Local Sports

By Zeke Fuhrman |

Girls State Hockey Bracket Is Set: Bemidji opens against Edina on Thursday afternoon

Bemidji girls hockey section champs 2026
Photo courtesy of KBUN Sports Radio

The road to Grand Casino Arena is complete — and the 2026 Girls State Hockey Tournament is loaded with defending champions, historic programs, breakthrough teams, and a few hungry newcomers ready to crash the party.

Here’s a look at this year’s field and quarterfinal matchups:

Class A Quarterfinals

#8 3A Luverne Cardinals (16-9) vs #1 8A Warroad Warriors (20-5-1) 11:00 am, Wednesday February 18th

Luverne pulled off one of the section tournament’s biggest upsets, knocking off 22-5 Marshall to punch their ticket. This marks their fourth state appearance in six years — a testament to the Cardinals’ staying power in southern Minnesota. Meanwhile, Warroad returns for its 11th straight state appearance and 17th overall trip. After three consecutive championships, the Warriors fell in last year’s overtime final to Dodge County. With five titles and six runner-up finishes, Warroad remains one of Minnesota’s most storied programs. Their 17th section title ties South St. Paul for the most in league history.

#5 7A Proctor-Hermantown Mirage (17-6-2) vs #4 1A Dodge County Wildcats (20-6-1) – 1:00 am, Wednesday February 18th

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The defending state champions are back. Dodge County captured last year’s title in unforgettable fashion, defeating Warroad 4-3 in overtime, and now return for their third straight state appearance. With championship experience and the confidence of knowing they’ve beaten the best, the Wildcats enter as one of the teams to beat once again. For Proctor-Hermantown, the 2026 state tourney marks seven straight state appearances and twelve overall in program history. The Mirage’s lone title came in 2021, but they’ve also claimed three consolation championships.

#7 6A St. Cloud Crush (17-9) vs #2 5A Breck Mustangs (25-1-1) — 6:00, Wednesday February 18th

The Mustangs are a powerhouse once again. Breck advanced with a 3-1 win over Mount Westonka-SWC and brings a remarkable 25-1-1 record into state. With four state titles and a tournament-best 20-4 all-time state record, Breck is looking for its first championship since 2020. The Crush, meanwhile, earned their first-ever state tournament berth by taking down three-time defending section champion Fergus Falls 5-2. A program breakthrough adds another compelling storyline to this year’s Class A bracket.

#6 2A Mankato East Cougars (24-2-1) vs #3 4A Blake Bears (20-6), 8:00 pm, Wednesday February 18th

Seven-time state champion Blake survived an overtime thriller against Academy of Holy Angels to advance. This is the program’s 11th state tournament appearance, and the Bears are chasing their first title since 2017. No program owns more championships in MSHSL history — and they know how to navigate this stage. Meanwhile, Mankato East is back at state for the first time since 2023, earning its third-ever trip with a 3-1 win over Minnesota River. The Cougars bring one of the best records in the field and a balanced attack capable of making a deep run.

Class AA Quarterfinals

#8 3AA Lakeville North Panthers (14-7-3) vs #1 4AA Hill-Murray Pioneers (21-3-1); 11:00am Thursday, February 19th

The defending champs have arrived. Hill-Murray returns to state for the third straight season after defeating Woodbury 5-1 in the section final. Last February, they edged Edina 5-4 in a title game thriller to secure the program’s third championship. Now comes the hardest task in high school hockey: repeating. This is their 11th trip to state — they understand the grind of the three-day tournament format. Meanwhile, Lakeville North might be the most dangerous “low seed” in the field. The Panthers stunned top-seeded Apple Valley 1-0 in double overtime to reach state — after needing overtime to beat Rosemount 1-0 in the semifinal. That’s two straight sudden-death wins. They’re comfortable in tight, playoff-style hockey. This is a defensively structured team that can grind games into coin flips. And once you’re in a one-goal game late at state? Anything can happen. This is their sixth trip to state and first since 2023.

#5 8AA Bemidji Lumberjacks (18-5-1) vs #4 6AA Edina Hornets (19-4-3); 1:00 pm Thursday, February 19th

The Bemidji Lumberjacks are one of the best stories in the 2026 state tourney field. The Lumberjacks return to state for the first time since 2007 after holding off Moorhead 4-3 in the section final. Their only other state appearance came in 2000 — making this just their third trip ever. Bemidji brings a confident, physical style of play. Teams making long-awaited returns often play loose and fearless — and that can be dangerous for traditional powers. Like Edina, the standard of hockey excellence. The Hornets return for their 16th state appearance — one shy of South St. Paul’s and Warroad’s all-time record. Last season, they fell 5-4 to Hill-Murray in the Class AA championship game, ending their bid for back-to-back titles. Now they’re back with unfinished business. Edina is chasing a sixth state championship, which would extend their Class AA record.

#7 1AA Farmington Tigers (21-4-1) vs #2 5AA Centennial-Spring Lake Park (21-3-1); 6:00 pm, Thursday February 19th

Centennial-SLP has built something quietly consistent. The newer co-op returns to state for the second straight season and third time in the last four years. Prior to partnering with Spring Lake Park in 2022, Centennial alone had four state appearances, including a runner-up finish in 2018.  At 21-3-1, they bring one of the most efficient records in the field. They may not always make headlines, but they are absolutely capable of a semifinal or championship appearance if they find early momentum. On the other side of the ice, Farmington is quietly one of the steadiest programs in Class AA. The Tigers earned back-to-back section titles by holding off Northfield 3-2 in a tightly contested championship. At 21-4-1, they bring balance into their eighth state appearance.

#6 7AA Andover Huskies (15-9-1) vs #3 2AA Holy Family Catholic Fire (24-3); 8:00 pm, Thursday February 19th

If there’s a team entering state battle-tested, it’s Holy Family. The Fire survived one of the most dramatic section finals of the postseason, defeating Minnetonka 5-4 in double overtime. That kind of win does more than advance you — it hardens you. This is just Holy Family’s second-ever state tournament appearance, but don’t mistake “new” for “unready.” At 24-3, they’ve proven consistency all season. They can score, they’ve handled high-pressure moments, and they’re returning after tasting the tournament experience a year ago. Meanwhile, for Andover, the 2026 state tourney appearance marks seven straight section titles. Andover’s dominance in Section 7AA continued with a 1-0 win over Grand Rapids-Greenway. During this run, the Huskies have captured two state championships and finished runner-up twice. That resume speaks for itself. At 15-9-1, they may not carry the gaudiest record, but Andover has proven time and again that they peak in February. They defend well, play structured hockey, and understand tournament tempo.