There are 26 boys high school games that really, really matter on Saturday. It is historically one of the best days of the season. Upsets happen, bragging rights are had, and hope is high for a ticket to the greatest youth hockey event in North America....the Minnesota State High School Hockey Tournament. 

With section realignment comes some new faces in new sections, some old rivals meeting and potentially some new ones brewing. Here is a look at how we think things could shake out Saturday, all over the state at both AA and A.

3AA (Inver Grove)

#4 Jefferson > #1 St. Thomas Academy

#2 Burnsville > #3 Rosemount

Comments: Flip a coin in both of these games. Sticking with my pick of Jags over St. Thomas, it has been 11 years since the Jags have skated at the X. Burnsville and Rosemount have split so far, we think the Blaze has too much firepower (pun intended).

5AA (Champlin)

#1 Blaine > #4 Maple Grove

#2 Centennial > #3 Anoka

Comments: both of the top two seeds have way too many weapons, not to win. A win by either team will raise eyebrows everywhere.

6AA (Bloomington)

#1 Benilde St. Margaret's > #4 Cretin Derham Hall

#2 Wayzata > #3 Edina

Comments: Red Knights are undefeated for a reason, their speed and depth is superior to the newcomers from the east side. Can Wayzata beat Edina for the fourth time? This might be the year they pull it off.

7AA (Duluth)

#1 Grand Rapids > #4 Cloquet

#3 Elk River > #2 Duluth East

Comments: If Rapids plays their game, they beat Jacks by 5. Amsoil has not been kind to GR the last few years. We like the Elks in a slight surprise on paper over East, where they are just playing better than the Hounds of late. It will be a major surprise if the Hounds lose, considering they have been to the X for seven consecutive years.

8AA (High Seed Home)

#1 Bemidji > #4 STMA

#2 Moorhead > #6 Rogers

Comments: Home ice advantage could be huge for the northern teams - we won't be surprised if STMA can pull the upset. On any given day they can be as good as any top ten team in Minnesota...will Saturday be their day? The Spuds have steadily improved all year, look for them to cruise past Royals.

5A (Home Seed Home)

#1 Princeton > #5 Pine City

#2 Chisago > #3 MAML

Comments: Princeton and Chisago have been on a collision course all year for the 3A title. Both should be challenged a little on Saturday.

6A (St. Cloud)

#1 St. Cloud Apollo > #4 Liittle Falls

#2 St. Cloud Cathedral > #3 Sartell-St. Stephen

Comments: Apollo stole a game from Little Falls a couple weeks back and Cathedral beat up on Sartell pretty good (6-1) earlier in the year. We think the results on Saturday will be the opposite. Apollo will roll over Little Falls  and Sartell will give the Crusaders a run for their money. Regardless of how, a re-match of last year's title game would be awesome.

7A (Duluth)

#1 Hermantown > #4 Greenway

#2 Hibbing > #3 Duluth Denfeld

Comments: Hermantown better not take the first period off Saturday against Greenway, or they will be sitting at home for the first time in a long time come March. Hibbing is as good as any team in the state, they will glide by Denfeld.

8A (East Grand Forks)

#1 Thief River Falls > #4 Detroit Lakes

#2 East Grand Forks > #3 Warroad

Comments: Prowlers have had their way with the class A northwest teams all year...our favorite to win it all and punch their ticket to the X for the first time since 2012.