Two storied programs with 11 state titles between them clash in semis
Freshman goalie Clara Milinkovich made 43 saves and three sophomores scored as Breck defeated rival Blake 3-2 in the Class A semifinals, advancing to the championship game against Warroad.
by Robert Brent, Let’s Play Hockey
Two titans of Minnesota High School Class A girls hockey faced off Friday afternoon when Blake and Breck Academy collided with a trip to the championship game on the line.
The two clubs are among the most decorated schools in the state, with Blake (7) and Breck (4) combining for 11 state titles. The two teams are also bitter rivals, with this being their fourth meeting of the season. Breck got wins in each of the three previous matchups.
Despite both programs’ rich history, both teams have had an uphill climb in recent seasons to reclaim their status among Minnesota’s elite.
Blake’s state appearance was their first since 2017-18, with some difficult seasons following that tournament berth. The Bears recorded a 5-20-2 record in 2023-24 before a resurgence that led to this season’s 21-6-0 performance.
Breck has a similar story, with the program reaching a low of 3-20-1 in 2021-22. The Mustangs have completely rebuilt into a powerhouse that only lost one game this season. Breck head coach Tricia Dunn-Luoma spoke earlier in the tournament about the team’s turnaround.
Clara Milinkovich made 43 saves to help lift the Mustangs past the Bears.“It’s been a long road and it’s just a testament to how hard these players have worked and how much they believe in themselves and want to push themselves as players,” Dunn-Luoma said. “To make this team a better team, to take it as far as we can go.”
With both teams looking to complete their Cinderella story, the semifinals provided a massive stage for redemption.
Breck got on the board early in the first period with a power play goal from sophomore Aleah La Fleur. The Mustangs’ special teams proficiency would become a story in the game, with Breck scoring another extra-attacker goal later in the game and successfully killing off several penalties.
Blake tied the game near the end of the period, but Breck’s Mackenna Schlieman scored for the Mustangs with just 1:13 remaining to regain the lead.
Taylor Hall added a goal for the Mustangs 3:54 into the second period to put the Mustangs up 3-1. From there, the Blake Bears mounted a frenetic offensive attack, attempting a comeback. The Bears outshot Breck 19-5 in the second period.
Despite the onslaught of shots, Breck’s Clara Milinkovich was up to the task. Milinkovich’s excellence was on display throughout the game, with Blake’s first-period tally the only puck they could put past the Mustangs’ goalkeeper until they scored again with just 12 seconds remaining.
Blake celebrates a goal in Friday’s 3-2 semifinal.While Blake was able to pull the game to just a 3-2 deficit on a Bryn Heinmiller tally, the comeback bid was too late, and Breck emerged victorious. Milinkovich recorded 43 saves in the game.
Breck’s youth movement was in full display in the game, with all three goal scorers (La Fleur, Schlieman, and Hall) being sophomores. While many have played on the team for several seasons, the Mustangs’ youth still stands out at a time of year when many teams are depending on older players as their biggest contributors.
Tricia Dunn-Luoma reflected on the sophomore class and her young team’s growth after the game.
“It’s been a big year for our sophomore class. They’ve matured as players, and they’re just another year older and wiser,” Dunn-Luoma said. “For some of them, it’s their fourth year playing varsity hockey. We’re very proud of the leadership they’ve grown into on and off the ice.”
Any win that sends your team to state is vital, but beating Blake carries greater significance for the Breck players. Senior forward Madison Dovenberg spoke about it after the game.
Breck celebrates their win as they will play for their fifth state title in program history.“The Blake and Breck rivalry goes back pretty far, and playing them four times in one season is a lot. The nerves during the game are more than you’ll ever experience,” Dovenberg said. “It was extra special to play them in the semifinals; it definitely meant a lot more. We knew we had to rise to the occasion.”
Breck’s semifinal victory sets up a fascinating championship game between two of Minnesota’s blue blood programs, with a matchup against Warroad. The two teams have helped define Class A hockey for the last decade. Breck won three straight championships in 2018, 19, and 20, while Warroad posted a three-peat of its own in 2022, 23, and 24.
While a shared history of excellence ties the programs together, fans need not look that far back to find an intriguing story for the Class A tourney final. The two teams played earlier this season, with the Warriors handing the Mustangs their only loss of the 2025-26 campaign in a 3-1 contest.
