These Minnesota boys hockey teams are 1 win from reaching the state tournament
Dozens of semifinal games were played out in Minnesota boys hockey section tournaments on Saturday, and it's set the stage for what's considered one of the most exciting weeks of sports in the State of Hockey.
Section semifinals are often more dramatic than the games at the state tournament, and this year's championship tilts are even more compelling after some of the top seeds were knocked out on Saturday.
Minnetonka, the No. 2-ranked team in Class AA, was upset by 5-seed Holy Family Catholic, and Marshall, one of the top teams in Class A, saw its season end at the hands of upset-minded Hutchinson.
CLASS AA
Section 1AA
- Championship: #2 Lakeville North vs. #4 Lakeville South
- When: 7 p.m. Thursday
- Where: Rochester Rec Center
Section 2AA
- Championship: #3 Eden Prairie vs. #5 Holy Family Catholic
- When: 6 p.m. Wednesday
- Where: Mariucci Arena
Section 3AA
- Championship: #1 St. Thomas Academy vs. #3 Eagan
- When: 7 p.m. Thursday
- Where: Braemar Arena in Edina
Section 4AA
- Championship: TBD
- When: 7 p.m. Friday
- Aldrich Arena in Maplewood
The section semifinals will be played Wednesday night, featuring White Bear Lake against Woodbury and Stillwater versus Hill-Murray.
Section 5AA
- Championship: #1 Blaine vs. #2 Maple Grove
- When: 7 p.m. Thursday
- Where: Aldrich Arena in Maplewood
Section 6AA
- Championship: #1 Edina vs. #2 Benilde-St. Margaret's
- When: 8 p.m. Wednesday
- Where: Mariucci Arena
Section 7AA
- Championship: #1 Andover vs. #2 Duluth East
- When: 7 p.m. Thursday
- Where: Amsoil Arena in Duluth
Section 8AA
- Championship: #1 Moorhead vs. #3 Brainerd
- When: 7 p.m. Wednesday
- Where: Sanford Center in Bemidji
CLASS A
Section 1A
- Championship: TBD
- When: 7 p.m. Wednesday
- Where: Rochester Rec Center
The semifinals were scheduled for Saturday but postponed to Monday because of inclement weather. Monday's games feature Mankato East/Loyola against Rochester Lourdes/Dover-Eyota, and Minnesota River against Albert Lea.
Section 2A
- Championship: #1 Orono vs. #2 Delano
- When: 7 p.m. Thursday
- Where. St. Louis Park Rec Center
Section 3A
- Championship: #3 New Ulm vs. #5 Hutchinson
- When: 7:30 p.m. Wednesday
- Where: Gustavus Adolphus (Lund Arena)
Section 4A
- Championship: TBD
- When: 7 p.m. Friday
- Where: Roseville Ice Arena
The semifinals in this section are set for Tuesday. Totino-Grace takes on St. Paul Academy and South St. Paul meets up against Mahtomedi.
Section 5A
- Championship: #2 North Branch vs. #5 Chisago Lakes
- When: 7 p.m. Thursday
- Where: Elk River Arena
Section 6A
- Championship: #1 St. Cloud Cathedral vs. #3 Alexandria
- When: 7 p.m. Thursday
- Where: St. Cloud MAC
Section 7A
- Championship: #1 Hermantown vs. #3 Greenway/Nashwauk-Keewatin
- When: 7 p.m. Wednesday
- Where: Amsoil Arena in Duluth
Section 8A
- Championship: #1 East Grand Forks vs. #3 Warroad
- When: 7 p.m. Thursday
- Where: East Grand Forks Civic Center