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I’ve been covering Minnesota high school hockey since players sharpened their skates on machines that looked like stolen farm equipment and half the coaching staffs taught social studies by day and lit menthols in the locker room by night.
I’m old enough to remember when teams didn’t need 14 jersey combinations to feel special. I’m old enough to remember when “player development” meant throwing your best kid on the ice for 31 minutes and praying he didn’t pull a hip flexor.
And I’m old enough to know one eternal truth: Every November, 78 Class A programs wake up believing they have a shot, and by late January, at least 60 of them no longer do.
But here we go again — another winter of cold bleachers, overcaffeinated parents, and northern teams that look like they were raised on sandpaper and gas-station pizza.
Here’s my take on this year’s Class A circus.
1. Hibbing/Chisholm — Cash In Now or Start Apologizing to the Entire Town
Hibbing fans have been pacing since 2022 waiting for this senior class to deliver something other than excuses and “good character wins.”
Tate and Cole Swanson look like they were engineered in the Hibbing City Hall basement. Hildenbrand has enough talent to get double-teamed before warmups end. And that blue line? Sundvall, Strukel, Rewertz — Range kids with the facial expressions of linebackers.
But then we get to the question older than the Hull Rust Mine: “Who’s the goalie?”
If they figure that part out, St. Paul becomes a formality. If they don’t, the postgame conversation at Palmer’s Tavern will get dark in a hurry.
2. Warroad — The Angry, Talented, Perpetually Reloaded Powerhouse
Last year Warroad’s season ended early, and people in town reacted like someone stole their favorite auger.
Now they return Shaugabay, Anderson, Hard, Hontvet, and Finn Hanson — plus their Bantam state champs pipeline, which they treat like a family business passed down through generations.
This is a classic Warroad recipe: Take elite skill → add revenge → sprinkle in a freshman phenom → stir vigorously until March.
If the young guys grow up fast, everyone else in Class A can start preparing emotional support statements for their section-final loss.
3. Hermantown — The Hockey Program That Won’t Leave the Party
Hermantown is back, and they haven’t mellowed.
They never mellow. They just reload and glare at everyone.
Last year’s early exit? They’ve erased it from their memory like a bad mullet-era team photo.
Francisco in net is reliable. Swenson on defense is the kind of player you don’t enjoy skating against because you want to go home without bruises. Martalock and Nicklin bring the scoring punch.
And, of course, they’re playing a schedule that looks like they handed the AD a crayon and told him to circle every team that makes teenagers cry.
Hermantown is fine. They’re always fine. People need to stop pretending otherwise.
4. East Grand Forks — The Midwest’s Most Reliable Team to Forget About Until February
EGF fans spend every fall solemnly warning me, “We’re young.” They’ve been “young” for 30 years. And they keep winning anyway.
Schindele is back in goal after stealing dreams last March. Bies and Clauson are the kind of defensemen who show up at your blue line like tax collectors — persistent and humorless. Lovejoy and Panzer carry the offense.
They’ll sleepwalk through the first month, hit their stride by Valentines, and show up in St. Paul like they meant to be there all along.
Some people are just built for the postseason. EGF is one of them.
5. Sartell — Reclassified, Reinvigorated, and Still Goalie Shopping
Sartell waltzing back into Class A feels like someone returning a boat they borrowed five years ago and saying, “Hey, remember us?”
They’ve got scoring, size, and enough skill players to convince the locals this is finally their year.
But they don’t have a goalie with varsity experience. None. Not one.
Optimism is nice, but in Minnesota high school hockey, “no returning goalie” is the equivalent of showing up to a snowstorm in a light jacket and good intentions.
6. Delano — Once Mighty, Now Motivated
Delano used to arrive at state like it was an annual conference meeting. Then they vanished. That’s Class A.
But this roster is loaded with the kind of seniors who remember blowing leads and losing sleep over it.
Delano hockey is simple: Be organized → be disciplined → be annoying → break hearts → rinse → repeat.
They’re due. And they know it.
7. Monticello — The Moose Will Make Your Night Miserable
Monticello isn’t flashy. They don’t care.
They win 2–1, block shots with their ribs, and stare down opponents like it’s a county fair hog competition.
Nicklas Nelson can score. The rest of them play like they’d rather win 1–0 and go home early.
In March, that stuff matters.
8. Blake — The Private School Power Nobody Saw Coming
Two years ago Blake won two games. Two.
Now they look like a sleeping Class A monster with Erickson, Bell, and Bisbee steering the bus.
They didn’t lose to a Class A team last season. Respect is overdue.
9. Mahtomedi — Order Restored
Mahtomedi dipped for one season and their fans acted like society was ending.
Relax. They’re back.
This team has enough returners, coaching, and institutional memory to get the job done in 4A.
10. Northfield — Good Enough to Get There, Questionable Enough Once They Do
Northfield will win the south again. They’ll drag half the town to St. Paul. Then they’ll play on Thursday and leave locals saying, “Next year, though.”
Still a strong squad. Still dangerous. Still the best option down that way.
11–20: The Beautiful Chaos Section
Waseca: Great offense, questionable defense. Classic Bluejays.
Northern Lakes: Sam Suja should get a tax credit for volume saves.
CEC: Tough kids, tougher program.
Detroit Lakes: One goal away from relevance.
Cathedral: Reloading, not rebuilding — always.
St. Louis Park: This team could shock someone’s winter plans.
Orono: Down, not out. Never out.
Rochester Lourdes: Quietly dangerous if you aren’t paying attention.
Little Falls: Kalis in net = nightly danger.
Luverne: Brave, stubborn, and totally capable of ruining someone’s March.
