Class A State Preview

Warriors come out to play

Top-ranked Warroad seeks their third state title while Proctor/Hermantown looks to repeat and #2 Orono makes their first-ever appearance

Half of the Class A field from last year returns this week to XCel Energy Center for another chance at state tournament glory. And while some teams’ dreams of a title are more realistic than others, picking a clear-cut favorite this year appears to be a fool’s errand. So let’s get started.

Defending champion Proctor/Hermantown isn’t arriving in St. Paul undefeated as was the case in 2021, but despite seven losses this season, the Mirage you see is definitely real, and in contention for a repeat.

The Warroad Warriors beat Proctortown 1-0 way back in November and, 23 wins later, the Black and Gold are back as expected, looking spry and formidable.

The Orono Spartans and Albert Lea Tigers are set to make their state tournament debuts, with the 24-3-0 Spartans bringing a high-powered offensive attack capable of winning it all. Orono also took down the Mirage during the regular season, beating the champs 6-3 on the road in November.

Mankato East returns to St. Paul after appearances in 2017 and 2019. The Cougars followed up a strong regular season showing with a largely expected cruise through Section 2A. Even with 21 wins though, the Cougars look like a dark horse.

Luverne and River Lakes are back in St. Paul as longshots, but both raised their level of play to win their respective section championships in medium-spicy upsets. Luverne, after twice losing convincingly to New Ulm earlier in the season, rallied for a 3-2 overtime win over the Eagles in the 3A final.

River Lakes looked like an also-ran for most of the season before turning it on in January and culminating their transformation with a 3-1 surprise party over top-seeded Fergus Falls. The Stars will see how their improved play looks on the big stage against top-ranked Warroad to open Wednesday’s evening session.

South St. Paul has had an ebb and flow to their season as well. The four-time state champs started the season 2-5-1, then finished 6-1-1 to earn a seat at the tournament table. The Packers defense has been in lockdown mode for the past month and will make goals hard to come by for their opponents.

Here is a breakdown of Wednesday’s quarterfinal matchups:

Quarterfinal pairings (Wednesday)

#10 Mankato East Cougars (21-5-0) vs. #2 Orono Spartans (24-3-0) 11 am

Orono senior forward iyla Ryskamp is fourth in the state with 83 points.  Photo by Arnie Hamel

Cougars’ best win: Beat Northfield 1-0 on Jan. 25.

Cougars’ toughest game: Lost 5-2 to Owatonna on Jan. 18.

Sniper: McKenzie Keller (37-24–61, 3 PPG, 5 GWG)

Quarterback: Ava Tibodeau (18-9–27, 4 GWG)

Gatekeeper: Anna Rader (21-5-0, 1.79 GAA, .926 SV%, 4 SO)

Spartans’ best win: Defeated Cretin-Derham Hall 4-1 on Feb. 2.

Spartans’ toughest game: Lost to Gentry Academy 4-0 on Dec. 17.

Sniper: Ayla Ryskamp (42-41–83, 10 GWG, 8 PPG)

Quarterback: Alex Paulsen (2-30–32, 8 PPA)

Gatekeeper: Celia Dahl (21-3-0, 1.63 GAA, .920 SV%, 3 SO)

Orono goaltender Celia Dahl has a .920 SV%.  Photo by Mike Lieb

The Cougars have put together a very solid 21-win season and possess a couple of ingredients necessary to pull off a big upset: a duo of high scoring forwards (McKenzie Keller and Jess Eykyn), and a solid goalie in junior Anna Rader. “Keller is pretty fast,” says Orono head coach Sean Fish. “We’ll have to keep her in check.”

East head coach Amber Prange, who played in three state tournaments for Anoka between 1998-2002, has talked to some coaches who have played Orono and knows they have a tall task ahead. “We have to limit their chances – especially good chances – and then when we have chances we’ll have to capitalize,” Prange said.

The Cougars are young, with no seniors on the team, but have shown steady maturation all season. “In every game we’ve lost, we were ahead 2-0,” said Prange, who played collegiately at MSU-Mankato. The team began to believe more in themselves and ultimately avenged a 5-2 loss to Northfield in November with a 1-0 win over the Raiders in January, a win that gives them confidence as they head north to St. Paul.

Orono is making their first-ever trip to state and coach Fish says his team is confident. “Our team is ready,” he says. “It’s nice to get over the hump, and now it’s go-time.” Fish’s experience at state as a player for Anoka in 2003, and assistant coach Brooke Madsen’s state experience as a player for Eagan, should help with any jitters. “The girls are going to lean on us a little bit,” Fish says.

With Iyla Ryskamp, Zoe Lopez and a strong supporting cast, look for Orono to work their way through some early-game nerves and prevail over the determined Cougars.

Janjet says: Orono 5, Mankato East 2

#22 Albert Lea Tigers (14-10-1) vs. #3 Proctor/Hermantown (19-7-1) 1 pm

Proctor/Hermantown forward Nya Sieger leads the Mirage with 43 points.  Photo by Hope Carlson

Tigers’ best win: Beat rival Austin 7-2 on Feb. 17 for Section 1A title

Tigers’ toughest game: Crushed 14-0 by Gentry Academy on Nov. 20.

Sniper: Shelby Evans (16-11–27)

Quarterback: Morgan Goskeson (23-5–28, 5 GWG)

Gatekeeper: Rachel Doppelhammer (14-10-1, 3.62 GAA, .867 SV%, 3 SO)

Mirage’s best win: Beat Rogers 1-0 on Dec. 29.

Mirage’s toughest game: Lost to Eden Prairie 2-1 on Jan. 21.

Sniper: Izy Fairchild (27-13–40, 7 GWG)

Quarterback: Ava Anick (2-10–12)

Gatekeeper: Abby Pajari (18-7-1, 1.24 GAA, .946 SV%, 6 SO)

Mirage forward Ember Kehtel.  Photo by Hope Carlson

The Tigers feature an especially young squad with a seventh grader leading the team in scoring and a sophomore goaltender playing in every game. But their youthful enthusiasm will be no match for a Proctor/Hermantown squad that hung tough with multiple Class AA teams this season.

In fact, no team in Class A played a tougher schedule than the Mirage, a slate that included dates with AA powers Andover, Edina and Benilde-St. Margaret’s. After a bit of a sluggish start to the season, the Mirage appear poised to defend their state championship.

Janjet says: Proctor/Hermantown 7, Albert Lea 0

#14 River Lakes Stars (15-12-0) vs. #1 Warroad Warriors (23-3-1) 6 pm

Warroad junior forward Kate Johnson has 45 goals on the season.  Photo by Arnie Hamel

Stars’ best win: Beat Fergus Falls 3-1 in the Section 5A final on Feb. 19.

Stars’ toughest game: Lost to Alexandria 6-2 on Feb. 3.

Sniper: Sophia Hess (22-24–46, 3 PPG)

Quarterback: Kianna Roeske (28-23–51, 5 GWG)

Gatekeeper: Kaydence Roeske (14-9-0, 2.17 GAA, .931 SV%, 5 SO)

Warriors best win: Beat South St. Paul 6-0 on Dec. 3.

Warriors toughest game: Lost to Andover 4-1 on Dec. 4.

Sniper: Kate Johnson (45-36–81, 9 GWG, 7 PPG)

Quarterback: Abby Chamernick (10-26–36, 12 PPA)

Gatekeeper: Kendra Nordick (18-3-1, 1.08 GAA, .939 SV%, 9 SO)

Warroad junior forwards Kate Johnson and Talya Hendrickson are an offensive spectacle to behold and the Warriors have skated a few teams out of the rink this year. River Lakes will be hard-pressed to contain the Warriors’ high-powered offense, but second-year head coach Lexi Klatt looks forward to the challenge. “It’s fun to play the top seed!” she said.

The Stars return to St. Paul for the second straight season behind sisters Kianna and Kaydence Roeske. The Stars were just 5-8-0 after an uninspiring 3-1 loss to Delano/Rockford on Dec. 29 before they turned things around. “We talk about playing a complete hockey game,” said Klatt. “We’d put together one or two periods, but it was usually that other one that cost us the game.”

River Lakes’ 3-1 defeat of top seed Fergus Falls in the 6A title game capped a strong turn-around for the Stars. “Everybody had great energy,” said Klatt, herself a former River Lakes player.

The Stars will need the Roeskes to be at their absolute best to give themselves a chance at an upset. “They’re huge on and off the ice,” says Klatt of the sisters. “They’ve got some of the best attitudes. Those two are always encouraging the other players.”

Janjet says: Warroad 5, River Lakes 2

#9 Luverne Cardinals (22-3-0) vs. #7 So. St. Paul Packers (15-10-2) 8 pm

Luverne junior forward Kamryn Van Batavia leads the state with 80 goals and 124 points. 

Cardinals’ best win: Beat New Ulm 3-2 in OT on Feb. 15 for Section 3A title

Cardinals’ toughest game: Lost to New Ulm 6-0 on Dec. 20.

Sniper: Kamryn Van Batavia (80-44–124)

Quarterback: Mallory Nelson (6-21–27)

Gatekeeper: Cheyenne Schutz (21-3-0, 1.92 GAA, .909 SV%, 6 SO)

Packers’ best win: Defeated Roseville 2-1 on Dec. 31.

Packers’ toughest game: Lost to Minneapolis 6-3 on Jan. 11.

Sniper: Sarah Wincentsen (12-12–24, 4 GWG)

Quarterback: Lilie Ramirez (15-27–42, 12 PPA)

Gatekeeper: Delaney Norman (13-10-2, 1.73 GAA, .927 SV%, 5 SO)

Could the Cards surprise here? With two of the top three scorers in the state (Kamryn Van Batavia and Reghan Bork) and consecutive state tournament experiences under their belts, Luverne could present some challenges for the Packers, who pride themselves on their defense. “At this point of the season you respect everybody,” says Packers head coach Dave Palmquist. “They’re all here for a reason.”

Palmquist will make sure his team is on high alert with the state’s leading scorer looming on the other end of the rink. “We always have to be aware of where she is on the ice,” he says about Van Batavia, who has an extraordinary 80 goals in 25 games.

For the Packers, Delaney Norman is in goal and Lilie Ramirez is the smooth superhero on the blueline. SSP played among the toughest schedules in Class A, taking on AA schools Hill Murray and Roseville, as well as Orono, Proctor/Hermantown, Warroad and Simley. It resulted in a less impressive won/loss record, but has clearly made the Packers tournament-ready after a strong sectional performance. “That’s why we play that schedule,” says Palmquist, who has won four state titles and been runner-up twice. “They really put together two fantastic weeks to end the (regular) season.”

Janjet says: South St. Paul 4, Luverne 2

Semifinals:

Proctor/Hermantown 3, Orono 2

Warroad 5, South St. Paul 2

Championship:

Warroad 4, Proctor/Hermantown 2

Third place:

Orono 4, South St. Paul 1

Consolation:

Luverne 4, Mankato East 3