The Lake Conference will be well-represented at the Class AA State Tournament, as familiar foes Minnetonka and Edina take the No. 1 and No. 2 seeds respectively. 

The Skippers are the only team to have beaten the Hornets this season, doing so twice while falling once to the Hornet machine. On paper, these teams could be the favorites for a fourth meeting in the state championship game, with a bevy of Division I-caliber talent on both sides.  

Northern power Duluth East claims the No. 3 seed, powered by the aptly-named WMD line, a combination of Garrett Worth, Ian Mageau, and Ryder Donovan that has totaled 73 goals and 174 points this season. 

Continue reading for a full preview of the Class AA State Tournament's first round. 

Both of Edina’s losses this season came against top-seeded Minnetonka and the Hornets have been a model of offensive prowess since the puck dropped in November. Senior forward and Minnesota commit Sammy Walker leads the team with 32 goals and 68 points, earning Star-Tribune Metro Player of the Year honors and a finalist status for the Mr. Hockey award.

Joining Walker on the Hornets’ seemingly endless bench of catalysts are junior forwards Mason Nevers (22-38-60) and Northern Michigan commit Jett Jungels (27-29-56). Taking care of the back end of the ice for Edina (26-2) are three Division I-bound defensemen, led by junior and Minnesota commit Ben Brinkman, an All-Metro First Team selection. 

If Lakeville North (16-10-2) hopes to slow down the vaunted Hornet attack, the Panthers will likely look to senior defenseman and Bowling Green commit Garrett Daly (6-21-27). Daly is a finalist for the Reed Larson Award for the state’s top defenseman. Offensively, the Panthers are paced by junior forward Spencer Schneider (25-20-45). 

Duluth East has won 14 of its last 15 games, including a thrilling overtime victory over Andover in the Section 7AA finals. The Hounds (23-2-3) come equipped with a top line that can rival any in the state, led in points by senior Garrett Worth (42-22-64) and supplemented by fellow senior Ian Mageau (17-35-52) and junior Ryder Donovan (14-44-58). The 6-foot-4 Donovan is committed to North Dakota. A fast start has become the norm for the Hounds, allowing just seven goals in the first period to opponents this season. 

Section 8AA champion St. Michael-Albertville upended defending Class AA state runner-up Moorhead in the section finals to earn its first trip to the Xcel Energy Center. The Knights (23-5) have a youthful glow offensively, with sophomores Adam Flammang (25-22-47) and Luc Laylin (12-32-44) leading the team in scoring. Senior goaltender Justin Damon posted 22 wins and six shutouts on the season. 

As the only team to defeat Edina, Minnetonka claimed the top seed in the Class AA field, a known territory for a lineup that features numerous state Bantam AA champions. Sophomore forward and Denver commit Bobby Brink (16-33-49) was named to the All-Metro team, and pairs with junior Jack Bayless (22-28-50) as just two pieces of the Skippers’ many-headed monster.

Senior forward Joe Molenaar leads the team in goals with 29, and sophomore Teddy Lagerback (19-18-37) scored the game-winner in overtime to lift the Skippers (24-2-2) to the Section 2AA title over Holy Family Catholic. 

Overlook Hill-Murray at your own peril. The Pioneers (13-11-4) knocked off the top seed in Section 4AA, White Bear Lake, to earn yet another trip to the corner of West 7th and Kellogg.

Junior forward and Wisconsin commit Ben Helgeson (19-16-35) leads the Pioneers in scoring, while senior Mike Fleischhacker (18-11-29) offers another viable scoring option. But the mid-season boost in the Hill-Murray lineup could be attributed to eighth-grader Nick Pierre, who’s racked up nine goals and 12 points in 11 games. 

There is no shortage of speed in the St. Thomas Academy (25-2-1) lineup, with thoroughbred skaters down the bench. That depth, combined with an abundance of skill, allow the Cadets to score in bunches, especially on the powerplay.  Led by man-advantage quarterback Chase Foley (21-29-50), the Cadets are clicking along at a 36% clip, converting 39 of 108 powerplay chances.

Senior forward Payton Matsui (28-30-58) is tied for the team lead in scoring with senior forward and Colorado College commit Ray Christy (15-43-58). Christy is one of three Colorado College commits on the St. Thomas Academy roster, joined by Foley and junior Rob Christy. 

The duo of seniors Lucas McGregor and Hayden Brickner have steered the Centennial (19-6-3) ship this season, logging serious ice time and producing on the scoresheet. McGregor leads the team in all three scoring categories, with 28 goals and 40 assists for 68 points.

McGregor also totaled six goals and 10 points in the Section 5AA playoffs. Brickner (22-26-48) teams with fellow seniors Carter Wagner (18-29-47) and Jack Menne (21-22-43) to round out an experienced Cougar attack.