Edina back to defend title, Holy Family makes first trip

by Robert Brent,  Let’s Play Hockey

One of the most exciting events in hockey is upon us as the Girl’s Hockey State Championships kick off today. Eight fantastic hockey clubs will compete for the title of the best Class AA Minnesota girl’s hockey team. The tournament features some of the biggest stars in the state, with three Ms. Hockey Award finalists and a Jori Jones Award finalist. Defending champion Edina returns looking to defend their title and win their first back-to-back championships since 2018-19.

The state tournament is a chance for Minnesota to celebrate its hockey culture and for some of the state’s most talented hockey players to show the results of their hard work. Regardless of the outcome, every team in the tournament worked incredibly hard to get to the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul. Now that they’re there, they’ll make memories that last a lifetime.

Check out our preview of the Class AA bracket and learn about every team competing for the state’s top prize.

#1 Seed: Edina (23-3-1, 6AA Champions)

LPH Final Ranking: 2nd

Goals For Per-Game: 4.00

Goals Against Per-Game: 1.11

Powerplay: 34.4%

Penalty Kill: 89.8%

Goals Leader: Whitney Horton (17)

Assists Leader: Audrey Davis, Lorelai Nelson (22)

Points Leader: Lorelai Nelson (38)

The Edina Hornets will enter the tournament looking to defend their title from last year as the #1 seed in this year’s tournament. The Hornets have been consistently excellent all season, losing only one game since December 10th. They have wins this season over fellow tournament competitors Andover, Hill-Murray, Holy Family and Rosemount. With a battle-tested roster and the #1 seed, Edina is the team to beat.

The Hornets feature one of the most talented teams in the state, with several players already committed to play at the collegiate level. They use that pedigree to execute a ruthlessly efficient power play attack that is the best in the tournament. They also play excellent team defense and get scored on less than any team in the field.

One of the more interesting storylines surrounding Edina is who will be in net for the Hornets throughout the tournament. Two goaltenders have carried the load throughout the season, with both playing excellently. Nora Hannon, a University of St. Thomas commit, went 12-2-2 with a .932 save percentage this campaign, while 17-year-old Reese McConnell posted a .939 save percentage on the way to an 11-1-1 record. 

McConnell started the Hornets championship game against Benilde-St. Margaret’s, but Hannon started their first game of the sectional tournament. Edina has two standout goaltenders that will be fascinating to track throughout the tournament. The Hornets begin their title defense against Farmington in the opening round.

#2 Seed: Centennial/Spring Lake Park (26-2-0, 5AA Champions)

LPH Final Ranking: 3rd

Goals For Per-Game: 5.36

Goals Against Per-Game: 1.21

Powerplay: 27%

Penalty Kill: 83.9%

Goals Leader: Mia Sutch (32)

Assists Leader: Teagan Kulenkamp (44)

Points Leader: Teagan Kulenkamp (70)

The Centennial/Spring Lake Park Cougars are coming into this tournament and are looking to be one of the top contenders. The Cougars punched their ticket to the Xcel Energy Center after defeating Mounds View/Irondale, North Wright County and Maple Grove in the Section 5AA championships. The win against Maple Grove was particularly vital for the program after Centennial/Spring Lake fell short against them in last year’s sectional final. 

Of all the teams in the state tournament, Centennial/Spring Lake Park may have the most impressive results on paper. Their 26 wins are the most of any team in the tournament. The Cougars have scored the most goals per game, too. The team’s leading scorer, Tegan Kulenkamp, accumulated more points than anyone else in this field. Kulenkamp was recently named a finalist for the prestigious Ms. Hockey award, making her one of the three finalists for that award competing for the title in St. Paul.

Kulenkamp spearheaded the Cougar attack, but the team also features plenty of other offensive weapons. Eight Centennial/Spring Lake Park players scored over 20 points this season. If Centennial/Spring Lake Park succeeds in this tournament, their balanced and high-powered offense will likely be the reason. 

The Cougars have been putting together impressive results for the last several seasons and hope that run culminates in a state championship. Head Coach Sean Molin has run the program for five years, putting together a 103-27-4 record behind the bench. The closest they’ve come as a program was a second-place finish in 2018, so they’ll be looking to achieve something the team has never done before in capturing a state title. 

The Cougars will start their quest to win the ultimate prize against #7 seed Rosemount in the first round.

#3 Seed: Hill-Murray (22-6-0, 4AA Champions)

LPH Final Ranking: 5th

Goals For Per-Game: 5.07

Goals Against Per-Game: 1.86

Powerplay: 33.3%

Penalty Kill: 76.5%

Goals Leader: Emily Pohl (36)

Assists Leader: Jaycee Chatleain (34)

Points Leader: Emily Pohl (66)

The Hill-Murray Pioneers have been a staple in the boys’ side of the tournament for decades, but the girl’s program has also been incredibly successful over recent years. The Pioneers defeated the Woodbury Royals in the 4AA Sectional Championships to send them back to St. Paul this year.

When they begin play at the state tournament, they’ll have revenge on their minds. The Pioneers made it all the way to the finals of the tournament last year before losing to Edina in a 2-0 game. If Hill-Murray can right that wrong this year, it’ll be the program’s third state championship. They won back-to-back titles in 2014 and 2015 and are hoping to add to that trophy case 10 years later. 

Hill-Murray also had one of the most rigid schedules in the state but passed that test with positive results. They played nine games this season against teams who also made it to the tournament and went 5-4 in those games. Two losses came against #1 seed Edina and the others to #2 seed Centennial/Spring Lake Park and Andover. They held victories over Holy Family twice, along with wins against Moorhead, Andover, and Rosemount. 

The team is led by a trio of high-powered 10th-grade scorers, which include Emily Pohl (66 points), Jaycee Chatleain (54 points), and  Elliana Engelhardt (43 points). The trio of scorers get much of their work done on the powerplay, contributing to one of the best extra-attacker units in the tournament. The Pioneers scored on a third of their powerplay opportunities, so their opponents will want to stay out of the box. On a similar note, Hill-Murray will also need to exercise much caution. Their 76.5% penalty-killing unit is the weakest in the tournament. Games involving the Pioneers may be determined by which team can exercise the most discipline.

Hill-Murray will take on #6 seed Andover in the opening round of their campaign for the state title. 

#4 Moorhead (20-7-1, 8AA Champions)

LPH Final Ranking: 7th

Goals For Per-Game: 4.18

Goals Against Per-Game: 1.50

Powerplay: 22.2%

Penalty Kill: 87.1%

Goals Leader: Olivia Kortan (21)

Assists Leader: Olivia Kortan (25)

Points Leader: Olivia Kortan (46)

Moorhead begins tournament play as the #4 seed after a stellar season in which they finished 20-7-1. On February 12th, Moorhead defeated defending 8AA champions Roseau 6-1 to capture their sectional title and punch their ticket to St. Paul.

Moorhead’s offense is spearheaded by Olivia Kortan, a senior forward who led the Spuds in all major scoring categories. Kortan has been a major player for Moorhead for all four years of her high school career. Last season, the star forward finished with 61 points in 28 games. Her output was slightly less this year, but she did miss eight games. With this being her last chance at state championship glory, expect Kortan to play a significant role for the Spuds as they return to the tournament after missing out last season.

One of Moorhead’s most significant advantages is that they have one of the best goaltenders in the tournament. Taylor Kressin is the lone goalie in the field and a finalist for the prestigious Jori Jones Award. The award is given to the best goaltender in the stand, and Kressin is a strong contender. She helped lead Moorhead to the state tournament with a 27-save effort against defending Section 8AA champion Roseau. Kressin posted a 1.47 goals-against average this year with a .950 save percentage. She also logged six shutouts. 

Moorhead will take on #5 seed Holy Family in the first round of the state tournament. The two teams have played once before this season, with Moorhead already holding a victory over the Fire. The two teams played a close game, with the Spuds skating away with a 3-2 win. Moorhead will be looking to replicate that result in the opening round.

#5 Seed: Holy Family (21-7-0, 2AA Champions)

LPH Final Ranking: 6th

Goals For Per-Game: 3.96

Goals Against Per-Game: 1.32

Powerplay: 18.5%

Penalty Kill: 84.8%

Goals Leader: Josie Linn (22)

Assists Leader: Addy Cowan (29)

Points Leader: Josie Linn (50)

Holy Family earned the #5 seed in this tournament in an instant classic against Minnetonka in the 2AA sectional final. Holy Family beat the #1-ranked Minnetonka in overtime with a goal from Maielle Schugel. It was Schugel’s first goal of the season, but it was certainly one to remember. 

A lot of the discussion around Holy Family has centered around that upset victory over Minnetonka, but the Fire have been great all season and belong in this field for far more than one win. The team went 21-7-0 this year and had signature wins over Andover and Orono this season. 

They’re one of the best teams in the tournament at limiting goals with a 1.32 goals-against per game average, the third-lowest in the tournament. Junior goaltender Kayla Swartout got most of their starts and registered an excellent .941 save percentage while going 17-7-0. The standout goalie is committed to play at the University of Wisconsin when she begins her collegiate career.

Another strength of the Holy Family Fire comes from their experience. All their players but two are 10th grade or above, and they should be one of the older teams in the tournament. This experience does not extend to their program, as Holy Family is making their first-ever state tournament appearance. The Fire will remember their first tournament experience for a lifetime, especially after their solid season.

Holy Family will face Moorhead in the first round of the tournament, and they look to make noise in their inaugural appearance.

#6 Seed: Andover (19-8-1, 7AA Champions)

LPH Final Ranking: 8th

Goals For Per-Game: 3.68

Goals Against Per-Game: 1.43

Powerplay: 34.7%

Penalty Kill: 90.5%

Goals Leader: Maya Engler (20)

Assists Leader: Mackenzie Jones (25)

Points Leader: Maya Engler (36)

The Andover Huskies earned their way into the tournament after a 19-8-1 campaign that ended with a Section 7AA title. In that sectional, the Huskies beat Anoka, Forest Lake, and Grand Rapids/Greenway.

Andover may be coming into the tournament as the #6 seed, but they should not be viewed as an underdog. The Huskies carry a storied tradition with impressive results in recent years. Since 2020, they’ve won two state titles and finished second twice. Head Coach Melissa Volk has backed the team for 12 seasons, amassing a 250-87-10 record. 

Along with their history of recent success, the Huskies will also come into the tournament with one of the best players in the state, Mackenzie Jones. Jones is a Ms. Hockey finalist committed to playing at the University of Wisconsin. Only the most elite talents in the state go on to play with top programs like Wisconsin, and Jones certainly fits the bill. The senior defender dominates games offensively and defensively with 25 assists and a +22 rating. Jones will undoubtedly play a key role in the Huskies’ title aspirations, with this being the final year of her high school career.

The Huskies will face Hill-Murray in the opening round, a team they’ve already played twice this season. Andover won the first game 5-2 on December 20th, while the Hill-Murray Pioneers won the second game 2-1 on January 24th. The two storied programs will have to play a rubber match before one of them tries to go on a run.

#7 Seed: Rosemount (21-7-0, 3AA Champions)

LPH Final Ranking: 12th

Goals For Per-Game: 3.36

Goals Against Per-Game: 1.86

Powerplay: 27.2%

Penalty Kill: 94%

Goals Leader: Sophie Stramel (28)

Assists Leader: Sophie Stramel (28)

Points Leader: Sophie Stramel (56)

Rosemount earned a state title appearance with victories over Hastings, Hopkins/Park and Eastview in the 3AA section championships. The title capped off a 21-7-0 season that they hope to extend even further in St. Paul.

Rosemount tends to start quickly in games. They outscored opponents 39-16 in the first period of games this year. That quick start is something they could take advantage of in this tournament if they’re able to win games. Rosemount played six games against fellow tournament competitors this season but went 1-for-6 against Centennial/Spring Lake Park, Farmington, Hill-Murray, Edina and Holy Family. They played two games against Farmington, splitting that series 1-1.  

Rosemount’s star forward is Sophie Stramel, a senior forward committed to playing at Minnesota State University and a finalist for this year’s Ms. Hockey award. The Ms. Hockey award and a solid showing at the state tournament would be the cherry on top for a fantastic season for Stramel. She joined the 200 career point club this season and scored the game-winning goal in Rosemount’s section final win over Eastview. If Stramel can lead the Irish to a state tournament win, it would be the school’s first for either boys or girls.

Rosemount starts the tournament off against Centennial/Spring Lake Park. That matchup is the same one Rosemount began the season with, a game the Irish lost 3-1. They’ll look to reverse their fortunes this time around. 

#8 Seed: Farmington (18-7-3, 1AA Champions)

LPH Final Ranking: 17th

Goals For Per-Game: 3.43

Goals Against Per-Game: 2.54

Powerplay: 25.4%

Penalty Kill: 87.4%

Goals Leader: Jenna Goblirsch (20)

Assists Leader: Jenna Goblirsch (21)

Points Leader: Jenna Goblirsch (41)

The Farmington Tigers won the Section 1AA title after defeating South Central, Mankato East, and Northfield. After missing the tournament in recent years, Farmington is looking to make a strong showing.

The eighth-seeded Tigers will have their work cut out against Edina, but Head Coach Jon Holmes should be up to preparing the team for the matchup. Holmes is one of the most experienced coaches in the tournament, and he has 18 years at Farmington under his belt. While the Tigers’ coach may be experienced, the team is one of the youngest in the field. Goaltender Addison Moudry and defender Kennedy Meier are the only seniors on the team. 

The Tigers are led by a trio of scorers: sisters Jenna and Amelia Goblirsch and Taylor Risch. The three players are all ninth-graders, so they’ll get fantastic experience in this tournament. The team has great potential but will definitely be an underdog story in St. Paul. 

The Tigers are backstopped by a duo of goaltenders in the form of Addison Moudry and Makenna Underwood. Both goalies played significant time for Farmington this season. Underwood made 14 starts, while Moudry started in 15 games. While the time was reasonably even, fans can expect Moudry to get the first crack at minding the Farmington net after she made every start in Farmington’s sectional playoff run. Moudry posted a 1.96 goals-against-average and a .918 save percentage this season.

The Farmington Tigers will take on the #1 seed Edina Hornets in the opening round of the Class AA State Championships.You can find the full brackets and schedules for the Class AA State Tournament here, or purchase tickets to sessions at the Xcel Energy Center here.