Number One Potato

Moorhead’s Tourney troubles are well-documented: 21 trips but no titles to date, including a painful 0-8 in the championship game. To be fair, not all of those Spuds teams went in as serious title contenders; the 2017 squad, which ran into a Grand Rapids buzzsaw, has been their only edition seeded in the top three in the Tourney since seeding began in 2007. To find a Spuds team this highly favored, we’d have to go back to coach Jon Ammerman’s 2005 squad, which marched through the first two rounds before falling to Holy Angels.

This team is fun to watch and has some great names from Moorhead’s past (including Matt Cullen on its bench!), and after several years of playoff frustration, they have their best shot in a long time of finally bringing home a title.

The Era of the Third-Ring Suburb

For the third time in four years, the 2AA champion is not from the Lake Conference, which has effectively owned AA for the past 15 years. Shakopee and Rogers have crashed the party, while Andover has eclipsed the traditional northern powers as the Tourney regular in 7AA. While a bit more established as hockey contenders, Lakeville South and Stillwater are also out on that edge of suburban growth. Of course, there are exceptions, with Edina continuing to do its thing and Moorhead’s pipeline of talent looking stronger than ever.

However, hockey success in AA has pushed out beyond Lake Conference territory or the 694-494 corridor and into communities that have seen a lot of development in recent years, and it has changed the face of the Tourney.

Someone New? 

On a related note, only two AA entrants have won it all before: the Hornets, of course, and Andover in 2022. Those Huskies were the only first-time titlists in the past six seasons, but as they are a long shot and Edina faces a longer road than usual, the chances of a new team lifting the trophy are comparatively high.

Star Power Roll Call

Five Mr. Hockey finalists are here: Cooper Simpson of Shakopee, Jackson Rudh of St. Thomas, Mason Jenson and Nolen Geerdes of Rogers, and Mason Kraft of Moorhead.  A few others who could have made the list without much controversy, including Moorhead’s Brooks Cullen, Rogers’ Parker Deschene, and a grab bag of Stillwater forwards, have joined the fun as well.

Edina junior Mason West, who is now a Tourney institution, was the highest-rated Minnesotan on the most recent NHL Central Scouting list, and some sophomore stars like the Hornets’ Freddie Schneider and the Spuds’ Zac Zimmerman could carry the day as well.

Depth Drives Success

There is a pretty clear recognition among the AA coaches that two good scoring lines are important to success. Shakopee has broken up its two star Coopers, Simpson and Siegert, to give themselves some depth. Moorhead spreads its top four forwards evenly across two lines, while St. Thomas and Stillwater go two lines deep with forwards with big points.

Depth is Edina’s calling card for time eternal. The exception among the six serious title contenders is Rogers, which might have the flashiest single line with Jenson, Deschene, and Keaton Weis. Is that a weakness against their deeper competition, or is it a unique asset that will let them punch through in a grinding hockey game?

Not much familiarity

For the first time in recent memory, none of the teams played their quarterfinal opponents during the regular season, so data points on these matchups are all a bit speculative. Just how big is the gap between Moorhead and Lakeville South? Is Shakopee ready for someone of St. Thomas’s mettle? How will Rogers handle the bright lights against Edina? All that said, Andover is rather familiar with the Stillwater goalie…

While this matchup has a clear favorite, it also has a very spicy storyline: Stillwater goaltender Cal Conway played for Andover last season, and eligibility questions led to two Pony forfeits before the situation was resolved. There will likely be little love lost there. It's also a good style contrast between the Ponies' explosive offense and the Huskies' steady defensive machine.

Andover (15-13, #20, 3-seed in 7AA)

State appearances: 5 (last in 2023)
Championships: 1 (2002)
Key section wins: 3-1 over #16 Rock Ridge, 4-3 over #17 Grand Rapids

The Huskies started the season 0-9 but surged to the end, beating Rogers down the stretch and smothering their opponents in 7AA. They don't have the flair of anyone else in the field, but they are deep and steady, limiting mistakes and preying on those of others. Sophomore Camden Langfeld (10) leads their scoring, alongside veterans KJ Sauer (9) and Luke Babineau (28); Chase Nadeau (8) anchors the defense. Cash Cruitt (1) is a giant wall in goal. 

This team is also pretty young, so they come in with little to lose and a style that could frustrate a high-flying opponent who expects to contend for a title. They may be motivated to take down a former teammate, too. If they hang in there early and nab a lead, look out.

Stillwater (22-6/24-4 on-ice, #3, 2-seed in 4AA)

State appearances: 3 (last in 2016)
Key section wins: 4-3 (2 OT) over #1 Hill-Murray, 4-0 over #15 White Bear Lake

The Ponies, fresh off a stunner over top-ranked Hill-Murray, surge into the Tourney having won 15 of their last 16, with the only loss coming to those Pioneers. An explosive offense led by Brody Dustin (11) and Blake Vanek (19) is their calling card, and the collection of talented forwards includes section final hero Matthew Volkman (18), assist man Trey Fredenberg (3), Luke Myers (17), and Luca Jarvis (15). Those two lines are a matchup problem for just about anyone. 

Jonas Kohn (4) and Tate Batchelor (24) lead the way defensively. Their flaw early on was giving up goals, but once the residency issue was cleared up for goalie Cal Conway (1), they've been able to lock down. If the defense holds up, their first title is within reach.

This matchup also strikes a good contrast, as a Class AA Tourney newcomer brings its offensive fireworks into a battle with a rock-solid program that has been a Tourney regular in recent decades (albeit not in the past few seasons). Both have been among the favorites from start to finish this season and could bring us a good one.

Shakopee (22-5-1, #8, 2-seed in 2AA)
State appearances: First in AA; 1 in Class A in 2005
Key section wins: 5-3 over #13 Minnetonka, 4-0 over #22 Holy Family

The Sabers are one of the hotter teams in AA, having won nine in a row since in a streak that started on Hockey Day and 15 of 16 since a holiday tournament. Granted, that streak came largely against somewhat down South Suburban and 2AA competition, but they have been playing with flair, burying most teams in their way. North Dakota recruit Cooper Simpson (21) is a Mr. Hockey contender, and his center Nate Pederson (22) is also a D-I recruit; the number two scorer on the team, Cooper Siegert (11), is anchoring their second line to provide some depth. Carson Steinhoff (27) and Jack Kultgen (3) are a strong top defensive pair. A number of their losses against good competition came in December when goalie Owen Lunneborg (31) was out hurt.

The Sabers can give up some shots against good competition, and they also haven't played a top-ten team since December, so there aren't a ton of measuring sticks other than a very early loss to Rogers. A well-balanced St. Thomas team is a tough matchup, but if they can get rolling, they have the firepower to win this one and make a deep run.

St. Thomas Academy (23-5, #4, 1-seed in 3AA)
State appearances: 7 in AA (last in 2021); 8 in Class A
Championships: 5, all in Class A (2006, 2008, 2011, 2012, 2013)
Key section win: 3-2 (2 OT) over #6 Cretin-Derham Hall

The Cadets spent much of the season near the top of the rankings and held up against Cretin to end a three-year absence at the Tourney. Mr. Hockey finalist Jackson Rudh (4), Cole Braunshausen (22), Harvard commit Michael Mikan (13), Nico Russ (23), and Will Dosan (9) are all veterans who can score. Patch Cronin (17) and Tommy Kertz (2) will contribute offensively from the blue line, while Cody Niesen (1), who could have easily been a Frank Brimsek Award finalist, might be the top goalie in the field.

With strong special teams and goaltending, they have some ingredients to go all the way, and they've proven they can play with anyone. This team has no glaring weaknesses but did suffer some losses down the stretch and was in defensive survival mode against Cretin-Derham Hall at times, so we'll see if they can put away the high-powered opponents they'll face here with authority.

Top-seeded Moorhead is the clear favorite here, but Lakeville South has a proud tradition of big upsets and will look to do the improbable.

Lakeville South (18-9, #18, 1-seed in 1AA)

State appearances: 8 (last in 2023)
Key section win: 5-1 over 2-seed Lakeville North

The Cougars may have the least hype of the AA entrants, but they are better than a healthy number of 1AA champions over the years; they cruised through the section and have done a good job against teams they should beat this season. Moorhead, however, may prove a taller order. Brothers Carter (15) and Jackson (14) Ernst lead the scoring, with Oscar Balkins (8) also having a productive year and Will Kortan (23) being productive despite missing a few games. Gavin Lafferty (7) leads a defense that will need to come up big, as will Carson Hauger (1) in net.

The Cougars gave Edina a one-goal game in January and powered past respectable teams like Champlin Park and Maple Grove late; the scoring has been there, but the question is whether they can stop the high-powered offenses they'll see at State and add another to South's history of first round stunners.

Moorhead (25-2-1, #2, 1-seed in 8AA)

State appearances: 21 (last in 2003)
Key section win: 8-1 over #19 Bemidji

Is this finally the year? The Spuds are deep, explosive, and fun to watch, and some sons of the first generation of Spuds greatness are here to try to do what their fathers and many others could not and win a title. Mason Kraft (19) has surged to a serious Mr. Hockey campaign and sophomore wunderkind Zac Zimmerman (6) pairs with him on the top line.

A second line featuring Brooks Cullen (11) and Tyden Bergeson (23) is nearly as potent, and with sophomore Max Cullen (11) leading the third line, they get in on the act some, too. Outside of Brandon Mickelson (4), who has 38 points, the defense usually stays at home and lets the forwards do their thing. Charlie Stenehjem (33) is a Brimsek Award finalist in net and has been steady throughout.

This team has been at the top of the rankings nearly all season, beating Edina and St. Thomas a combined four times, losing only to Wayzata in February and to a now out-of-the-way Hill at the end, though the late tie with Rogers does show they aren't on some other plane from everyone else, either.

As usual, the nightcap looks like a great hockey game. This time around, it features the Tourney's great bluebloods looking to defend their title against a first-time entrant with a great collection of talent.

Edina (20-6-2, #7, 1-seed in 6AA)

State appearances: 43 (6 as Edina East/West in the 70s and 80s; four in a row) 
Championships: 14 (1969, 1971, 1982, 1984, 1988, 1997, 2010, 2013, 2014, 2019, and 2024 as Edina; 1974, 1978, and 1979 as Edina East) 
Key section wins: 4-1 over #14 Wayzata, 5-2 over #10 Holy Angels

The defending champs are right back where they usually are in March, and while they have not been as dominant as last season, many of the same characters are back at it. Multi-sport star Mason West (9) remains an absolute force, Casey Vandertop (19) has led the scoring with a heap of assists, Caleb Pittsley (8) had a big year, and sophomore Freddie Schneider (10) continues to dazzle. Sam Peckham (7) is their most active defenseman; while few other blueliners are big point-scorers (as is the Hornets' wont), freshman Becker Wenkus (14) is one to watch. Injuries led to much rotation in goal this season, but Chase Bjorgaard (1) is back now and has yet to lose this season.

The power play is lethal, humming along just shy of 40%, but on the flip side, the penalty kill has been relatively poor, so special teams may be a big factor, especially against Rogers' top unit. The road will be long and tough, but rarely is it safe to bet against the Hornets.

Rogers (23-3-2, #5, 1-seed in 5AA)

First State appearance
Key section win: 4-3 over #23 Champlin Park

After some recent frustrations, the Royals finally busted through to earn their first Tourney berth. They can line up their star power against anyone, with Mason Jenson (7) and Parker Deschene (11) leading the attack, and Nolen Geerdes (2) is the flashiest defenseman in the field. Keaton Weis (15) rounds out the gaudy top line, and while the forward depth hasn't been quite as prolific as some of the other contenders here, Brock Cheslock (18) had a very good year. This team has many strong pieces on defense, including Geerdes, Matthew Hauser (19), and defensive rock Jackson Smithknecht (25). Wyatt Knott (30) has been a stalwart in goal.

Between the flair of the top line and the quality of the defense, the pieces are here for a title; a late tie with Moorhead shows they're right there with the Spuds. But can this first-time entrant, who also lost to Andover late in the year and had a mild adventure with Champlin Park in the 5AA final, find the poise and consistency necessary to win three straight challenging games? We'll learn a lot about their makeup when they collide with battle-tested Edina.