#5 ALEXANDRIA VS. #4 MINNEAPOLIS

As usual, this promises to be the best Class A quarterfinal. Minneapolis won a December meeting 4-2.

Alexandria (19-6-2, #6, 1-seed in 6A)

State appearances: 5 (1 in AA; last in 2018)

Key section win: 4-2 over 2-seed Fergus Falls

This team has been productive, averaging nearly 5 goals per game, though they give up a few, too. Josiah Gronholz (8) is their leading scorer, while Brycen Berg (11) is the finisher, and Tyler Kludt (7) rounds out the top trio. Peter Mulder (18) is the Cardinals’ top defenseman, and they have a respectable second line featuring Joe Lamski (6), Nicholas Peterson (29), and Leo Kompelien (3).

Holding up in back will be the key to this team getting through round one, with Teagan Pfeffer (31) being their man in the net. Despite the earlier loss to Minneapolis, it was a pretty even game, and with the team on a roll, it’s not hard to imagine this team’s firepower being enough to earn a date with the Hermantown program they stunned in 2018.

Minneapolis (21-6-1, #5, 1-seed in 4A)

State appearances: First as Minneapolis co-op (Minneapolis public schools have 40 one-class appearances, 2 Tier II appearances, and 1 Class A appearance; last by Minneapolis Edison in 1994)

Championships: 1 (Minneapolis Southwest, 1970 one-class)

Key section win: 3-1 over #3 Delano

One of the state’s better storylines this season is the Tourney arrival of Minneapolis, a co-op of all the city’s public high schools, though populated primarily by Southwest and Washburn. After fighting decades of fighting broader economic and demographic forces and the exodus of strong players to private schools, this group has risen from the ashes under coach Joe Dziedzic.

Moreover, they are a legitimate contender to play on Friday after a regular season that saw them amass a strong résumé of respectable wins. Seniors Jack Hanson (19), Zander Zoia (5), and Evan Grimm (27) lead the way offensively, and they have a respectable supporting cast headlined by sophomore John Bebler (9).

On defense they’re led by a couple of juniors, including the prolific Drew Pitts (24) and Joel Hanson (18). Goaltender Alex Lamont (31) has been steady in back. It’s hard to see them having enough pieces to run with Hermantown, but that semifinal would certainly be a spectacle.