The Hermantown hockey community has single-handedly shown the rest of the state how to build a model hockey program. Great coach, dedicated volunteers and a winning tradition that re-seeds itself every year as young players sign on at the young ages to be the next Jon Francisco, Drew LeBlanc or Wyatt Aamodt.

Enter Gerrit van Bergen at Delano. A rising star of a coach who is on the cusp of building something special of his own just west of the Twin Cities. Two wins, maybe three may be enough to get the Tigers to another level. This writer, picking from his heart to see similar hockey growth picked the Tigers to win it all. In just a few days it will all there for us to see.

Here is a look at Thursday's games and an intro to a player from each game.

DEL v. MAML

Game 1
 

11:00 am - No. 2 seed Delano (24-3-1) vs.  Monticello-Annandale- Maple Lake (MAML)

Only 21 miles separates these two schools. Both programs are beginning to see the fruits of their labor of youth success finally pay off, both gaining their program's first trip to state.  Delano's Ben Meyers (50G/57A) leads the state in scoring and Michigan Tech commit Brian Halonen (40G/44A) are a dangerous 1-2 punch. The Tigers fell to Hermantown earlier in the season 4-3 after leading late in the third period.

Ben Ward (26G/45A) and Nick Zwack (27G/30A) lead MAML in scoring and give the Moose a punch of their own on Wednesday. If nothing else, they by all means should have a great showing in the all-hockey hair video.

Unsung Heroes: John Keranen (DEL) and Honza Stibingr (MAML)

Prediction: Delano

MAHT v. NF

Game 2

1:00 pm - No. 3 seed Mahtomedi (16-11-1) vs. Northfield (20-5-3)

Luke Posner leads high powered Mahtomedi back into the tournament, the senior forward has 30 goals and 20 assists for the Zephyrs. They have nine players with 10 or more points. Northfield makes its first trip to the X after beating Red Wing in a section final thriller. The Raiders have three 40 point scorers - Jacob Halverson, Grant Sawyer and Jackson Cloud. If there was one team who could surprise on Wednesday, we think it could be Northfield.

Unsung Heroes:  Bailey Huber (MAH) and Jack Fox  (NF)

Prediction: Mahtomedi

HERM v. LUV

Game 3

6:00 pm - No. 1 seed Hermantown (26-1-1) vs. Luverne (22-5-1)

The Hawks opened the season with a tie and a loss and then the defending state champs reeled off 26 straight poised for the school's third state title. One of the most complete teams at either AA or A, the Hawks have two Mr. Hockey finalists (Dylan Samberg and Ryan Sandelin) and a Frank Brimsek award finalist for best goalie (Cade McEwen). A broken down bus or a red hot Delano team are the only two things that stand in the way of the Hawks chances of repeating.

Luverne is lead by junior forward Kasyn Kruse who has a whopping 33 goals and 60 points this year. This is the Cardinals second ever trip to state. 

Unsung Heroes: Tyler Watkins (HT) and  Declan Beers (LUV)

Prediction: Hermantown

EGF v. SCC

Game 4
 

8:00 pm - No. 4 East Grand Forks (17-8-2) vs. No 5 St. Cloud Cathedral (20-6-2)

These two teams tied in a game played in St. Cloud on December 3. Which should tell you how good this nightcap could be. Last year the Crusaders lost a heartbreaker to SPA in this very same 4-5 seed game.

East Grand Forks is back at the X after a year away and have a really good team that has shown signs of their 2013 -2015  state champion form. The Green Wave are lead by Nick Lund (38 points) and Hunter Olson (32 points). If they get hot, money says big man Coby Stauss will right in the middle of the action. The junior forward had two goals in their section 8A win over Warroad.

The Crusaders have two 60 point scorers for the Green Wave to account for...Jake VanHallbeck (68 points) and Michael Spethmann (67 points). But their scoring isn't limited to two players, they have 13 players with 10 plus points.

Unsung Heroes:  Colby Stauss (EGF) and Jeron Hirschfeld (SCC)

Prediction: East Grand Forks

The tourney has a way about itself of finding players who are about to break out - last year Thief River Falls' senior Ethan Johnson was unstoppable and who could forget UMD commit's Devlin McCabe's late game snipe for SPA?

Every team has a star or two that are household names. Here are a few that are very important to their team's success.

Freshmen Flare, St. Cloud Cathedral - If Cathedral advances far this week, don't be surprised if freshmen Mack Motzko and Nate Warner are making their presence felt.

Jackson Hjelle, Delano - The Tigers are a title contender - if Hjelle can get hot in net, they can match 2004 Centennial who won state in their first appearance.

Tyler Watkins, Hermantown - If the "Watty" is fully amped, no chance anyone in the A class can stop Hermantown. The junior forward has an extra gear and bolsters the Hawks daunting second unit.