Eight teams have made it to St. Paul with one goal in mind

by Bryan Zollman and Robert Brent, Let’s Play Hockey

Speculation looms, as it does every year come tourney time when eight teams converge in St. Paul in pursuit of the state’s biggest prize.

We are a year removed from witnessing history when the Moorhead Spuds, long the bridesmaid but never the bride, brought home their first title in program history and are now sporting Minnesota’s most glowing and glorious  ring. We since learned that them bringing that title home wasn’t enough as their top talent returned to defend the status that took them so long to achieve. There is just too much pride in Spud Land to not wholly defend  high school hockey’s most prestigious honor: Minnesota High School Hockey State Champions.

The last Class AA program to successfully defend their title was in 2014 when the Hornets from Edina won back-to-back crowns. Before that? The boys in blue from Jefferson who won not two, but three straight from 1992-1994. Further proof of how difficult it is to not just win once, but to pull off a back-to-back.

But if any team is poised and talented enough to pull it off, it’s the 2025-26 version of the Spuds. They may not have 2025 Mr. Hockey Mason Kraft, but they have two guys who are up for Mr. Hockey in Tyden Bergeson (27-48-75) and Brandon Mickelson (21-38-59). They have a bonafide frontrunner for Mr. Hockey next year in junior Zac Zimmerman (23-37-60), and they have perhaps the best sophomore not just in the state or region, but some would say the country in Joey Cullen (17-20-37). And we haven’t even mentioned Joey’s elder cousin, Max Cullen, who has quietly scored 25 goals and dished out 34 assists for 59 points. He is one of five players on the Spuds with more than 40 points, with Evan Wanner (15-25-40) the fifth. Joey Cullen would be the sixth, but he has only played in 15 games having missed a dozen contests with an injury. So yeah, 37 points in just 15 games, and it’s not like the Spuds play a cake schedule. In fact they are ranked sixth in AA in strength of schedule (SOS).

No. 1 in SOS? That would be the  #3 Hornets, who advanced to their fifth straight state tourney after another section triumph over crosstown rival Wayzata. Edina lost most of their firepower from last year, including 1st-round pick Mason West, but like a well-equipped army, reloaded and marched their way back to St. Paul.

They will take on #6 Andover, who advanced to their second straight state tournament despite a losing record (11-14-3) and being outscored 106-100. Last season they started 0-9 and advanced out of Section 7AA. This year in 5AA it was the same result and they are 6-0 in section play the past two season despite a 20-27-3 regular season mark. Something tells us Coach Manney doesn’t just know how to fly airplanes, but also guide hockey teams onto the landing strip in St. Paul.

Can they upset Edina in the quarterfinals? A couple hockey pundits think so. Just check out the latest Let’s Play Hockey Podcast to get that and other predictions.

How have we gotten this far without mentioning the top-seeded Skippers, who beat the Spuds and just about everyone else?

Maybe they don’t get the credit they deserve because they don’t have the rolodex of Division I commits like they did in 2024, and instead rely on a smash-mouth shut-down defense coupled with a balanced and skilled set of forwards and a goaltender up for the Brimsek (Chase Jerdee).

How strong is their defensive prowess? They have allowed just 38 goals in 28 games and had a 12-game stretch where they allowed just six goals. They also own the fourth toughest schedule in AA hockey and have been able to shut down the best of the best.

If they get past Gentry Academy, and history says they will, they will play the winner of No. 4 Rosemount and No. 5 Grand Rapids. The former took some heat for getting the top seed in 3AA, but proved their standing with a 3-2 win over St. Thomas Academy in the section final. It is their first trip to state since 1992, so it’s been awhile since they’ve witnessed the bright lights of St. Paul. Whether that will have some sort of affect remains to be seen, but they will have the toughest path to the title game having to beat one of the hottest teams in Class AA in Grand Rapids and then likely the top-seeded Skippers.

Grand Rapids is riding a 7-game win streak and outscored section opponents 20-1 and will give Rosemount all they can handle, and maybe too much to handle. The No. 4 vs. No. 5 game is always a battle and the No. 5 has won three of the last four, including Grand Rapids beating White Bear Lake in 2024.

But perhaps the luck of the Irish is on Rosemount’s side, or maybe they don’t need any luck at all being they are one of the more statistically strong teams in the tournament when it comes to save percentage (.932), goal differential (4.36-1.79), power play (32.3%) and penalty kill (88.2%).

They have strong senior leadership and good young talent, a recipe that usually mixes well and results in Ws.

Lakeville South enters the tourney as the No. 7 seed, and despite some in-season issues, emerged from Section 1AA with a strong finish that included a section final win over a senior-laden and talented Farmington squad. Last year they gave Moorhead a good game in the quarterfinals and will look to do the same this year.

Gentry Academy squared up against Section 4AA powerhouses Hill-Murray and White Bear Lake and skated through as the No. 5 seed. Ince they were off the radar for much of the season, not much is known about the 2021 Class A Champions. For that reason, perhaps they will raise a few more eyebrows at Grand Casino Arena.

Could they be a surprise team? Will there be a surprise team?

The puck drops Thursday with anticipation as we have narrowed the field that began in November down to the great eight.

Which team will crash the glass and make a victory lap?

Your guess is as good as ours.

Team-by-Team Preview

1AA – Lakeville South (#7)

Coach: Kurt Weber

Record: 14-11-3

Top Scorer: Carter Ernst (19-29-48)

Goalie: Keaton LeGrande (10-5-1/2.89/.893/1)

GF/GA: 105-79

PPG: 18 (24.0%)

PPGA: 8 (87.7%)

The Lakeville South Cougars are appearing in the state tournament for the 13th time, but are still looking to capture their first championship. The Cougars had a tumultuous season that included the installation of Kurt Weber as the interim head coach while the normal bench boss, Josh Storm, was placed on leave.

Despite the rollercoaster year, Lakeville South rounded into shape just when it needed to earn its berth after winning the Section 1AA Championship. The Cougars lost only one of their final nine games and defeated Rochester Mayo, Lakeville North and Farmington in the section finals. 

Goaltender Keaton LeGrande was particularly strong down the stretch. In LeGrande’s last four starts of the season, he registered a .938 save percentage while allowing six goals on 97 shots against. If LeGrande can keep that pace, the senior goaltender will continue to be a key contributor to the team’s success. LeGrande is also a significant component of the team’s penalty kill, which became a strength for the Cougars, posting an 87.7% success rate.

Carter Ernst leads the way for Lakeville South offensively with 48 points in 28 games. Ernst was an effective goal scorer with 19 tallies on the season, but he’s also a great playmaker. Calvin O’Reilly (20 goals) and Roan Zielie (20) are the team’s other top goalscorers.

The Cougars take on Moorhead in the opening-round matchup of the tournament, with Lakeville South looking to pull off an upset against the highly-ranked Spuds.

Team Roster:

2AA – Minnetonka Skippers (#1)

Coach: Sean Goldsworthy

Record: 24-2-2

Top Scorer: Cash Hardie (16-15-31)/Max Aronson (15-16-31)

Goalie: Chase Jerdee (17-2-1/1.43/.927/6)

GF/GA: 130-38

PPG: 16 (22.9%)

PPGA: 19 (79.3%)

Minnetonka earned the #1 seed in the tournament after a stellar season that saw them hover in the top tier of teams all year long. The Skippers finished particularly strong, winning seven of their last eight games. Their section tournament run included wins over Chaska, Eden Prairie and Chanhassen. 

The Skippers calling card this season was their balanced lineup with key offensive contributions throughout the entire lineup. Minnetonka didn’t have one or two players who produced eye-popping numbers, instead they had nine players who scored more than 20 points during the 2025-26 campaign. The team had no 20 goal scorers, but instead got double digit goal totals from seven players (Cash Hardie, Caden Lindsay, Ethan Sturgis, Max Aronson, Jordan Johnson, Tate Hardacre and Cooper Rannow).

Minnetonka also excelled at keeping the puck out of their own net. Goaltenders Chase Jerdee and Evan Enck put together two separate four-game streaks this season where the team didn’t give up any goals. While both goaltenders were fantastic, Jerdee earned the lion’s share of starts this season on his way to a nomination for the Frank Brimsek Award as the state’s best goaltender.

The team also comes into the tournament battle-tested with several games against high-level opponents. Perhaps their most impressive win of the season came against Moorhead on December 20th, a game they won 4-2. Minnetonka did lose and tie games against rivals Edina, the only team in the tournament this season that the Skippers lost to. They could face off again, but it would have to be in the championship game since the two clubs are on different sides of the bracket.

Before they can think about that, however, the Skippers will take on Gentry Academy in the opening round matchup of the tournament.

Team Roster:

3AA – Rosemount Irish (#4)

Coach: Ricky Saintey Jr.

Record: 23-4-1

Top Scorer: Connor Schubert (19-22-41)

Goalie: Drew Sherman (9-2-1/1.77/.936/3)

GF-GA: 122-50

PPG: 21 (32.3%)

PPGA: 9 (88.2%)

When the seedings for Section 3AA got released, there were some questions about whether Rosemount or St. Thomas Academy deserved the #1 seed. Now that the Irish have earned their way into the state tournament, it’s clear that Rosemount’s first-placed seed was deserved. Rosemount defeated St. Thomas Academy 3-2 in a thrilling section final to earn its berth to Grand Casino Arena. 

The Irish will enter the tournament as one of the hottest teams in the state, winning 13 of their last 14 games. Rosemount wins those games with a deep lineup that includes several players chipping in offensively. The most notable scorers from the team are Connor Schubert (41 points), Gavin McNeil (40), Cade Sherman (37) and Channing Goodwin (37).

Rosemount’s depth also extends to the crease, with the team featuring three goaltenders who can get the job done. Drew Sherman, Sam Clements and Aiden Finn all started more than five games, posted save percentages above .920 and goals-against averages below 2.00. Sherman has gotten the call in the team’s most crucial games of late, but no team will be more prepared in net than Rosemount in case of an emergency.

The team’s secret weapon is their special teams, which are excellent on both sides. Their penalty kill was nearly unbreakable at 88.2%, and their power play was lethal, scoring on 32.3% of chances. Numbers like that give Rosemount an X-factor that could win them games in the tournament.

The Irish kick off their championship bid as the #4 seed against the #5 seed Grand Rapids in the first round.

Team Roster:

4AA – Gentry Academy Stars (#8)

Coach: Kyle Follmer

Record: 17-9-2

Top Scorer: Jaxon Cook (33-26-59)

Goalie: Gavin Grose (11-6-1/2.47/.898/3)

GF-GA: 128-75

PPG: 23 (28.8%)

PPGA: 13 (85.2%)

Gentry Academy earned its spot in the tournament as the eighth-seeded team, with one of the more unlikely runs through its sectional playoffs. The Stars upset the Section 4AA #1 seed Hill-Murray in the semifinals 4-2 before a 3-0 victory over White Bear Lake.

The Stars’ attack is led by five players who scored a point per game or better this season, with Jaxon Cook topping the list with 59 points. The other four were Nate Wilke (38), Collin Hennes (37), Everett Nelson (31) and Braden Bois (27). With that quintet of scorers, the Stars have the firepower to compete on the biggest stage.

One of the most intriguing aspects of the Stars’ season is that they’re a fairly strong club when it comes to special teams. In a single-game elimination format like the state tournament, the outcome of a game can come down to a couple of timely power-play goals or momentum-changing penalty kills. Gentry Academy is set up well to do just that. 

They were successful on 28.8% of their power play chances this season. Goaltender Gavin Grose and company were also highly effective on the penalty kill, shutting down 85.2% of opposing chances.

Gentry Academy has a tough first-round matchup against the #1-seeded Minnetonka. It will be a difficult task as they try for their third upset in a row.

Team Roster:

5AA – Andover Huskies (#6)

Coach: Mark Manney

Record: 11-14-3

Top Scorer: Camden Langfeld (20-35-55)

Goalie: Wyatt Riemer (8-12-2/3.61/.873/1)

GF-GA: 100-106

PPG: 27 (27.3%)

PPGA: 24 (69.2%)

Andover has been a mainstay at the state tournament over the last several years, earning berths in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2025. While the Huskies are a common presence at Grand Casino Arena, it didn’t seem like a certainty this year. Andover is the only team in this year’s tournament with more losses than wins.

That being said, the Huskies got their wins when it mattered the most. The team entered the Section 5AA playoffs as the fifth seed and had to play some of the state’s top teams to earn a spot in this season’s tournament. Andover defeated section-favorite Maple Grove in a 3-2 overtime thriller before a nine-goal offensive explosion led to a 9-5 win over Centennial.

The Huskies are led by a talented group of forwards who can put up competitive scoring numbers against any team in the state. Camden Langfeld was the most productive this season, registering 55 points. The Huskies feature several other standout players, including senior forward KJ Sauer. Sauer’s scoring numbers went down a bit this season (22 points this year compared to 32 last season), but he’s a rugged and physical forward who contributes more than just point totals.

Andover’s season earned them the #6 seed in the tournament at Grand Casino Arena. Their march to the state championship starts March 5th when they take on the #3-seeded Edina Hornets.

Team Roster:

6AA – Edina Hornets (#3)

Coach: Curt Giles

Record: 21-6-1

Top Scorer: Tucker Johnson (16-42-58)

Goalie: Chase Bjorgaard (15-4-1/2.21/.924/2)

Edina’s trophy case is as full as any other team in the state. The Hornets have appeared in the state tournament 43 times and won the championship 15 times, more than any other program. While they’re the #3 seed in this year’s field, the team is still a strong contender to make some noise at Grand Casino Arena. 

The Hornets are a competition-sharpened team that emerged from one of the most competitive sections in the state, with wins over Robbinsdale Armstrong/Cooper, Holy Angels and Wayzata. Over the course of the season, Edina also tested themselves against top teams like Minnetonka, St. Thomas Academy, Hill-Murray, Maple Grove and Moorhead. A schedule that strenuous is sure to have the Hornets ready to face anything that comes at them in Grand Casino Arena.

The Edina attack features five players (Tucker Johnson, Bode McConnell, Dylan Donnay, Becker Wenkus and Brady Peterson) who eclipsed the point-per-game mark this season. Johnson and McConnell, in particular, had productive seasons, scoring 57 and 54 points respectively. Tucker Johnson’s 42 assists ranked second among all Class AA players and earned the senior forward a Mr. Hockey nomination.

The Hornets are set in net as well, with Chase Bjorgaard, who has a winning pedigree. The goaltender is also a running back for the Hornets’ football team. Bjorgaard rushed for over 300 yards in Edina’s state championship-winning effort this season. He’s fantastic on the ice as well, allowing just 2.21 goals against per game this season.

The Hornets take on Andover in the opening round of this year’s state tournament.

Team Roster:

7AA – Grand Rapids Thunderhawks (#5)

Coach: Grant Clafton

Record: 15-12-1

Top Scorer: Seth Carlson (20-23-43)

Goalie: Luke Sherlock (10-5-0/2.53/.911/3)

GF-GA: 114-85

PPG: 35 (42.2%)

PPGA: 18 (76.3%)

If you only paid attention to high school hockey earlier in the season, Grand Rapids’ state tournament berth might come as a bit of a surprise. The team went 2-7-1 in their first ten games. That set of games was a gauntlet against some of the state’s top teams, like Edina and Moorhead, but it was certainly a less-than-ideal start.

Since that start, the Thunderhawks have stormed back to become a very solid team. Grand Rapids is the #5 seed at Grand Casino Arena after defeating Northern Edge, Forest Lake and Rock Ridge in the Section 7AA tournament.

Grand Rapids is led offensively by Seth Carlson, a balanced, offensive-minded player who is just as proficient at scoring as he is at distributing. Carlson was strong for the Thunderhawks all season, but played especially well down the stretch, scoring 13 points in the team’s last six games. Carlson was joined by Ander Rajala (41 points) as Grand Rapids’ two 40-point scorers. Those two players were flanked by Jameson Duell (37), Nathan Garski (36), and William Shermoen (31), who all scored more than 30.

The Thunderhawks played a few different goaltenders in net this season, but Luke Sherlock took control of the crease as the most effective. The sophomore goaltender was sterling throughout the section playoffs, posting two shutouts against Northern Edge and Forest Lake and allowing just one goal while making 33 saves against Rock Ridge. If Sherlock continues that form, Grand Rapids will be difficult to score on.

The Thunderhawks are looking to win their fifth state championship this year, but will have to take on a strong Rosemount Irish squad in the opening round.

Team Roster:

8AA – Moorhead Spuds (#2)

Coach: Jon Ammerman

Record: 24-3-1

Top Scorer: Tyden Bergeson (27-48-75)

Goalie: Will Arnold (20-3-1/2.25/.890/5)

GF-GA: 168-64

PPG: 33 (35.5%)

PPGA: 14 (82.3%)

Last year’s state champions are back again as a major favorite in this season’s state tournament after cruising through the Section 8AA playoffs. The Spuds defeated Elk River/Zimmerman 5-1 in the finals of that bracket.

Looking at Moorhead’s roster, it’s easy to see why the team is returning with the chance to defend its title. Tyden Bergeson (75 points) and Brandon Mickelson (59) are both finalists for the Mr. Hockey Award. Moorhead is the only school to have two finalists for the prestigious honor. While they lead the way for the Spuds, there are several other potent players on the team, like Zac Zimmerman (60 points) and Max Cullen (59), who both score more than two points a game. 

The Spuds’ offense is the hallmark of their game. They averaged six goals a game this season and were also lethal on the power play, converting on 35.5% of their chances. What’s even more impressive is that they managed to produce that much offense against some top teams. The Spuds scored five or more goals against teams like Edina, Hill-Murray, Andover and Warroad.

Will Arnold is also solid in net for Moorhead, winning 20 games this year while producing five shutouts. The sophomore goaltender had his strongest game of the season against Benilde-St. Margaret’s, a game where he made 28 saves on 29 shots.

Moorhead will start the defense of their title against the #7-seeded Lakeville South. The two teams have yet to play this season.

Team Roster: