Stillwater enters the state tournament with a 37-5-5 record, and the Ponies have not lost since Dec. 27, going 21-0-1 in that stretch. To get to state, the Ponies defeated Minnetonka 5-4 in overtime, Prior Lake-Savage 3-1, and again went to an extra session in a 4-3 win over Edina Green. Grand Rapids lost 2-0 to Bemidji in the semifinal round of the North Region tournament, forcing the Thunderhawks to come through the backdoor. Grand Rapids downed Moose Lake, North Shore, and then avenged its loss to Bemidji with a 4-1 win over the Lumberjacks in the lower bracket final. The Thunderhawks have won 10 of their last 11 games. 

Mankato came away with the South Region crown in harrowing fashion, scoring a one-goal win over St. Michael-Albertville in the semifinals and edging St. Cloud Red 4-2 in the upper bracket championship. Six of Mankato’s 10 losses this season have been by two goals or less and Mankato has allowed just 76 goals over the course of 45 games. Osseo-Maple Grove Black rallied after a 3-1 loss in the West Region title game to Wayzata with a 6-5 win over Moorhead Black in the lower bracket final to advance to state. Winners of 10 of their last 11, the Leafbirds took four of those victories by a single goal. 

Wayzata marched to victory during the West Regional, beating Champlin Park 6-3, Blaine 6-3, and Osseo-Maple Grove Black 3-1 in the upper bracket final. The run through regions gives the Trojans a six-game winning streak entering the state tournament and an overall record of 34-11. Rochester Gold has to be grateful for some time off between the Region tournaments and the state tourneys considering the route the team took to New Ulm. After losing to St. Michael-Albertville 2-0 in the quarterfinals, Rochester Gold earned wins over Willmar, Rochester Red, Dodge County, and St. Cloud Red for its place at state. The rocky road could prove valuable for Rochester Gold, giving the team the experience of close games under pressure. 

Bagley has won nine consecutive games entering the weekend, including wins over Virginia, Lake of the Woods, and Bemidji during the North Regional. The Flyers are averaging 5.6 goals-per-game and have scored six or more goals in a game 16 times this season. Meeting the Flyers in the first round will be Minnetonka, a team coming off an East Region run that included three consecutive shutouts and the lower bracket title. The Skippers have faced three state tournament teams during the regular season in Stillwater Black, Grand Rapids, and Osseo-Maple Grove Black.