MN State Girls Hockey Predictions

Welcome to my predictions for the 2017 Minnesota Girls MSHSL Hockey Championships.

We start of with the first game of the day Wednesday, Mankato East/Loyola vs St Paul United. The United advanced to the Class A championship game last year before losing to Breck 8-0. They avenge their last trip to the X by beating Mankato East/Loyola and advancing to the semi finals.

When you talk about Iron Range hockey and Warroad vs Hibbing/Chisholm falls smack dab in the middle of it. Separated by about 200 miles this matchup has all of the energy that one could ask for. I’m taking Warroad.

The Blake Bears are the returning state champs. Sorry Alexandria, I have got to pick the returning and defending champs.

Northfield vs Mound Westonka wraps up the night and will probably go down to the wire. Mound Westonka in a close one.

On Semi Final Friday, St Paul United will take on Warroad. St Paul United has had a great season but Warroad is Warroad. I have to go with Warroad.

The next Semi Final in single A is the Blake School vs Mound Westonka. Blake wins this easily.

On Championship Saturday there will be a repeat, as the Blake School will win their 4th championship in the last five years. Blake might be the best team in the state in either class.

Now to Class AA where we start Wednesday with another dominant Iron Range team in Roseau team matching up against a Blaine Bengal team that has turned heads on their way to State. The Bengals are coming off a conference championship win against 3rd ranked Maple Grove. The game featured plenty of hits and also a 3-0 shutout. Easily the best girls high school games I have seen in a long time. Blaine comes out fired up and defeats the Rams to open the tourney.

In the second game of the day powerhouse Hill-Murray will easily down Eastview.

The third game features Edina and Farmington. All Hornets in this one.

The final game of the day matches Eden Prairie against Forrest Lake. The Eagles win this one.

The games get meaty on Semi Final Friday. Blaine will be tested against 2014 and 2015 state champion Hill-Murray. But this is the best Bengal team the school has produced in years. They take down the powerful Pioneers and advance to the championship.

The other Semi Final pits southwest metro powerhouses Edina vs Eden Prairie in a border battle. These two teams met twice in the regular season with the Hornets winning both. The key here is both games were decided by one goal. This will also be a close one with Edina winning and advancing to Championship Saturday.

Blaine has lost only three games this season, Edina only one. Both teams have lost a game to Blake. Blaine lost to Blake 1-3 on Jan 19. Edina lost to Blake, the Hornet’s only loss, 1-2 on Jan 27. Both teams have a talented lineup but it will be the Hornets that win another state title.