Each year, Fox Sports and the Minnesota Wild host Hockey Day Minnesota. The day usually features a couple live broadcasts of high school games outdoors, a Gopher game and then a Wild game. This year Duluth is the host and will feature a game between Duluth Denfeld and Eveleth, followed by a re-match of last year's state AA title game between host Duluth East and Lakeville North. 

On top of hockey day, there are a ton of great high school games for both girls and boys, tournaments for youth to keep an eye on. Here is just a glimpse of our predicted winners and some thoughts as to why.

Thursday

Eden Prairie vs. Minnetonka...huge section seeding game, Tonka wins they are the #2, EP wins they are the #1...Holy Family watches closely. Tonka in a close one.

Edina vs. Wayzata...both teams playing better of late, Trojans have the Hornets number this year. Wayzata by 2 with an empty netter.

Lakeville North vs. Lakeville South...huge rivalry game, a ton of section seeding implications. If South wins, they will likely get the #1 seed, if they lose, who knows how that riddle will be solved. Farmington looks on with keen interest. We will take the Cougars in an upset.

St. Cloud Apollo vs. Brainerd...not a lot on the line for either team other than central MN bragging rights. Apollo has won eight straight since losing to Breck, they win this one in a high scoring affair.

U15A Eden Prairie Prelude to the Playoffs

Edina > Minnetonka

Comments: North Wright and Thunder Bay will contend with Edina in their pool. 

U15A Skate for the Roses

Park Cottage Grove > Hastings/Rosemount

Comments: PCG has beaten HR twice already district play, the two highest rank teams could face each other again Sunday, HR needs to keep an eye on Brainerd, a very talented young team.

U12A OMGHA Cabin Fever

Andover > Osseo Maple Grove

Comments: #1 Huskies the clear favorite with the state's most talented team.

U12A Bloomington Cupid Classic

Edina > Orono Westonka

Comments: #2 Edina clear favorite, they need to be careful of Winnipeg in pool play...Hornets have way too much skill to fall.

U12A Skate for the Roses

Minnetonka > Chaska Chanhassen

Comments: #4 Tonka will likely face the winner of #8PCG/#5CC winner. The Wolfpack and Stormhawks get the dreaded first round match-up of top ten teams...ouch. 

U10A Bloomington Cupid Classic

Minnetonka > Elk River

Comments: Tonka is one of the hottest teams in state, they will face Elk River in the finals who just tied #2 Andover last week. Apple Valley Burnsville is a team to keep an eye on in the upper part of the bracket.

U10A Skate for the Roses

Stillwater > Eagan

Comments: #7 rated Ponies only top ten team in the SFTR this year. Several next tier teams will battle like Eagan, Anoka/Rogers ad Hastings.

St. Cloud Bantam AA Playoff Primer

Brainerd > Sibley

Comments: these two faced off last weekend at the Moose and Sibley won in a shootout...it might be deja vu all over again (sic. Yogi Berra). Stillwater should come out of Black pool, Sibley in the Blue...but they better be careful of Alex and #10 Mahtomedi and Brainerd will be tested by all three in their pool (St. Cloud, LVS and CC). 

New Hope Invitational

Armstrong Cooper > Princeton

Comments: Wings will be way too much for this field, look for Princeton to gain finals as a #2 seed.

New Hope Invitational

Roseville > Armstrong Cooper

Comments: Raiders will win this very balanced field, they have improved steadily all year. Watch out for CC, they tied #3 Edina this past Sunday.
 

Hockey Day MN

Duluth East > Stillwater 

Comments: Two evenly matched teams...both teams are in first place district standings and both have some star power up front. Could be a match up of two state tournament teams.

Moose Goheen Squirt A

Woodbury > Hermantown

Comments: It is Squirt hockey, the card says, "pick Woodbury." Hermantown faces CC on Saturday, those two and White Bear seem to be the four teams that will challenge for the white bear trophy Sunday afternoon.

Moose Goheen Squirt B

Chaska Chan Purple > OMG Gold

Comments: the Squirtacular runner-up has way too much fire power for this field, they have 2 titles already, the Moose will be the third.

Brainerd Squirt B

OMG White > MInnetonka Blue

Comments: White had a good run in the Squirtacular, look for them to get over the hump in Brainerd.