You’ve seen the videos of the mullets. Maybe you’ve seen the sea of fans in the Xcel Energy Center. But if you aren’t from around here, it is kinda hard to explain why people lose their minds over the Minnesota state high school hockey tournament every March. It’s not just a set of games. It’s a full-blown cultural holiday that shuts down schools and fills up every hotel room from St. Paul to Bloomington. Honestly, it’s basically the Super Bowl, but with more hair spray and teenagers who can skate faster than you can run.
The Magic of the X
The tournament is a machine. For four days in March—specifically March 4 through March 7, 2026—the Xcel Energy Center becomes the center of the universe. We’re talking about an event that consistently draws over 100,000 fans over its duration. In 2025, the Class AA championship game between Moorhead and Stillwater didn't just meet expectations; it smashed them with a record crowd of 20,491 people.
Think about that. Over 20,000 people showed up to watch high schoolers play. That is more than the capacity of most NHL arenas.
Last year was particularly wild because Moorhead finally did it. The Spuds had been to the championship game eight times before and walked away with nothing but heartbreak. When they beat Stillwater 7-6 in that absolute barn-burner, the relief in the building was palpable. Mason Kraft tied a record with four goals in a single period. It was the kind of stuff you’d call "unrealistic" if it happened in a movie.
Minnesota State High School Hockey Tournament: What Most People Get Wrong
One big misconception is that this is only about the big schools in the Twin Cities. That couldn't be further from the truth. The tournament is divided into Class A (small schools) and Class AA (the giants).
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The small-town storylines are often the best ones. Take Warroad, for example. It’s a town of less than 2,000 people way up by the Canadian border, yet they produce NHL players like a factory. When a team like Warroad or Hermantown comes down to "The Tourney," the entire town basically hitches a ride on I-35.
- Class A: Usually features the "True North" teams. More grit, incredible community stories.
- Class AA: The heavy hitters. This is where you see the Edina "Cake Eaters" or the powerhouse private schools like St. Thomas Academy.
- The Hair: Yes, the "All Hockey Hair Team" is a thing. It’s a tradition of pre-game introductions where players show off their "flow," "lettuce," or "salad." Even though the original creator John King has toyed with retiring the video series, the players still spend all season growing out their locks just for that five-second camera pan.
Why the Tradition Still Matters
There is a specific reason why Minnesota high school hockey stays so strong while other states lose their best players to "Triple-A" or junior leagues. It's the community. In Minnesota, you grow up playing with the same kids you go to kindergarten with. You want to win for your town, not just for a scout's clipboard.
Lou Nanne, the legendary broadcaster who finally called his last tournament in 2024 after 60 years, always said that the passion comes from the "State of Hockey" identity. It’s the outdoor rinks. It’s the fact that many of these kids have five or six Division I college commits on a single roster. You are watching future NHL stars in their purest form.
2026 Tournament Dates & Logistics
If you’re planning on going, you need to be fast. Tickets for the Class AA sessions are notoriously hard to get.
- Dates: March 4–7, 2026.
- Venues: Primarily the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul for the main brackets, with consolation games often held at 3M Arena at Mariucci (the University of Minnesota's rink).
- Tickets: Most go to "season ticket" holders who have had their seats for decades. If you’re looking for single-session tickets, you have to watch the MSHSL website like a hawk in February.
- Expo: Don't skip the "Let’s Play Hockey Expo" at the Saint Paul RiverCentre right next door. It’s the largest hockey trade show in the world.
The 2025 Hangover and 2026 Outlook
Looking back at 2025, the tournament proved that any lead is unsafe. In the Class A semifinals, Hermantown blew a 4-0 lead against Mahtomedi, only to win 7-6 in overtime. That kind of emotional whiplash is why people keep coming back.
Heading into the 2026 Minnesota state high school hockey tournament, the target is on Moorhead’s back in Class AA. In Class A, the perennial powerhouses like East Grand Forks and St. Cloud Cathedral are always in the mix. But honestly? The rankings rarely matter once the puck drops at the X.
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Actionable Advice for Your First Trip
If you're actually going to attend this year, here is the "local" way to do it.
First, stay in downtown St. Paul if you can afford it. Walking to the arena is a lot better than trying to park when 20,000 people are trying to do the same thing. Second, eat at Cossetta’s. It’s an Italian place a few blocks away that is a tournament staple. It will be packed, but the line moves fast.
Finally, watch the "Consolation" bracket. People ignore it because it's not the championship, but those games at Mariucci are often some of the most competitive hockey you'll see. These are teams that lost a heartbreaker in the first round and are playing for pride.
Your Next Steps:
Check the official MSHSL (Minnesota State High School League) website to verify the exact release date for 2026 single-session tickets, as these typically go on sale just weeks before the event. If you are traveling from out of state, book your hotel in the St. Paul "Seven Corners" area now, as prices triple once the brackets are set in late February.