing for a state title come Saturday. But they will have to get past the defending champions first in what should be a great quarterfinal match up.
Warroad will be tested by Section 3A Champion Luverne who is back to state for the sixth time in seven years.
On the other side of the bracket No. 3 Blake will take on No. 6 Mankato East, another emerging southern program, who is making their fifth state tourney appearance and first since 2023. Blake is making their 11th appearance and are owners of seven state titles. But this is their first trip since 2017.
No. 2 Breck will take on St. Cloud, who is making their first trip to state in program history. Breck is making their ninth appearance and had a string of three straight titles form 2018-2020.
Below is a team-by-team breakdown in what should be a great state tournament.
Mayise Koch leads Dodge County in scoring and will look to help get the Wildcats back tot he state title game for the third consecutive season. LPH PHOTO BY AJPHOTPGRAPHY1A – Dodge County
Coach: Jeremy Gunderson
Record: 20-6-1
Top Scorer: Maysie Koch (22-29-51)
Goalie: Faith Humphrey (20-6-1/1.50/.907/9)
The Wildcats are making their third-straight tournament appearance and are still coming off the jubilation of winning their first state championship in last year’s tournament.
Dodge County’s return to Grand Casino Arena didn’t come without adversity as the Wildcats entered the third period of their section title game against Albert Lea down a goal. Dodge County completed the comeback to punch their ticket.
The Wildcats graduated their top scorer and goaltender from last year’s championship team, but their young players have filled in for a smooth transition. Faith Humphrey stood out in net, logging nine shutouts over the course of the season. Humphrey was particularly impressive in a 1-1 tie with powerhouse Breck, where the goaltender stopped 29 shots.
Maysie Koch has taken up the mantle as the Wildcats’ most potent scorer. Koch has been dangerous all season, with her best game coming against Eagan in early January. In that matchup, Koch scored four goals for the Wildcats.
Dodge County is also solid on special teams, boasting a 30.7% power play success rate and 88.2% penalty kill rate.
If Dodge County can continue its timely scoring and goaltending, it will be a threat to repeat. The Wildcats begin their title defence against Proctor/Hermantown, a team they lost to 5-1 in their only regular-season meeting.
Team Roster:
Player Pos Year
Faith Humphrey G 11
Josie Fulton D 10
Madelyn Raths F 10
Vivi Cano F 9
Bryn Spreiter F 11
Willow Harens F 7
Sophia Buesking D 11
Maren Hodgman F 9
Nora Smith F 10
Kylie Meyer D 12
Ashlyn Praxel F 12
Alexa VanStraaten D 12
Maysie Koch F 11
Berkley Klaehn D 12
Zoe Heimer F 12
Daisy Harens F 10
Rylee Tiefenbach G 8
Adyn Spreiter D 11
Maisy Fulton D 8
Grace Roethler F 11
Olivia Buesking G 9
Taryn Wernecke F 11
2A – Mankato East
Coach: Amber Prange
Record: 24-2-1
Top Scorer: Laina Peterson (36-23-59)
Goalie: Ilamay Draheim (19-2-0/1.05/.933/9)
The Mankato East Cougars enter the state tournament with as much momentum as any team in the state, with six straight wins, including a 3-1 victory over Minnesota River in the Section 2A finals.
The Cougars boast one of the best offenses in the state, scoring 6.41 goals per game. The Mankato East attack is led by the sensational duo of Laina Peterson (59 points) and Ella Fugazzi (57 points). Both ranked in the top 10 in the state in scoring.
Apart from Peterson and Fugazzi, the team features six other players (Grace Campbell, Alexis Erickson, Brielle Newton, Ava Tibodeau, Kira Prange and Jillian Borgmeier), who all scored at least a point per game this season.
Mankato East also excels at keeping the puck out of its own net. Junior goaltender Ilamay Draheim started the lion’s share of games for the Cougars and recorded nine shutouts in her starts.
The main question with Mankato East will come down to the strength of the schedule they faced during the regular season. The Cougars only played two games against teams (Lakeville North and Luverne) that made the tournament during their 2025-26 campaign. While they passed both tests with wins, the team has less experience against top teams than some other teams in the state tournament.
They’ll have the opportunity to beat a top team when they take on Blake in the opening round at Grand Casino Arena as the state tournament kicks off.
Team Roster:
Player Pos Year
Merit Grundei G 11
Ayla Boeve F 9
Maliah Lang D 8
Reagan Steindl F 11
Ella Quist F 11
Mia Graff F 9
Keegan Beckendorf F 10
Laina Peterson F 10
Hattie Dahms D 9
Alexis Erickson F 11
Eloise Fry F 11
Brynn Evans F 11
Brielle Newton F 12
Madelyn Scheel D 11
Kira Prange D 11
Ava Tibodeau F 12
Ella Fugazzi F 10
Jenna Borgmeier F, D 8
Jillian Borgmeier D 11
Amy Glade F 10
Emerson Asher D 11
Grace Campbell F 11
Ella Hudspith F 12
August Beltz F 9
Makenzie Juliar D 11
Ilamay Draheim G 11
Gretta Oachs G 11
3A – Luverne
Coach: Matt McClure
Record: 19-9-0
Top Scorer: Ellie Van Batavia (42-25-67)
Goalie: Emma Saarloos (18-9-9/1.85/.892/9)
Luverne wrestled control of Section 3A back after Marshall represented the section at the state tournament last season. The Cardinals had earned berths in the tournament for five seasons before that.
Matt McClure’s team will make its return to Grand Casino Arena after a season defined by the team’s offensive firepower. Luverne had four games this season in which they scored double-digit goals, including a season-high 20 against South Central.
Luverne’s scoring spotlighted the team’s depth as well. The Cardinals had seven players (Greta McClure, Izzy Steensma, Rylee Kurtz, Cynthia Rogers, Tenley Behr, Ella Apel, and Ella Van Batavia) who averaged over a point per game this season. Van Batavia’s 67 points tied for second in the state.
When the Cardinals aren’t scoring in a particular game, they’re still in the fight due to the play of senior goaltender Emma Saarloos. Saarloos produced nine shutouts during the season and had a campaign-high mark of 39 saves in an earlier game against Marshall. Saarloos came up big in the most important game of the season as well, making 24 saves on 26 shots against in the section championship.
Luverne has a tough draw in the opening round against the #1-seeded Warroad Warriors.
Team Roster:
Player Pos Year
Tenlee Pick D 9
Tenley Behr F, D 11
Izzy Steensma F 11
Mallorie Edstrom F 9
Kassidy Saarloos D 11
Ella Apel F 12
Ellie Van Batavia F 10
Cynthia Rogers F 9
Greta McClure F 12
Macie Edstrom D 11
Kloe Brockberg F 10
Hannah Woodley F 12
Marlee Nelson F 11
Rylee Kurtz D 11
Trinley Vanderburg F 10
Emma Saarloos G 12
4A – Blake
Coach: Kristi King
Record: 21-6-0
Top Scorer: Makenzie Williams (18-14-32)
Goalie: Janie McGawn (21-6-0/1.28/.949/8)
Kristi King and the Blake Bears punched their ticket to the state with a thrilling overtime victory over the Holy Angels Stars in the Section 4A final.
The section final came down to the wire, but Blake was the perfect team for the situation, as one of the most experienced teams in the state. The Bears returned 17 players from last season, including their top seven scorers and top two goaltenders from the 2024-25 campaign.
Blake, led by top scorer Makenzie Williams (32 points) and standout goaltender Janiie McGawn (.949 save percentage), is looking to enter a new glory era as they look to capture their first state championship since winning four titles in the 2010s.
One of the Bears’ calling cards is their excellent penalty kill. McGawn leads the unit, but they also had excellent team execution on the way to killing off 93.9% of PK opportunities this year. That skill is one factor behind the Bears’ sterling overall defensive numbers, as they give up just 1.41 goals per game.
Blake played several high-quality opponents this season, but struggled against other teams in the tournament. The team played close contests but ultimately came up short against Breck and Dodge County. The Bears are scheduled for an opening-round tilt with Mankato East, a team they didn’t play in the regular season.
Team Roster:
Player Pos Year
Janie McGawn G 12
Bryn Heinmiller F 10
Callie Arthur F 11
Ella Anderson F 10
Ella Bond F 12
Ruby Souvignier F 10
Reese Palmstein D 9
Leila Dalum F 11
Nola Dalum F 10
Sophie Hahn F 8
Makenzie Williams F 12
Quinnlan O’Shea F 11
Bella Bisbee D 12
Katherine Kyle D 9
Elizabeth Salonek D 8
Adeline Wethington D 11
Alida Nestingen D 8
Aly Bormes F 10
Hannah Jones F 12
Emelin Downey G 10
Phelan O’Shea F, D 8
Louisa Cohen G 11
5A – Breck
Coach: Tricia Luoma
Record: 25-1-1
Top Scorer: Mackenna Schlieman (21-27-48)
Goalie: Clara Milinkovich (21-1-1/0.71/.968/8)
The Breck Mustangs are making their return to the tournament for the first time since winning the 2020 state championship. Breck came out of their section after defeating Westonka / SW Christian in their finals matchup.
The Mustangs emerged victorious with a 3-0 win in that matchup. Earning a shutout in the finals was poetic for Breck, given that they’ve been one of the best defensive teams regardless of class all season. The Mustangs gave up 0.70 goals against per game this year, with goaltender Clara Milinkovich posting eight shutouts and a .968 save percentage. The team also featured a sterling penalty kill with a success rate of 90% down a player.
Breck is no slouch offensively either, averaging over five goals a game. Forwards Mackenna Schlieman (21-27-48) and Taylor Hall (23-23-46) led the way for the team’s attack. Schlieman registered three points, and Hall added two of her own in the team’s section victory.
When a team boasts a record as impressive as Breck’s 25-1-1 mark, it’s natural to wonder if some of those wins came against weaker competition. That isn’t the case with the Mustangs, who put together an impressive schedule that included two wins over Blake and victories against Hill-Murray, Dodge County, Orono and Benilde-St. Margarets.
The Mustangs are battle-tested, stingy defensively and dangerous on the attack. They’ll look to go on a run in the state tournament, starting with a matchup against the St. Cloud Crush.
Team Roster:
Player Pos Year
Molly Larson D 11
Ashley Babbitt F 10
Kenadee Crable D 10
Mackenna Schlieman F 10
Kynlee Hintzman F 9
Taylor Hall F 10
Stella Strothman F 9
Elsa Artemiuk D 8
Alexis Ulrich D 10
Madison Dovenberg F 12
Casey Moos D 12
Lucia Juenke F 10
Alexa Sherf F 11
Aubrey Lang F 11
Torrin Luoma F 12
Annie Moos F 8
Aleah La Fleur D 10
Brynn MacKinnon G 11
Abby Brown G 7
Clara Milinkovich G 9
6A – St. Cloud
Coach: Mike Petroske
Record: 18-9-0
Top Scorer: Reese Ruska (24-19-43)
Goalie: Jordan Bovy (15-7-0/1.67/.944/5)
St. Cloud is the lone Class A representative playing in its first state tournament. The Crush are making their appearance at Grand Casino Arena after taking down Fergus Falls, who had made state three years in a row, in the Section 6A finals.
The Crush got two goals from Reese Ruska, the team’s leading scorer, in the most important game of their season. Another impressive performance came from Jordan Bovy, who made 27 saves on 29 shots against.
Bovy was a stalwart all season for the Crush, shutting out opponents on five occasions and registering one of the best save percentages in the state at .944. Bova will need to be solid throughout the tournament if St. Cloud hopes to contend in their first state tournament appearance.
Other players to watch include Ruska and fellow top scorers Reeghan Stevens (32 points) and Liz Bell (28 points). Jayden Layne (18), Ella Gebhardt (18), Sheridan Stockman (18) and Josie Longnecker (11) round out the Crush’s depth-scoring options as their other players who registered double-digit point totals this year.
Before thinking about their state title dreams, the Crush will have to contend with the Breck Mustangs in the first round of the tournament.
Team Roster:
Player Pos Year
Avery Mathiasen F 9
Sheridan Stockman F 10
Kelsey Carlson F 10
Isabelle Meyers F 11
Madison Smith F 10
Jillian Burkstrand F 9
Clara Baldwin F 8
Madison Hutt F 11
Ella Gebhardt F 9
Tia Ward F, D 9
Alexis Volkers F 10
Morgan Schneider D 10
Brooke Kahlhamer D 10
Genevieve Hiscock D 10
Sunny Oehrlein F 11
Kora Hutchinson F 9
Savannah Kroll F 9
Reeghan Stevens D 8
Reese Ruska F 12
Jayden Layne F 11
Josie Longnecker F 9
Brianna Robinson D 9
Erynn O’Hara D 9
Kallie Makarrall F 10
Jordan Bovy G 11
Lauren O’Neal G 9
Isabella Fleege G 10
Liz Bell F 9
Kathryn Weitzel D 9
Savana Neupauer D 10
Kayla Cai F 10
Brooklyn Bierschbach F 11
Aubree Schueller D 10
7A – Proctor/Hermantown
Coach: Emma Stauber
Record: 18-6-2
Top Scorer: Mya Gunderson (20-15-35)
Goalie: Suri Langley (10-5-1/1.94/.909/3)
If one saying could apply to this season’s Proctor/Hermantown Mirage, it’s the old “iron sharpens iron” adage. The Mirage played six games this season against teams that made the tournament across Class A and AA. They struggled in those games, going 1-5 against Warroad, Edina, Andover, Dodge County, Breck and Holy Family, but those games should prepare the team for the rigors of the state tournament.
Proctor/Hermantown punched their ticket to the state tourney after dominating their Section 7A competition in the sectional tournament. They defeated their first opponent, Rock Ridge, 9-0, before defeating North Shore 5-1.
The Mirage roster is largely defined by its depth. They don’t have one player who is head and shoulders above the rest in point production; instead, they have 11 players who scored double-digit point totals, and four (Mya Gunderson, Avery Milbridge, Grace Nichols and Ella Kaups) who scored more than 30.
The theme of depth extends to their goaltending battery as well, with two goaltenders who played significant time during the season. Most teams have one clear starter, but Proctor/Hermantown features a duo of Lillian Clemons (7-1-1) and Suri Langley (10-5-1), who both had solid seasons. Langley got the majority of starts down the stretch, including both in the section tournament, but both are capable of backstopping the Mirage.
Proctor/Hermantown will look to capture its first state title since 2021, starting its journey against the defending state champ, the Dodge County Wildcats.
Team Roster:
Player Pos Year
Rylee Knight F 11
Cora Clemons F 10
Mylie Chesley F 12
Jillian Ritsche F, D 11
Gianna Schinigoi F 12
Lexi Hoops F 11
Aubrey Miner F 11
Presley Paulson F 10
Savannah Baker D 10
Rylee Kalkbrenner D 12
Calista Rother F 10
Grace Nichols F 12
Arianna Richardson F 11
Cambriia Thomas D 12
Lily Moe F, D 10
Sarah Stauber D 12
Ashlyn Miner F 10
Ashlee Pruse D 12
Avery Milbridge F, D 11
Peighton Paulson F 12
Mya Gunderson F 12
Cadence Downs D 10
Elise Eckstrom D 11
Taylee Manion D 10
Haylie LaLone F 9
Ella Kaups F 10
Natalie Heitzman F 10
Lillian Clemons G 12
Avery Kuras G 12
Suri Langley G 12
Karlee Kalbrener is one of several Warroad players who return to this year’s team with ample state tournament experience, which should play a big role in their success this week. LPH PHOTO BY AJ PHOTOGRAPHY8A – Warroad
Coach: David Marvin
Record: 21-5-1
Top Scorer: Jaylie French (18-33-51)
Goalie: Payton Rolli (21-5-1/1.26/.934/10)
Warroad entered the last state tournament having won three straight Class A Championships. Dodge County cracked the Warriors’ win streak in an overtime classic. The Warriors will look to return to the throne this season after defeating East Grand Forks in the Section 8A championship game.
The Warriors boast several talented players, making them the #1-seeded team in the class. Senior goaltender Payton Rolli played every game for the Warriors and posted a sterling .934 save percentage. One of her best games came in a marquee matchup with the #1 seed in the AA bracket, Hill-Murray. The Warriors and Pioneers ended the game in a 2-2 tie with Rolli making 38 saves.
Rolli’s efforts earned her a semifinalist nomination for the prestigious Jori Jones Award.
On the offensive side of the ice, Warroad returned its top two scorers from last season, Jaylie French (51 points) and Taylor Reese (30). That pair, along with Olivia Anthony (46), Karlee Kalbrener (38), and Emma Hardwick (27), make up the backbone of the Warriors’ attack.
Whether it’s a high-scoring affair or a defensive battle, Warroad is equipped to win any style of game. That makes them top-level contenders as the #1 seed in the tournament. They begin their quest in the quarterfinals against Luverne.
Team Roster:
Player Pos Year
Payton Rolli G 12
Elin Rolli D 9
Karley Brekke F 9
Jaylie French F 11
Taylor Reese F 12
Lindsey Lorenson F 10
Hailey Selvog F 10
Ava Corrington F 10
Emmie Hardwick F 12
Kate Johnson D 12
Vivienne Marcowka D 12
Olivia Anthony F 9
Aaliyah Jackson F 12
Linnea Harren F 12
Karlee Kalbrener F 11
Hannah Poole F 11
Elle Hardwick D 8
Estella Hennum F 9
Makayla Lee D 11
Sam Earhart F 12
Lydia Fylling D 9
Kathrine Brekke D 11
Jordyn Lund F 9
Barret Mclaughlin F 8
Svea Grafstrom F 9
Reagan Haley D 12
Marissa Rood D 10
Madison Chamernick D 9
Aunna James G 9
Crosby Mclaughlin F 8
Eliza White G 9