This is the day that the boys hockey champions are to be determined with class 1A game at noon and the class 2A at 7PM. All games are played at the Xcel Center, the Wild’s home ice. Attendance yesterday for the 2A semifinal was 19,351, a sell out, and such is the level of interest in these magnificent games.
In semifinal games, Hermantown beat Breck in double overtime, 3-2 and will play St. Thomas winner 11-0 over East Grand Forks. Experts say St Thomas is the best team in the state, even though it plays in 1A, the small school division. It may move to 2A next year. The exciting 2A games saw Hill-Murray beat Wayzata 3-2 and Edina beat Duluth East 3-2. The Hill Murray game ended with the last Wayata shot bouncing off the goalie with. 4 seconds remaining. It seems the theme song for these games is Tom Perry’s “I Won’t Back Down.”
I grew up in a non hockey area and was only introduced to the hockey tournament by accident in the 1970’s when a friend suggested we go to a game. From then on, I ‘ve been hooked and have invented excuses to be there. I was compelled to attend games earlier but now they are streamed on prep45.com so I can watch the games worldwide.
It is now two hours before game time, so I need to get some stuff done, because nothing will keep me away from the 1A game at noon,

Update: St. Thomas won 5-4 with a power play goal with 6 seconds to go. It is their third straight and now they move to class 2A. This is the Minnesota State High School League concept of the English promotion and relegation scheme. So far, no 2A team has been relegated to 1A. The MSHSL doesn’t actually have a promotion and relegation scheme, but it is something to think about!

Final update: Edina beat Hill=Murray 4-2 to take the 2A crown. The deciding factor was the Edina goalie and the Hill-Murray habit of hitting the pipe. I guess the two go together. All in all, the hockey gods decided it was an Edina evening.