Game One: Edina vs. Duluth East (Sill, 9:00 A.M.)

In a Peewee version of last season's Class 2A state high school semifinal matchup, the Hornets meet the Hounds on Duluth East's home ice. The Hornets have gone 7-0-1 in their last eight games, including wins over Cloquet (9-0), Elk River (7-1), and Thunder Bay (ON) by a score of 5-2 during the tournament. 

Duluth East has bounced back from three straight losses with five consecutive wins and ranks as one of the hottest teams in the tournament. The Hounds have scored at least four goals in all three games so far, downing Cloquet 6-1, Blaine 6-3, and Lakeville South 4-1.

Game Two: Osseo-Maple Grove vs. Hermantown (Seitz, 9:00 A.M.)

Osseo-Maple Grove is another team that entered the Spirit of Duluth on a losing streak, with the Leafbirds dropping three straight decisions coming into the weekend. Since touching in the ice in Duluth, the Leafbirds have rattled off a 4-0 win over Eastview, a 7-1 win over Grand Rapids, and a 6-3 triumph over Moorhead to advance to the semifinals. The win over Moorhead was the first time the teams had met since last spring, when the Spuds defeated the Leafbirds in the first round of the Peewee AA State Tournament, ironically also played in Duluth. 

The only team without three wins to move on from pool play, Hermantown snuck past Wayzata due to the goal differential tiebreaker. The Hawks tied the Trojans in their first Saturday game before defeating Prior Lake 3-1 in the evening. The Hawks shut out St. Michael-Albertville 10-0 on Friday. Two of the Hawks' three losses on the season have come against No. 1-ranked Chaska-Chanhassen, including a 3-2 overtime loss to the Stormhawks in the finals of the Big Pumpkin tournament in October.  

Game One: Eden Prairie vs. Edina (Sill, 7:00 A.M.)

Eden Prairie enters the semifinals with a 14-3-5 record on the season, with the Eagles going 7-1-2 in their last ten games. Those last ten contests have included a 2-2 tie with Stillwater, a 5-1 win over Andover, and a 6-1 win over Duluth Denfeld during the tournament. The Eagles' staunch defense has allowed just four goals over the three tournament games, while forward Jake Luloff has taken care of the front end with six goals and eight points. Eden Prairie coach Niko Kapetanovic said that the team has relied on scoring-by-committee all season, and that to win one (or two) game(s) tomorrow, the Eagles "will need to continue to get pucks behind teams' defenders and make them (play) two-hundred feet."

Outscoring opponents 18-2, Edina rolls into the semifinals with a balanced lineup that has seen several underrated players make contributions. The Hornets thumped Duluth East 8-1, handled St. Paul 4-1, and blanked Blaine 6-0. 

Edina head coach Ryan Elbing said that his team must have urgency with the puck, and not merely rely on time in the offensive zone to make their presence felt. 

"Just don't beat ourselves," Elbing said on Saturday night. "(I'm worried about) teams countering on us when we're in possession," Elbing continued, adding that communication could make the difference on Sunday for the Hornets.

Players that Elbing highlighted as skaters to keep an eye on were defenseman A.J. Doll and forward Riley Spindler.  

Game Two: Wayzata vs. Lakeville South (Seitz, 7:00 A.M.)

Wayzata's top forward unit has given opposing defenses headaches for the past month, and the trend has continued into the Spirit of Duluth. Game-breaking forwards Andrew Streeter and Stepan Kuznetsov take the Trojans into the semifinals after totaling seven goals and three assists combined, while Will Ingemann has allowed just four goals in three games and has stopped 51 shots. The Trojans knocked off Battle for the Blue Ox champion Prior Lake 2-1 to open the tournament before beating Elk River 6-2 and Cloquet 8-1. 

Wayzata head coach Derek Krueger praised all three of his forward lines and said that Ingemann could be the crucial piece of the team's Sunday success. 

"Our defense has greatly improved in the last few weeks and will bring a physical presence," Krueger said. "Our backbone, Will Ingemann should be able to pave the way for us between the pipes."

Lakeville South co-head coach John Boche said that the Trojans' top line was impressive and that if the Cougars have a chance to halt the Trojan March, it would be all hands on deck. 

"Everybody's gotta be going, that's what it comes down to," Boche said, adding that like Wayzata, Lakeville South also relies on standout goaltending from Ethan Dahlmeir.

Offensively, Cam Dean scored a hat-trick on Saturday for the Cougars, with Boche also singling out Tanner Luedtke, Hunter Webster, Ben Portner, and Owen Sheffel for quality performances. 

Lakeville South went 3-0 in the only pool that had each team win at least one game, scoring a 4-2 win over Minnetonka, a 6-0 shutout of Centennial, and a 4-3 nail-biting win over Hermantown on Saturday night. The Cougars have gone 7-0-1 since a loss to the St. Paul Capitals in the Battle for the Blue Ox and hung with Wayzata in a 5-3 loss on Oct. 27.