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Photo: Dan Hinrichs
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These nine sections have already determined a champion. Here's who's making the trip to St. Paul next week:
Section 2AA: Edina (20-6-2) defeated Bloomington Jefferson 4-1 on Wednesday to clinch the section crown. The Hornets finished the regular season ranked #5 in the Let's Play Hockey poll.
Section 3AA: After knocking off top seed and state #10 Eagan in the section semifinals, Apple Valley (17-11) shut out Woodbury 4-0 in Thursday's finals to advance to state. Apple Valley was unranked in the final regular season poll.
Section 6AA: State #1 Minnetonka rolled the defending champs from Eden Prairie on Wednesday night, taking Section 6AA by a 7-2 score. The Skippers are 25-1-2 this season, with the lone loss coming to Section 2AA champs Edina. Minnetonka will almost certainly be the #1 seed when the pairings are announced after all the section champs are crowned.
Section 7AA: The Duluth East Greyhounds are on their way back to the state tournament, defeating top seed and state #11 Elk River/Zimmerman 5-1 in the Section 7AA championships Thursday night at the DECC in Duluth. The #12 Greyhounds bring a 19-5-4 record and a 12-game unbeaten streak to St. Paul.
Section 8AA: It's the Roseau Rams representing northwestern Minnesota again, as the second-seeded Rams knocked off top seed Moorhead 2-1 in Thief River Falls on Wednesday night. Roseau comes into the state tournament with a 22-5-1 record.
Section 1A: Second seed Rochester Lourdes ended fifth seed Red Wing's improbable postseason run with a 3-0 shutout in the section championship. Lourdes, ranked #15 in the final regular season poll, enters the state tournament with a 17-8-3 record.
Section 2A: State #1 Breck completed an impressive run through Section 2A, defeating Blake 5-1 in the section finals to win the crown. The Mustangs, 26-2 on the season, defeated their tournament opponents by a total score of 21-1 and will likely be the #1 seed when the puck drops next Wednesday for the Class A quarterfinals.
Section 7A: Virginia/Mt. Iron-Buhl survived a overtime game in the semifinals against Duluth Marshall and then defeated Hibbing/Chisholm 3-0 on Wednesday to take the Section 7A crown. The Blue Devils, #8 in the state, bring a 18-7-3 record down to the state tournament.
Section 8A: Warroad's girls team won the state tournament last week, and the boys team will have a chance to bring the gold back north as well. The Warriors, 24-4 on the season and ranked #4 in the state, defeated Thief River Falls 2-0 in the finals of Section 8A on Thursday night and have now won eight games in a row.
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