2026 BHS Class A State Tournament Preview

[ClassAGuy]

2026 BHS Class A State Tournament Preview

The 2026 Boys Hockey Class A Tournament features some familiar faces and some new blood coming to St. Paul this year, and this looks to be shaping up to be another good Class A Tournament. The #1 team returns looking for redemption, and overall, 7 of the 8 teams finished in the Final Top 20 A Ranking. This should be a competitive and fun Tourney!

5 Storylines and Notes on the 2026 BHS Hockey Class A State Tournament

Finishing Touches on a Lasting Legacy
Hibbing/Chisholm entered the year as the prohibitive favorite to win Class A, as their current Sophomore, Junior & Senior classes were able to win A Pee Wee & A Bantam State titles coming up through the youth ranks to give hope of a Championship returning to the Range. The Blue Jackets now enter the Tourney as Class A’s #1 team and #1 seed, and they will look to make amends for last year, as they fell short of their Championship goal when they let a Friday afternoon semi slip away. They are back now and older and wiser, and they will look to add to their trophy case and put the finishing touches on a great legacy as they look to bring a State Title back to this historic hockey power for the first time since 1973.

Another Title Finally for Hockeytown USA?
Hockey fever is at an all-time high due to the recent success of the USA Olympic Men’s & Women’s team winning gold. As has been brought up by many, the American Men have never been able to win an Olympic title without a player from Hockeytown USA on the roster. Now the question is, can Warroad finally bring home State Title #5 in boys hockey? The title drought has now reached 20-plus years, as the last Boys Hockey State Title for the Warriors was back in 2005. This current group of Warriors has had loads of success in the youth ranks and won multiple state titles growing up, but the question is, are they going to be a group to bring more title success back to Hockeytown USA by the end of this week?

The Southern Class A Underdogs
As noted, 7 of the 8 teams had expectations to be here this week as they finished in the Final Top 20 Rankings and were a #1 or #2 seed in their sectional. However, a true underdog story exists down south, as Dodge County, which was a team in the notable other 5 just outside the Top 20 late in the year, shocked many when they upset the 3-time defending 1A Champion Northfield. This is a Wildcat team that has been coming strong late in the year, as they are now (11-2-1) in their last 14 games. This is still a young lineup, and they may have arrived a year early, but they will be looking to continue to shock everyone this week.

Class A’s Version of the Quarterfinal Curse
Normally, when we talk about the Quarterfinal Curse with a program whose color scheme is black and orange when referencing the Boys State Hockey Tournament, most people immediately think of White Bear Lake. Well, Class A has its own Black and Orange version growing when it comes to Delano. The Tigers have come on the hockey scene strongly over the past decade, as they will be making their 5th appearance in the last 10 years this week. However, they have yet to win a Quarterfinal Game, and they will want to end that stigma now.

Alumni Head Coaches
One of the continued themes in the Class A tournament of recent years is alumni Head Coaches, and this year is no different. The 2026 Tourney features 5 of the 8 teams being coached by alumni Head Coaches. Aaron Jaminck of Hibbing/Chisholm, Jay Hardwick of Warroad, Robbie Stocker of St Cloud Cathedral, Gerrit van Bergen of Delano & Nate Olsen of Mankato West are all coaching the teams they once wore jerseys for in high school this week. It's a really great trend to continue to see this year, as even with new teams, we have Alumni coming back to the community and teaching the game they love to the next generation of program stars, where they once grew up and attended.

Section 1A Champions Dodge County Wildcats
Head Coaches: Andrew & Bryce Wilcox, 4th year
Record: 19-8-1
Road to State: W 6-0 Winona, W 4-3 OT Waseca, W 4-2 Northfield
State Tournament History: 2nd appearance- 2021 & 2026

Meet The Wildcats: Co-Head Coaches Andrew & Bryce Wilcox have guided their program on an underdog run as they have taken the unranked and #3 seed from their own sectional into the State Tourney to shock many in Class A. This group was a young team coming into the year, but they have gotten progressively better and now arrive back at State for just the 2nd time ever. The Wildcats are led up front by their top line of Sr. #3 Gabe Coshenet, Soph. #8 Camryn Koch & 9th grader #21 Nolan Steele, who have been their point producer and main offensive threat all year. They do get depth and a more defensive mindset from their 2nd line of Sr. #11 Dylan Allen and Sophs. #17 Landen Gunderson & #12 Peter LaRock, and the third line of Srs. #15 Evan Hain, #5 Cohen McNeilus & #14 Isiah Holtermann, as they work to shut down the opponent's top group with physicality. The Wildcats' blueline is led by Srs. #8 Cooper Bebee & #40 Jeremiah Peterson-Gordon, as they are the veteran presence on the back end. They have also gotten depth and growth from Jr. #2 Braylon Fredrickson and Sophs. #20 Maxwell Hain, #16 Sawyer Young & #27 Jaxon Burgess, who have helped make a complete defensive unit. In the net, Goaltender Jr. #31 Wes Wegner came on strong in net late in the year, and he has been the key and lynchpin to Dodge County’s underdog run into the Class A Tourney. The last time we saw this program in St. Paul they made a big splash as they were able to make a run all the way to the Title Game before ending up Runner Ups. They will come into this Tourney with no fear, and they have arrived a year early as they weren’t really expected to contend until next year, but they are here now, and they are looking to pull another shocker now!

Section 2A Champions Delano Tigers
Head Coach: Gerrit van Bergen 12th year
Record: 22-4-2
Road to State: W 6-0 Waconia, W 7-3 Orono, W 6-2 Blake
State Tournament History: 5th appearance- 2017, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2026

Meet The Tigers: Head Coach Gerrit van Bergen has guided his Alma Mater back to St. Paul for the first time in 4 years and for the 5th appearance overall. Delano has been a team on a mission all year as they started the year by sending a message with an impressive Section 8A road sweep and have been a top tier Class A team all year long. The Tigers are always a structured group, but they have also featured some more offensive flair this year. They have a great top line in Srs. #12 Daniel Halonen & #13 Brady Kangas and Soph. #62 Lance Halonen has been putting up huge numbers all year long. They always seem to play their best in the biggest games. They get depth from a second line of veterans in Srs. #20 Brody Geislinger, #9 Jacob Perlich & #3 Andrew Bruett and they have seen growth all year from their third line of youngsters, Sophs. #15 Austin Kazin, #2 Grant Bruett & #18 Henry Tate. Defensively, they are led by Srs. #16 Connor Oja and Jrs. #21 Dylan Nelson & #22 Bennett Halonen, who, along with Soph #34 Jackson Wollak, play major minutes for the Tigers and have been excellent playing within the program's typical structure while adding some offense from the back end as well. In the net, Sr. #1 Evan Geyen suffered an injury in the first game of the year, but since the 3-year starter has returned on January 20th, the team has not lost a game, and they come into the Tourney playing excellent hockey. Delano has become a growing power in Class A over the last decade but to achieve that blue blood status that they seem to be right on the door step of they will need to have success in St Paul as State Tournament first round success has yet to come to them but they are hoping this group can change that narrative and get them finally to a Friday Semifinal and see here they can go from there.

Section 3A Champions Mankato West Scarlets
Head Coach: Nate Olsen 5th year
Record: 19-7-2
Road to State: W 13-0 Fairmont, W 3-2 Mankato East, W 2-1 3 OT Luverne
State Tournament History: 3rd appearance- 2008, 2016, 2026

Meet The Scarlets: Head Coach Nate Olsen has been rebuilding his Alma Mater for the last few years, and now, after a thrilling triple overtime Section 3A Final win, he is taking his program back to State for the first time in 10 years and the 3rd time overall. Mankato West has been a program to watch all year, as most of their plentiful group of underclassmen have been going to State at the youth levels for a few years, and now they will do the same at the high school level after a second-half season surge. The Scarlets employ a mainly two line attack led by the top line of Jrs. #27 Jakobe Tosch, #7 Keaton Dorzek & #17 Brodie Cox, who, along with a second line led by Srs. #14 Brayden Keech & #23 Isaac Ulman and Jr. #26 Rickey Enter get a ton of minutes and have carried the scoring load much of the season. They do sprinkle in a third line of Sr. #10 Jackson Starke, Jr. #11 Weston Grassmann & Soph. #18 Dane Hatlestad. On the blueline, they are led by two outstanding underclassman defensemen as Jr. #12 Grady Schmidt & 9th grader #8 Brooks Baukol are both excellent players. They also get good minutes out of Sr. #20 Jaden Reddy and Jrs. #4 Blake Rewitzer & #2 Carson Brelje, as they have been the main guys who see ice defensively. In the net, Soph. #29 Blake Brekke split the net for most of the year, but the youngster won the job for the playoff run, and he has been superb for them. He is usually at his best when facing a ton of shots, which will most likely be the case at State. Mankato West will have a tough task on their hands as they will most likely draw one of the Top Seeds in the Quarterfinal Round, and they will need to be at their best. However, this is a young and improving team, and they have played many of these programs in the youth ranks, and they will not be intimidated.

Section 4A Champions Mahtomedi Zephyrs
Head Coach: Jeff Poeschl 29th year
Record: 17-9-2
Road to State: W 11-0 St Paul, W 5-1 Hastings, W 7-1 Chisago Lakes
State Tournament History: 17th appearance- 1992, 1994, 1997, 1998, 2001, 2009, 2010, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 (State Title), 2022, 2023 (State Title), 2024, 2025, 2026

Meet The Zephyrs: Head Coach Jeff Poeschl has guided the Zephyrs back to St. Paul for the 9th time in the last 10 years and for their 17th appearance overall. Mahtomedi, as normal, played a schedule filled with tough AA teams that they hoped would mold them into a contender by season's end, which has become commonplace in recent years. The Zephyrs have three strong lines, for some of the best depth in A Tourney. They use a top line of experience in Srs. #15 Easton DeZelar, #11 Kaden Gagnelius & #16 Brayden Fuerst, providing more of a lockdown defensive effort vs the other team's top group. They have two good young scoring lines of Jr #17 Will Seevers and Sophs. #10 Vinny Redpath & #27 Tommy Boe along with a line of Sr. #12 Blake Loida, Jr. #8 Devin O'Donnell & Soph. #22 Brock Gutterman. They can use all three lines interchangeably, and it gives me some great matchup advantages vs most Class A teams. The defensive unit is led by Srs. #4 Henry Sampair, #23 Cody Loida & #7 Cael Brummel, who give them a good veteran presence. Add to them Jrs. #9 Trevor Rogosheske & #20 Zach Zins and Soph. #3 Ryker Dunbar, who all played good minutes last year, and they can play all 6 defenseman, which keeps them fresh and steady in their own end. In the net, Sr. #30 Jackson Chesak has been their main guy this year, and he has been very solid in net for them and has experience of playing in the Tourney from last year to build off of. This is always a team that is well coached and prepared to make a tourney run around this time of year, and this year would appear to be no different, as they have a very deep lineup card that is full of experience, and they will be looking for some redemption after last year's early exit in the Tourney. This is a group to keep an eye on this week as they have all the pieces of hallmark Zephyrs Title contender depth throughout the lineup card, loads of Tourney experience, and they are battle-tested and ready to win.

Section 5A Champions St. Cloud Cathedral Crusaders
Head Coach: Robbie Stocker 5th year
Record: 17-11-0
Road to State: W 11-3 Princeton, W 7-2 Sauk Rapids-Rice, W 3-1 Monticello
State Tournament History: 14th appearance- 1993, 1994, 2004, 2008, 2009, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2019 (State Title), 2020, 2023, 2024 (State Title), 2025, 2026

Meet The Crusaders: Head Coach Robbie Stocker continues to do an outstanding job, and this season may have been his best coaching job as he was able to turn what looked like a rebuilding year into a reload instead. Now he brings Cathedral back to State for the 4th straight year and the 14th time overall and he has his Crusaders playing well as they got through the Section 5A playoff while outsourcing their competition 21-6. The Crusaders had to retool their top line this year, but Jr. #19 Eli Van Heel, Soph. #17 Bo Schmidt and 9th grader #5 Brandan White have led the charge, and they all come into the Tourney with double-digit goals. They have also gotten notable secondary scoring as the year has gone along from their second line of Srs. #11 Caleb Trant, #32 Noah Klein & #12 Garrett Loch, who have scored some big goals in the playoffs. Their third line of Srs. #2 Camden Kroll & #9 Brady Andvik and Jr. #28 Bradon Zieglmeier get spotted in occasionally and serve a more defensive role. Defensively, they are led by Sr. #21 Griffin Sturm, and he is as special as they come, a phenomenal skater and playmaker from the back end who will be playing his 4th straight Tourney. Add to him, Srs. #18 Carter Bakeberg & #22 Nolan Bigaouette and Sophs. #23 Talen Ruprecht & #7 Trevor Hall, and they have been a group overall that has improved tremendously as a defensive unit as the year has gone along. In the net, they have Sr. #31 Hunter Moreland, who won the starting role midway through the year, and the team has taken off with him in the net. The Crusaders played a tough Class A Schedule and did struggle early on in the year as they were filling new roles for multiple spots, but as seems to be the case always with this coaching staff, they are playing their best hockey late in the year.

Section 6A Champions Northern Lakes Lightning
Head Coach: Tom Klein 1st year
Record: 17-10-1
Road to State: W 6-0 Breckenridge/Wahpeton, W 6-0 Willmar, W 3-2 OT Sartell
State Tournament History: 3rd appearance- 2021, 2025, 2026

Meet The Lightning: Head Coach Tom Klein and his 40 plus years of coaching experience was able to take over for a coaching legend and pull off one of the biggest upsets in the entire Class A Playoffs as he led Northern Lakes back to the State Tournament for the 2nd straight year and for the 3rd appearance overall. This is a team with a large Junior Class that got progressively better throughout the year, and they play a physical brand of hockey and use a tough team defense approach. Upfront, they have three strong lines led by their top line of Jrs. #16 Josiah Reier, #29 Parker Fulton & #22 Huck Balmer, who have been strong from them all year. Their second line of Srs. #14 Jacob Peterson & #21 Garret Furry and Jr. #26 Griffen Hannah bring a good physical presence with a flash of skill. In the playoffs, their third line of Jrs. #2 Waylon Katterhagen & #23 Landon Cartie and #9 Soph. Lucas Martin has provided some huge goals to truly give them scoring from all three lines. Defensively, Srs. #19 Leyton Cable & #11 Sutton Sullivan and Jrs. #12 Bodie Nybakken, #4 Kyler Rikala & #5 Derek Berg all rotate and play very well in their own end, which has been key to giving them good defensive depth. In the net, Jr. #1 Sam Suja has been excellent in goal all year, and he already has 2 shutouts during their playoff run. He keeps Northern Lakes in every game that they play, and he played on this stage last year to understand the bright lights of St. Paul. This group of Juniors had loads of success in the youth ranks as they placed high at A Bantam State and now they are looking to use that experience and what they learned from last year's Tourney appearance to help them make the next big step as they want to win the first game and stay in at the Grand Casino Arena and avoid playing in Mariucci this time around.

Section 7A Champions Hibbing/Chisholm Bluejackets
Head Coach: Aaron Jamnick. 2nd year
Record: 24-2-2
Road to State: W 14-1 Ely, W 10-1 Proctor, W 3-2 OT Cloquet/Esko/Carlton
State Tournament History: 15th appearance- 1952 (State Title), 1967, 1970, 1973 (State Title), 1974, 1982, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1994, 2003, 2004, 2011, 2025, 2026

Meet The Bluejackets: Head Coach Aaron Jamnick has guided his alma mater, Hibbing/Chisholm, back to State for the second year in a row, for the 15th appearance overall. This group was the preseason favorite with all the talent they brought back, and they did not disappoint throughout the year as they enter the Class A Tourney as the State’s #1 team. They are led up front by their top line of Srs. #8 Tate Swanson & #5 Isaiah Hildenbrand and Soph. #22 Cole Swanson, who are as dangerous as it gets in Class A and have put up massive points all year long. The Bluejackets' depth comes from their 2nd line of Sr. #12 Benny Galli & #18 Hunter Gustavsson, and Jr. #4 Joey Gabardi, and the third line of Srs. #19 Kelin Elsner, #24 Landon Krampotich & #13 Blake Riccio, who has been able to supply them with secondary scoring and physicality. The Hibbing backend is as good as you will see in Class A, as they have a great core of defensemen in Sr #6 Ethan Sundvall & #26 Mason McDonald, and Jrs. #28 Jackson Strukel & #21 Dylan Vesel and Soph. #10 Whitaker Rewertz have all rotated with different pairings, and the unit has good speed and elite skill, which allows this team to get out of their end with the best of any in the State. In the net, Goaltender Sr. #31 Gavin Lamphere came into the season as a perceived weak spot of this deep and dangerous Hibbing team, but he has been steady and a source of strength all year instead and has been at his best through the 7A playoffs so far. All the pieces are in place, and this group has been carrying the weight of a community in need of some good news and something to root for all year. They will now look to amends for last year's shortcomings and bring back to the range this program's first State Title since 1973 by the weekend’s end.

Section 8A Champions Warroad Warriors
Head Coach: Jay Hardwick 14th year
Record: 22-5-1
Road to State: W 16-0 Park Rapids, W 8-1 Thief River Falls, W 3-0 Detroit Lakes
State Tournament History: 26th appearance- 1948, 1949, 1953, 1963, 1969, 1970, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1994 (State Title), 1995, 1996 (State Title), 1997, 2000, 2003 (State Title), 2004, 2005 (State Title), 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2020, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2026

Meet The Warriors: Head Coach Jay Hardwick brings his Warriors back to State after a one year hiatus and for the 26th time in program history, and this Warroad team is looking to win the school’s 5th State Title. Warroad went through the Section 8A playoffs like a wrecking ball as they outscored their opponents 27-1 in three games, and they arrive back at the Tourney looking locked in and ready to make a Title run. The Warriors are led by their big line of Sr. #20 Mooney Shaugabay, Jr #7 Gavin Andersen & 9th grader #5 Rodrick Jackson, which is one of Class A’s best lines; the trio is full of elite skill and has accounted for a big chunk of their offense. This Warroad team, though, does appear to be different because they have depth behind the big line as the 2nd line of Sr. #24 Mason Reed, Jr. #13 Casey Hendrickson & Soph. #25 Conner Lund, along with the third line of Srs. #29 Ryan Chamernick & #11 Taylor Humeniuk and Jr. #12 Wyatt Samuelson have been playing well and providing needed secondary scoring. Defensively are led by Srs #21 Broden Hontvet, #9 Sam Hard & #14 Thomas Grapentine, who provide great veteran leadership, then add in Jrs. #27 Ryan Lee & #2 Wesley Schreiner and 9th grader #22 Ayven Hontvet, and they are all very good in their own end and can jump up in a rush at any time to be dangerous and give them a deep blue line. In the net, Goaltender Jr. #30 Finn Hanson has been excellent, but he did have to leave the Section Final with an injury, and #1 Sr. Patrick Kennedy stepped up big to get the win, and only time will tell if he will need to be the guy in net this week for them. This team is full of talent, and most of this roster won State Titles at the youth level, and they appear to be ready to break the drought and bring a title back home to Hockeytown USA.

[rainier2]

This is awesome! Thanks for the constant and tireless coverage, ClassAGuy!

[rainier2]

Official seeds
1. Hibbing
2. Delano
3. Warroad
4. Mahtomedi
5. Cathedral
6. Northern Lakes
7. Mankato West
8. Dodge County

[hockeyfan74]

Great Job as always ClassAguy! I will say Mahtomedi has struggled against the higher end A teams. Lost to Htown twice, Cloquet and Warroad. In part is because they believe they can roll 9 F's and 6 D when in reality they don't have the depth. Really only big win was vs Delano and that was against their back up goalie. With TV timeouts and teams being able to rest their top guys it would be advantageous for Maht to roll 4 D and put together a true top 2 lines but they won't. They may still make a run but definitely would give themselves a better chance if they would load 2 lines and stick to 4 D the majority of the game and then use other players to rest the top when needed. Will be an exciting tournament as the top 4/5 teams all have a chance to win it all! I do believe Hibbing, Delano and Warroad have the best chance but Maht and Cathedral could pull minor upsets. Northern Lakes has come on late in the year as well and they took out one of the favorites in Sartell. Mankato West and Dodge County would have to pull off pretty big upsets 3 games in a row but anything is possible. Will be a great tournament next week!