It’s a little different in sports these days, but one thing stays the same – Minnesota’s annual Boys’ Hockey State Tournament. This year’s event, which will crown two national champions, begins on Tuesday at the State of Hockey.
While Mahtomedi, Class A 2020 Master is not back, Hill-Murray, Class AA 2020 Master is back. Eden Prairie, who lost to Hill-Murray in the championship game last year (and also lost to Edina in the 2019 title game), is looking for her first national title since 2011.
What to expect from this year’s show has yet to be determined with the COVID-19 teams, but one thing is for sure – the flow should be epic as always. The Minnesota State tournament is known for its hairstyles, which were revealed during the pre-game introduction.
Here’s everything you need to know about the 2021 tournament.
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What is the Minnesota Boys Hockey State Tournament?
The Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL) consists of nearly 200 schools, but only 16 teams reach the state tournament across two grades: Grade A and Grade AA.
At the end of the regular season, the schools play in sections and the winning schools in each section – eight apiece for grades A and AA – are again entitled to participate in the state championship that is being held that week.
Where is the 2021 Minnesota Boys’ Hockey State Tournament?
The tournament will again take place in St. Paul, Minnesota, at the Xcel Energy Center, which is home to the NHL’s Minnesota Wild. The arena has hosted the event since 2000.
When does the Minnesota Boys Hockey State Tournament take place in 2021?
This year the tournament runs from Tuesday, March 30th to Saturday, April 3rd, with the championship games for Class A and Class AA on the last day.
The game kicks off with the Class A quarter-finals, which begins Tuesday at 11 a.m. CT. The quarter-finals of class AA will take place on Wednesday. The Class A championship game will take place on Saturday at 6 p.m. CT, followed by the Class AA title game at 8 p.m. CT.
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What channel will the Minnesota Boys Hockey State Tournament 2021 be broadcast on?
- TV Station (Minnesota): 45TV
- Live broadcast: Prep45.com
Will fans be admitted to the Minnesota Boys Hockey State Tournament 2021?
Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the public and season ticket holders will not be allowed to participate in games in 2021. Schools receive a limited number of tickets and all attendees are required to undergo an on-site demonstration. Once inside, all spectators have to wear masks and keep social distance.
Which schools will play in the Minnesota Boys Hockey State Tournament 2021?
| CLASS A | CLASS AA |
| (1) Hermantown (19-1-0) | (1) Eden Prairie (18-1-2) |
| (2) Gentry Academy (16-0-0) | (2) Hill-Murray (18-2-0) |
| (3) East Grand Forks (13-8-0) | (3) Lakeville South (18-0-2) |
| (4) Little Falls (13-4-1) | (4) Maple Grove (20-1-0) |
| (5) Delano (14-6-1) | (5) Andover (18-2-1) |
| Dodge County (17-3-1) | Moorhead (13-7-1) |
| Litchfield / Dassel-Cokato (10-8-2) | St. Thomas Academy (13-4-3) |
| Northern Lakes (18-3-0) | Wayzata (13-5-2) |
How Has COVID-19 Affected The Minnesota Boys Hockey State Tournament 2021?
Class A # 1 seed Hermantown will be welcoming members of its junior varsity team this week. The school has been informed that some of its varsity players will need to be quarantined after being classified as close contacts following their semi-final game against Virginia last Tuesday. Top scorer Zam Plante, who missed the game due to injury, is expected to play in the team’s quarter-finals.
On March 29, Hill-Murray, number 2 in Class AA, announced that there are also college players who may have been exposed to the virus by an opponent.
We are working with the MN Department of Health and the MN State High School League to determine the eligibility of our boys college hockey players following possible exposure to COVID with an opposing player.
We hope that our boys will take part in the state tournament this week.
– Hill Murray School (@ HillMurray1) March 29, 2021
The next day Hill-Murray lost his game.
Full schedule for the Minnesota Boys Hockey State Tournament 2021
| TUESDAY MARCH 30TH (CLASS A) | TIME ET / CT | ELECTRICITY | CONFERENCE VENUE |
| Northern Lakes 0, (2) Gentry Academy 8 | Noon / 11 a.m. | Prep45 | Xcel Energy Center |
| Litchfield / Dassel-Cokato 1, (3) East Grand Forks 8 | 2 p.m. / 1 p.m. | Prep45 | Xcel Energy Center |
| Dodge County 7, (1) Hermantown 1 | 7pm / 6pm | Prep45 | Xcel Energy Center |
| (5) Delano 1, (4) Little Falls 2 | 9 p.m. / 8 p.m. | Prep45 | Xcel Energy Center |
| WEDNESDAY, MARCH 31st (CLASS AA) | |||
| Wayzata def. (2) Hill-Murray due to the progress of COVID | Noon / 11 a.m. | Prep45 | Xcel Energy Center |
| Moorehead 2, (3) Lakeville South 4 | 2 p.m. / 1 p.m. | Prep45 | Xcel Energy Center |
| St. Thomas Academy 2, (1) Eden Prairie 6 | 7pm / 6pm | Prep45 | Xcel Energy Center |
| (5) Andover 2, (4) Maple Grove 5 | 9 p.m. / 8 p.m. | Prep45 | Xcel Energy Center |
| FRIDAY APRIL 2nd | |||
| Class A SF: (2) Gentry Academy 5, (3) East Grand Forks 3 | Noon / 11 a.m. | Prep45 | Xcel Energy Center |
| Class A SF: Dodge Country 4, (4) Little Falls 1 | 2 p.m. / 1 p.m. | Prep45 | Xcel Energy Center |
| Class AA SF: Wayzata 3, (3) Lakeville South 5 | 7pm / 6pm | Prep45 | Xcel Energy Center |
| Class AA SF: (1) Eden Prairie 6, (4) Maple Grove 5 (OT) | 9 p.m. / 8 p.m. | Prep45 | Xcel Energy Center |
| SATURDAY 3TH APRIL | |||
| Class A Championship: (2) Gentry Academy versus Dodge County | 7pm / 6pm | Prep45 | Xcel Energy Center |
| Class AA championship: (3) Lakeville South versus (1) Eden Prairie | 9 p.m. / 8 p.m. | Prep45 | Xcel Energy Center |
Draft eligible and drafted players to be seen at the Minnesota Boys Hockey State Tournament 2021
Cade Ahrenholz, C, South Lakeville (Colorado College)
The Lakeville South captain is rated a “C” by the NHL Central Scouting for the 2021 draft. This season he has 19 goals and 16 assists in 20 games running on the top line of the school.
Carter Batchelder, F., Eden Prairie (Colorado College)
Batchelder is one of eight Mr. Hockey finalists in the tournament (the award is given to the most outstanding high school boy player in the state). He runs on the top line of Eden Prairie and has more than double the points (52) as the games played (21)) in 2020-21. He also played in four NAHL games with New Mexico. He is a member of the Eden Prairie leadership group.
Jackson Hallum, F., St. Thomas Academy (Michigan)
The cadet captain was drafted by the Vegas Golden Knights in the third round (91st overall) in 2020 and will be at the University of Michigan this fall. The Mr. Hockey finalist comes into play in 20 games with 41 points (17 goals, 24 assists) this season. He scored eight points in nine games with the USHL’s Green Bay Gamblers.
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Kyle Kukkonen, F, Maple Grove (Michigan Tech)
Kukkonen, another finalist of Mr. Hockey, has 72 points in 21 games (30 goals, 42 assists) and takes 3.43 points per game in the tournament, which is at the top of high school hockey in Minnesota. Kukkonen is rated “C” by NHL Central Scouting.
Maurer Langenbrunner, D, Eden Praire (Harvard)
Langenbrunner, an important member of the defense of Eden Prairie next to Mittelstadt, was selected by the Boston Bruins in the fifth round (151st overall) in last October’s NHL draft. He has 29 points in 21 games in high school. He ran in four games with the Sioux City Musketeers of the USHL.
Luke Mittelstadt, D., Eden Prairie, Minnesota
Mittelstadt, the younger brother of Sabers prospect Casey Mittelstadt, is a 2021 Mr. Hockey finalist who will be sent to the University of Minnesota this fall. He has 30 points in 21 games from the blue line (nine goals, 21 assists). He also played six games with the USHL’s Lincoln Stars before the high school season began. He is the top rated player for the 2021 draft in the tournament. NHL Central Scouting rates him as a player who could be drafted in the second or third round (“B” rating).
Henry Nelson, D, Maple Grove (Notre Dame)
Nelson, another Mr. Hockey finalist, is awarded a “C” level draft (fourth through sixth rounds). As a blue liner with a strong offensive game, he has scored 43 points in 21 games for Maple Grove.
Joe Palodichuk D, Hill-Murray, Wisconsin
Palodichuk is a strong defender and like Nelson a Mr. Hockey finalist who was rated “C” by Central Scouting. He played in 10 games with Bismarck from the NAHL and has 33 points in 20 games with Hill-Murray as captain of the team. Chances are that Palodichuk won’t see any action in the tournament as Hill-Murray is still trying to figure out which players need to be quarantined.
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