The 2010 Minnesota State Boy's Hockey Tournament begins Wednesday, March 10 at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.

 

The Breck School Mustangs qualified to seek their second consecutive and fourth overall Class A title. A new champion will emerge in Class AA because Eden Prairie, the 2009 champion, was defeated by Minnetonka in the Section 6AA final.

 

Every qualifying team has past tournament experience. Roseau leads all teams by making its 33rd appearance this year, which is a state tournament record.

 

Class A teams will play their quarterfinal games on Wednesday, March 10, and Class AA teams will follow suit on Thursday, March 11. Both classes will continue with championship semifinals on Friday, March 12, and then third-place and championship games on Saturday, March 13. Consolation semifinals for Class A are scheduled Thursday, March 11, with Class AA following suit on Friday, March 12, and both consolation championship games on Saturday, March 13. All 2010 State Boys’ Hockey Tournament championship-round and third-place games in both classes will be played at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul. All consolation rounds for both classes will be played at Mariucci Arena on the University of Minnesota Minneapolis campus.

 

In the fourth year of seeding the qualified teams, Breck School of Golden Valley was chosen No. 1 in Class A and Minnetonka was chosen No. 1 in Class AA for the 2010 State Boys’ Hockey Tournament.

 

The seeding process had the 16 coaches of the section champions rank the other teams one through seven. The highest and lowest rankings for each team were discarded, leaving five rankings for each team. From those rankings, the top four seeds were selected. In conference calls with all eight head coaches of each class, League Associate Director Craig Perry announced the top four seeds. League Director of Information Howard Voigt blindly drew the four remaining teams from a hat to establish the opponent for each seeded team.

 

(No. 2 Seed) Mahtomedi (23-5-0) vs. Alexandria (21-6-1): The Mahtomedi Zephyrs and Alexandria Cardinals meet in this 11 a.m. March 10 quarterfinal. The Zephyrs of Mahtomedi are making their second consecutive and seventh overall appearance. The lost in the consolation semifinals last year and were ranked No. 5 in this year’s final Let’s Play Hockey (LPH) poll. During the regular season Mahtomedi lost to Breck School twice, 7-1 and 4-2, and defeated Virginia/Mt. Iron-Buhl 5-2. Mahtomedi scored 150 goals this year to its opponents’ 70. Senior Brandon Zurn led the Zephyrs with 72 points on 33 goals and 39 assists. Senior Brad Wohlers compiled a season record of 14-4 in the net and his save percentage is 0.908. The Cardinals of Alexandria are making their third tournament appearance, but first since 1996. They were ranked No. 7 in this year’s final LPH poll and did not face any other qualifiers during the regular season. Alexandria outscored its opponents 124-58 this season. Senior Thomas Williams paced the Cardinals with 37 goals and 24 assists. Sophomore goalie Erich Murphy went 17-3-1 this year and has a save percentage of 0.911. Neither team has ever won a state championship.

 

(No. 3 Seed) Hermantown (25-3-0) vs. Virginia/Mt. Iron-Buhl (18-7-3): This quarterfinal, which will be played at 1 p.m. on March 10, is a rematch of a regular-season game that Hermantown won 4-2. Virginia/Mt. Iron-Buhl was the only qualifier Hermantown faced during the regular season. The Hawks of Hermantown return after a two-year absence to make their seventh appearance. They won one previous championship in 2007 and were ranked No. 3 in this year’s final poll. This year the Hawks netted 162 goals to their opponents’ 49, and they also scored on 37 percent of their power-play opportunities. Senior Adam Krause, who led Hermantown with 35 goals and 31 assists this season, is the school’s fourth-leading point-scorer in history. Over his career he has amassed 79 goals and 74 assists. Seniors Tiegen Brickson and Tyler Ampe shared the goalkeeping duties for Hermantown this year. Brickson went 12-0 with a 0.923 save percentage, and Ampe went 10-3 with a save percentage of 0.915. The co-op of Virginia/Mountain Iron-Buhl is making its second consecutive appearance under this name and third overall. The Blue Devils, who lost in the consolation semifinals last year, finished at No. 8 in the final LPH poll. In addition to facing Hermantown, the Blue Devils also lost to Mahtomedi 5-2 during the regular season. This year’s team outscored its opponents 161-71. Junior Garrett Hendrickson, who has already committed to St. Cloud State University, paced his team with 32 goals and 43 assists. Senior Casey Myrhe, who is legally deaf, was the top goalie for Virginia/Mt. Iron-Buhl. He went 10-3-3 this year and his save percentage is 0.921.

 

(No. 1 Seed) Breck School (26-2-0) vs. New Ulm Eagles (16-9-1): This quarterfinal starts at 6 p.m. on March 10. The defending champions from Breck School return to make their second consecutive and seventh overall appearance. If the Mustangs win it would be their fourth title. In addition to last year, they also won in 2000 and 2004. Breck School finished the regular season at No. 1 in the final LPH poll. This year the Mustangs defeated Mahtomedi twice, 7-1 and 4-2, and Rochester Lourdes once, 2-1. Senior Tyson Fulton led Breck School with 84 points on 34 goals and 50 assists. Senior Mike Morin also added 33 goals and 28 assists for the Mustangs. John Russell, a senior, compiled a season record of 19-2 in the net and has a save percentage of 0.934. Breck School scored 206 goals to its opponents’ 41, and the Mustangs also scored on 42 percent of their power-play chances. New Ulm, which includes students from New Ulm Cathedral and Minnesota Valley Lutheran of New Ulm, is making its second appearance. The co-op of New Ulm/New Ulm Cathedral made one additional appearance in 1992. The Eagles, who were not ranked in the final LPH poll, lost to Rochester Lourdes 8-2 during regular-season play. They have never won a state championship. Senior Zach Fischer and junior Kaleb Juntunen tallied 34 and 33 points, respectively, for the Eagles this year. They each scored 18 goals, with Fischer adding 16 assists and Juntunen adding 15. New Ulm did not provide team statistics.

 

(No. 4 Seed) Warroad (24-4-0) vs. Rochester Lourdes (17-8-3): These two teams will tangle at 8 p.m. on March 10. The Warriors of Warroad are making their fourth consecutive and 21st overall appearance. They earned runner-up honors last year and won previous titles in 1994, 1996, 2003, and 2005. This year they were ranked No. 4 in the final LPH poll. The Warriors scored 139 goals this year and their opponents scored 53 against them. They also scored on 38 percent of their power-play opportunities. Senior Brock Nelson scored 47 goals and added 38 assists for Warroad and sophomore goalie Andy Foster went 9-2 in the net. Foster’s save percentage is 0.910. The Warriors did not face any other tournament qualifiers during the regular season. The Eagles of Rochester Lourdes, who were No. 15 in this year’s final LPH poll, return for their second consecutive and sixth overall appearance. They placed sixth in 2009. In addition to last year, when Lourdes included students from both Stewartville and Chatfield, Lourdes also made appearances as a co-op with Stewartville and Plainview in 2000, 2001, and 2002, and in 2003 they made added an appearance as a single school. This year Lourdes is a co-op with Stewartville again. If the Eagles win it would be their first title. Lourdes scored 97 goals this season and their opponents scored 59. Senior Brandon Chezick and junior Rory Vesel both put up 29 points during the regular season. Chezick had 13 goals and 16 assists and Vesel netted six goals and added 23 assists. Alex Funk, a ninth-grader, also scored 13 goals for the Eagles. Junior Nick Heimer and senior Mark Greve each guarded the net for Rochester Lourdes. Heimer went 9-5-2 this year with a save percentage of 0.850 and Greve went 8-3-1 with a save percentage of 0.882. During the regular season the Eagles lost to Breck School 2-1 and defeated New Ulm 8-2.

 

 

(No. 2 Seed) Edina (20-6-2) vs. Roseau (22-5-1): This game will start at 11 a.m. on March 11. The Edina Hornets, who earned consolation honors last year, return for their fourth consecutive and 21st overall appearance. They were ranked No. 5 in this year’s final LPH poll and are in the hunt for their seventh title. They won previously in 1969, 1971, 1982, 1984, 1988, and 1997. During regular-season play Edina defeated Blaine twice, 1-0 and 3-2, and Duluth East once, 3-0. The Hornets also faced the Minnetonka Skippers three times; losing twice, 3-2 and 7-1, and winning once, 5-4. Junior Steven Fogarty paced this year’s squad with 35 points on 21 goals and 14 assists. Junior Connor Girard and senior John Ankeny both went 10-3-1 in the net for Edina. Girard has a save percentage of 0.940 and Ankeny’s is 0.920. The Hornets did not provide team statistics. The Rams of Roseau return after a one-year absence to make their state tournament record 33rd appearance. If they win it would be their eighth title. They won previously in 1946, 1958, 1959, 1961, 1990, 1999, and 2007. This year’s team, which was ranked No. 15 in the final LPH poll, lost to Blaine 5-4 during the regular season. The Rams scored 132 goals this year and their opponents scored 64 against them. Shane Omdahl, a junior, put up 66 points for Roseau this season on 27 goals and 39 assists. Senior Adam Knochenmus added 21 goals for the Rams, and senior goalie Ethan Kvidt played in every game. Kvidt’s save percentage is 0.907.

 

(No. 3 Seed) Blaine (21-4-3) vs. Apple Valley (17-11-0): This game will begin at 1 p.m. on March 11. The Bengals of Blaine are making their fifth consecutive and ninth overall appearance. They placed third last year and were ranked No. 6 in this year’s final LPH poll. The Bengals won one previous title in 2000. Nick Bjugstad, in just his third year of high school, will graduate a year early this spring after taking summer school and accelerated classes, in order to play for the University of Minnesota next year. Bjugstad, who led Blaine with 35 goals and 34 assists, is also a Mr. Hockey finalist. Senior goalie Danny Harper went 17-4-3 this year and has a save percentage of 0.927. Harper also owns the schools’ record for most career wins. The Bengals scored 150 goals this season. They also faced five qualifiers during the regular season: they defeated Roseau 5-4, lost to Minnetonka 4-3, defeated Hill-Murray 6-4, and tied Duluth East 2-2. They also lost to Edina twice, 1-0 and 3-2. The Apple Valley Eagles are making their fourth tournament appearance, but first since 1996. They also won their only championship in 1996. The unranked Eagles defeated Lakeville North twice during the regular season, 6-1 and 5-3, and lost to Duluth East 7-1. Ninth-grader Hudson Fasching paced this year’s Apple Valley squad with 23 goals and 17 assists. Sophomore AJ Michaelson was the second-leading scorer for the Eagles, netting 18 goals this year. Junior goalie Aaron Gretz compiled a season record of 13-9 over the regular season and his save percentage if 0.905. Apple Valley outscored its opponents 102-74 as a team this season.

 

(No. 1 Seed) Minnetonka (25-1-2) vs. Lakeville North (11-15-2): In this 6 p.m. March 11 quarterfinal game, the Minnetonka Skippers face the Lakeville North Panthers. Minnetonka returns to tournament action after a three-year absence. The Skippers, who were the top team in the final LPH poll, are still in the hunt for their first title. During the regular season they defeated Duluth East 6-2 and faced Edina three times, winning twice, 3-2 and 7-1, and losing once, 5-4. The Skippers scored 170 goals this year while holding their opponents to a mere 38. They also converted on 40 percent of their power-play opportunities. Ninth-grader Max Coatta led the Skippers with 23 goals this season and junior Thomas Schutt added another 20. Junior Derek Frawley led the team with 51 points on 18 goals and 33 assists. Seniors Max Gardiner and Justin Holl, who tallied 49 and 34 points, respectively, are both Mr. Hockey finalists. Senior Jim Kruger was the top goalie for Minnetonka. He went 17-1-2 this year and has a save percentage of 0.930. The Panthers of Lakeville North are making their second appearance under this name, but first since 2006. Lakeville also made three consecutive appearances as a single school between 2002 and 2004. The unranked Panthers are also looking for their first championship. During regular-season play Lakeville North lost to Apple Valley twice, 6-1 and 5-3. Sophomore Nate Arentz put up 31 points for the Panthers during the regular season, scoring 20 goals and adding 11 assists. Sophomore Charlie Lindgren and senior Matt Arentz both guarded the net for Lakeville North. Lindgren went 6-7-2 with a save percentage of 0.892 and Arentz went 5-8 with a save percentage of 0.871. The Panthers scored 96 goals to their opponents’ 94.

 

(No. 4 Seed) Hill-Murray, Maplewood (25-2-1) vs. Duluth East (19-5-4): This game is a rematch of a regular-season game that Hill-Murray won 5-1. The Pioneers and Greyhounds will tangle at 8 p.m. on March 11. The Pioneers of Hill-Murray, who placed sixth in 2009, return for their fifth consecutive and 24th overall appearance. They were ranked No. 2 in the final LPH poll, and are seeking their fourth title. They won previously in 1983, 1991, and 2008. In addition to defeating Duluth East this year, Hill-Murray lost to Blaine 6-4. Senior Willie Faust paced this year’s team with 44 points on 22 goals and 22 assists. Junior goalie Tim Shaughnessy compiled a season record of 21-2-1 and has a save percentage of 0.925. Hill-Murray outscored its opponents 155-43 this season, and also scored on 33 percent of its power-play opportunities. The Greyhounds of Duluth East return to make their second consecutive and 17th overall appearance. They were ranked No. 10 in the final LPH poll and are also looking for their fourth state title. They won previously in 1960, 1995, and 1998. The Greyhounds faced four additional qualifiers during the regular season: they lost to Edina 3-0, tied Blaine 2-2, lost to Minnetonka 6-2, and defeated Apple Valley 7-1. Duluth East outscored its opponents 102-59 this year. Juniors Nolan Meyer and Phil Johnson each scored 13 goals for the Greyhounds, and sophomore Jake Randolph added a team-high 27 assists for 31 points overall. Junior Andy Welinski, who had 21 points this year, has committed to play for UMD. Joseph Jeanetta, a junior, was the top goalie for Duluth East. He went 12-4-4 this season and has a save percentage of 0.910.

 

 

All Class AA championship sessions are reserved seating only. Any unsold tickets allocated to participating schools go on sale one hour before each two-game session. All Class A sessions and consolation games for both classes are general admission seating. Adult tickets are $15.00 for championship sessions and $12.00 for consolation sessions. Student tickets are $10.00 for championship sessions and $8.00 for consolation sessions.

 

A visit to any participating Wells Fargo metro location can yield you a $2 discount coupon for students 13 and younger for Class A games. The discount coupons are also available for the Girls’ and Boys’ Basketball Tournaments.