Lakeville South eked out an overtime win over St. Paul in the first round of regions and battled to a 5-2 victory over St. Michael-Albertville before earning another overtime win over Minnetonka to advance to state. The Cougars are currently riding a six-game winning streak entering the State Tournament. Six of the eight losses suffered by Moorhead this season have been by two goals or less, pointing to a defensively-sound group that can win a close game. The Spuds eased past Duluth East 6-2 in the North Region’s lower bracket final after falling to Hermantown 2-1 in the championship game.  

The state’s No. 1 ranked team in the YHH NOW Rankings, the Leafbirds haven’t lost by more than two goals all season, which would be more impressive if they hadn’t suffered only six losses in 54 games. The Leafbirds blew through the South Region with a pair of 6-1 wins over Elk River and Eden Prairie before a slightly narrower 3-1 win over Champlin Park. After losing to Chaska-Chanhassen 5-4 in overtime of the upper bracket final of the West Region, Andover responded with a 7-6 win over Centennial to make the trip to state. The Huskies can be considered one of the more battle-tested teams in the state, skating in 55 games this season.

Possibly the highest-seeded team that had to scrap through regions, Chaska-Chanhassen advances to the tournament after beating 3-2 in the West Region semifinals and Andover in the upper bracket finals 5-4, with both wins coming in overtime. The Stormhawks have proven to be masters to the close victory this season, capturing 13 of their 32 wins by two goals or less. Edina fell to Champlin Park in the South Region semifinals, forcing the Hornets to win two more games before getting another shot at the Rebels. In the lower bracket final, the Hornets emerged victorious, punching their ticket to state with a 4-3 win over the Rebels. Thanks to a tough district schedule, the Hornets will be prepared for the state gauntlet. 

With the exception to the North Region final, Hermantown has rolled through the playoffs, downing Bemidji 11-0 and Grand Rapids 6-0 before defeating State Tournament participant Moorhead 2-1 in the regional upper bracket championship. Three of the Hawks’ losses this season have been by a single goal and the Hawks have posted 12 shutouts this year. Rogers was blanked in the East Region quarterfinals 6-0 by Minnetonka, forcing the Royals to rattle off four straight wins over Lakeville North, St. Michael-Albertville, and Stillwater before a redemption win over the Skippers in the lower bracket final. The Royals have topped five goals in a game 27 times this season.