Welcome to my predictions for the 2017 Minnesota Boys MSHSL Hockey Championships. I faired pretty well picking the girls tourney. Hopefully I can do as well in the boys tourney although it is more difficult to predict due to the fact that anything can happen.
We start with the first game of the day Wednesday at 11am, Monticello/Annandale/Maple Lake vs Delano. The Moose bounced back from a losing season last year to make the state tourney this year by defeating Chisago Lakes 3-1 to win their section. The Tigers scored a record of 24-3-1. They beat Breck to win their section. Delano keeps it rolling by beating the Moose.
At 1pm Northfield takes on Mahtomedi. The Raiders come into the tournament with a 20-5-3 record and a win over Red Wing in their section 3-2. The Zephyrs enter with a record of 16-11-1 and a 3-1 section win over St Paul Academy. I’m taking Mahtomedi.
The early evening tilt features Luverne vs Hermantown. The Cardinals are the underdog of the tournament coming in with a record of 22-5-1 and a win over Marshall in their section. The reigning champs, the Hawks defeated Greenway-5-1 to win their section. They bring a record of 26-1-1 into the tourney. This one could be a blowout. Hermantown wins.
The last game of opening day of the tourney features St Cloud Cathedral against East Grand Forks. This could be the best game of the day. The Crusaders return for their eighth appearance in the state tournament. They enter with a record of 20-6-2 and defeated Alexandria 3-2 in their section final. The Green Waved missed out on the state tourney last season after winning the single A title in 2014 and 2015. They enter the tourney with a record of 17-8-2 and a section tournament win over Warroad 5-1. St Cloud Cathedral and East Grand Forks tied in their only meeting of the season on December 4th at St Cloud. The Crusaders tying goal of the game was scored by Nate Warner at 13:50 in the third period. It was Warner’s second goal of the game. This is a close one but I am picking East Grand Forks.
Our first game of the day on semi-final Friday will be Delano against Mahtomedi. Delano wins this one.
In the second game if the day, Hermantown plays East Grand Forks. If this was two years ago I may have taken the Green Wave. But, this Hermantown’s year. Cue the Hawkdance.
On Championship Saturday we will see Hermantown take on Delano for the 1A title. Let’s Play Hockey predicted a Delano title over Hermantown back on January 5th. They were right about the matchup but not the outcome. Hermantown beat Delano on December 28th 4-3. They do it again repeating as state champs and winning their third title in the past eleven years. As a bonus Hairmantown wins the 1A title for best lettuce. Like you didn’t see that coming.
Now on to the brackets of class 2A. The puck drops on the first game Thursday at 11am Lakeville South vs St. Thomas Academy. The Cougars return to the tourney for the first time since 2012. They got here by beating Lakeville North 3-1 in their section championship. The cougars enter the game with a 18-9-1 record. The Cadets enter with a 23-4-1 record and five tournament titles, all happening before they moved up to class 2A. St. Thomas wins this one.
The second game of the day features 19-5-4 Hill-Murray and 32-2-2 Moorhead. The Pioneers beat Stillwater before a sold out crowd to win their section 6-3. The Spuds defeated Roseau 6-0 in their title game. They also defeated the Pioneers in overtime on February 18 on a goal by Carson Kosobud. I am taking the Spuds.
The next game is a tough one. Wayzata brings a losing record of 10-17-1 into the tournament while Eden Prairie brings a record of 21-4-2 into Thursday’s game. The Eagles got here by defeating Holy Family 4-3 but what the Trojans did is more impressive. Sure the defending state champs should be back but after the season they have had would they get by perennial state champ Edina in their section state championship? Yes they would winning 3-1. Goalie Reid Waszczenko stood on his head stopping 29 of 30 shots on goal for the win. Now the question will they get by Eden Prairie? The Eagles find a way to win about out a goalie that is on fire.
The final game of the night features 20-7-1 Grand Rapids and 22-6-0 Maple Grove. Back on January 5th, Let’s Play Hockey picked Grand Rapids to win the 2A title and become the first Northern Minnesota team to do so since Roseau in 2007. They got here by defeating power Duluth East 3-2 in their section. Maple Grove has had a great season. The Crimson defeated Centennial in a great section game winning 4-3. This should be a fun one to watch but it will be Grand Rapids winning and advancing.
On semi-final Friday St. Thomas Academy will take on Moorhead. This one is a tossup. The Cadets win this one.
In the second semi-final Eden Prairie takes on Grand Rapids. Grand Rapids hasn’t won a state title since 1980. Eden Prairie’s two titles came in 2009 and 2011. The Eagles lost to the Thunderhawks on December 16. Grand Rapids goalie Gabe Holum stood on his head that night stopping 25 of 26 shots on goal and getting the 3-1 win. The Thunderhawks took the win that night but it will be the Eagles that will play for the championship on Saturday.
So your championship game Saturday night features St. Thomas Academy and Eden Prairie. St. Thomas has won state championships five times in class 1A but are playing in their second state tournament since making the move up in 2014. Eden Prairie has three D1 commits on their team, Jack Jensen (Minnesota), Nicky Leivermann (Notre Dame) and Casey Mittelstadt (Minnesota). Eden Prairie wins their third state title in nine years. Grand Rapids wins the 2A title for best hair.
More links to great hockey hair inspiration:
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