Six of the eight Class 1A teams return from last year’s state tournament, including defending champion Warroad and runner-up Breck, while in Class 2A only Edina is back for another title run. Half of the Class 2A field is made up of teams making their state tournament debut: No. 1 seed Minnetonka, Hill-Murray, North Wright County and Rosemount.

Forwards Rachael Bona (Coon Rapids) and Karley Sylvester (Warroad) and defenseman Rachel Ramsey (Minnetonka). Bona and Ramsey were also Star Tribune All-Metro first-team selections, and they are joined in the tournament by three others from that team: Hill-Murray forward Hannah Brandt, Breck defenseman Milica McMillen and Minnetonka goaltender Julie Friend — who is one of three Senior Goalie of the Year finalists in the tournament along with Chelsea Laden (Lakeville South) and Shelby Amsley-Benzie (Warroad).

The top seeds in each class face a different sort of pressure to win the title. Warroad is back to defend its Class 1A championship while Class 2A favorite Minnetonka is out to win it all on its first try. The Skippers held the No. 1 ranking through most of the season. Their only loss was to Shattuck-St. Mary’s prep school in Faribault, and they came into the tournament allowing just 21 goals in 27 games against Minnesota State High School League teams.

Class 1A remains top heavy. After No. 1 seed Warroad (24-3-0), five teams have at least 10 losses. By contrast, all eight Class 2A teams won at least 20 games.
 

Four players in the tournaments helped the U.S. Under-18 team win a gold medal at the world tournament in January: Brandt, McMillen, Sylvester and Warroad teammate Layla Marvin. In the gold medal victory against Canada, Marvin and McMillen each scored a goal and Brandt tallied a goal and three assists.

• Wednesday’s first two Class 1A quarterfinal games, No. 2 seed Breck vs. New Ulm and No. 3 seed South St. Paul vs. Hutchinson, are rematches of last season’s quarterfinals. Breck and South St. Paul each won in shutouts a year ago.

• No. 3 seed Lakeville South reached the Class 2A state tournament on a 15-0-1 run. The Cougars’ most recent loss came against quarterfinal opponent Hill-Murray.

• Hutchinson senior goalie Mary Cummins finished her section career with a perfect 9-0 record.

• Hutchinson dedicated its season to Kelby Macemon, who died six years ago. She would have been a senior this season. Her jersey hangs in the corner of the Tigers rink where the team huddles before each game.

• Senior Rachael Bona became Coon Rapids’ career leader with 260 points. The Cardinals scored a school-record 127 goals this season.

• North Wright County’s Kasey Blomberg scored her 100th career goal this season.

• Eveleth-Gilbert senior Amanda Arbogast scored six goals in the Class 1A, Section 7 quarterfinals and 10 in the three-game playoffs.

• Red Wing freshman Nicole Schammel set a team single-season record with 43 goals.

• Rosemount coach Tracy Cassano (maiden name Engstrom) played with Edina coach Laura Slominski at Minnesota. The former co-captains and roommates helped the Gophers win the 2000 national championship.

• Warroad won nine games against Class 1A opponents by a combined score of 75-5 but escaped with a 3-2 overtime victory against Crookston in the Section 8 championship game.

• New Ulm’s Brittany and Kali Denn are nieces of former Minnesota Twin Terry Steinbach.

• Minnetonka’s Rachel Ramsey and Rosemount’s Allison Micheletti share hockey bonds with their fathers. Mike Ramsey and Don Micheletti helped the Gophers win the 1979 NCAA championship.

• Tickets are available one hour before each afternoon or evening session. Tickets are $17 for adults and $11 for students for championship sessions, and $12 for adults and $8 for students for consolation sessions.

• The semifinals and championship games for both classes will be broadcast live on Channel 45. The quarterfinals, semifinals and championship games will also be streamed live online at www.45.GrandStadium.tv.