You’ve seen the videos of the hair. The flow. The mullets. It’s funny, sure, but if you think the Minnesota state hockey tournament is just a viral clip about hairspray and peroxide, you’re missing the actual pulse of the place.
It’s March in St. Paul. The air is still that biting, lungs-on-fire cold, but inside the Xcel Energy Center, things are different. There’s a specific smell—fresh ice, expensive popcorn, and the faint, unmistakable scent of 18,000 sets of damp winter gear. It’s loud. Not "concert" loud, but "community" loud. When a small-town kid from Warroad or Hermantown scores a goal, the roof feels like it might actually lift off its foundations.
The 2025 Ghost That Was Finally Banished
Honestly, the 2025 tournament felt like a fever dream. If you followed it, you know the Moorhead Spuds finally did it. For thirty-three years, that program was the "nearly" team. They had been to the championship game eight times before 2025 and walked away with nothing but silver and a long, quiet bus ride back up I-94.
Then came that Saturday night against Stillwater.
Mason Kraft, a senior who’s basically a local legend now, decided to turn the first period into his personal highlight reel. He scored four goals in a single period. Four. He tied a record set by John Mayasich all the way back in 1951. Think about that. Records in this tournament don’t just break; they usually stand for generations.
The Spuds went up 5-1. People were already texting their friends that it was over. But this is the Minnesota state hockey tournament—nothing is ever actually over until the horn sounds. Stillwater stormed back, clawing it to a 7-6 game with minutes left. When the clock hit zero, the Moorhead bench didn't just celebrate; they looked relieved. They finally got the blue trophy.
💡 You might also like: Cómo entender la tabla de Copa Oro y por qué los puntos no siempre cuentan la historia completa
Why the "AA" and "A" Divide Actually Matters
If you aren't from around here, the class system is kinda confusing.
Basically, Class AA is for the big schools—the giants like Edina, Minnetonka, and Hill-Murray. These programs are machines. They produce NHL talent like a factory. Then you have Class A, which is the "small school" division. But don't let the name fool you. Schools like Hermantown or Warroad could probably beat half the AA teams in the state on any given Tuesday.
The tournament structure is a brutal, four-day gauntlet:
- Quarterfinals: Usually Wednesday (Class A) and Thursday (Class AA).
- The Grind: You play three games in three days if you want to win it all. No rest.
- The Venue: Almost everything happens at the Xcel Energy Center, though some consolation games spill over to 3M Arena at Mariucci.
It’s a single-elimination bracket. One bad bounce, one flu bug in the locker room, or one hot goalie, and your season—which started in the dark of November—is dead in sixty minutes.
Looking Ahead: The 2026 Road to St. Paul
We are already staring down the barrel of the 2026 tournament, and the hype is building. Mark your calendars: March 4–7, 2026.
📖 Related: Ohio State Football All White Uniforms: Why the Icy Look Always Sparks a Debate
The landscape is changing, though. We’re seeing more kids leave early for the USHL or the National Development Program, which is a bummer for the high school game. But then you look at guys like Jayden Kurtz from Rogers. He’s a 6-foot-3 defenseman who stayed home to wear the "C" for the Royals. Scouts are all over him—he was ranked #77 in the NHL Central Scouting midterm rankings.
Watching a kid like Kurtz play in front of 20,000 people is different than watching him in a half-empty junior rink in Nebraska. There’s a weight to it.
The Girls' Game is Closing the Gap
We can't talk about the Minnesota state hockey tournament without mentioning the girls' side. The 2025 final between Hill-Murray and Edina was a double-overtime heartbreaker. Hill-Murray won 5-4, but that game was a testament to how fast the girls' game is growing.
The atmosphere for the girls' championship on Saturday afternoon is starting to rival the boys' night session. The skill level is through the roof. If you haven't sat through a triple-overtime Class A girls' semifinal (like Warroad vs. Orono in 2025), you haven't lived. It’s pure, unadulterated stress.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Hair
Yeah, the "All-Hockey Hair Team" videos are great. Barry Melrose (RIP to his coaching career, long live the mullet) loved them. But for the kids, the hair is a shield.
👉 See also: Who Won the Golf Tournament This Weekend: Richard T. Lee and the 2026 Season Kickoff
It’s a way to deal with the insane pressure of being a seventeen-year-old on live TV with the entire state watching. If you have a bleached mohawk or a permed-out mullet, you’re part of the "in" crowd. It makes the nerves a little easier to swallow.
Plus, it’s a middle finger to the "serious" nature of sports. It reminds everyone that, at the end of the day, it's just a game played by kids who probably haven't finished their math homework.
Tips for Attending (If You Can Even Get In)
Getting tickets to the AA semifinals is like trying to get a front-row seat for a Taylor Swift concert. They sell out in minutes.
- Go to the Morning Sessions: You can usually grab tickets for the Class A morning games. The hockey is just as fast, and the crowds are more "small town pride" than "suburban corporate."
- The "Tourney" App: Download the MSHSL app. It's the only way to keep track of the brackets in real-time.
- Walk the Skyway: St. Paul turns into a giant hockey party. The skyways are packed with fans in jerseys from teams that didn't even make the tournament.
- Eat at Cossetta’s: It’s a tradition. The line will be out the door, but it's part of the experience. Grab a slice of pizza and a cannoli.
The Actionable Reality
If you want to understand Minnesota, you have to watch this tournament. It’s not about the NHL. It’s about the fact that for four days, a kid from a town of 1,200 people can be the biggest star in the world.
To get the most out of the upcoming 2026 cycle:
- Track the Sections: The "real" tournament starts in late February during Section Finals. That’s where the real heartbreak happens—the game before State.
- Watch the Newcomers: Keep an eye on schools like Shakopee or Rogers. The old guard (Edina, White Bear Lake) is being challenged by growing southern suburbs.
- Respect the Goaltenders: In a short tournament, the best team rarely wins. The team with the goalie who is currently seeing the puck like a beach ball wins.
The Minnesota state hockey tournament is the last bastion of pure, community-driven sport in an era where everything else feels professionalized. It’s messy. It’s loud. And yeah, the hair is still ridiculous.
Next Steps for the 2026 Season:
Check the MSHSL official website for the updated 2026 section brackets starting in mid-February. If you’re planning to travel to St. Paul, book your hotel near the Xcel Energy Center now; the downtown area hits 100% occupancy months in advance. Keep an eye on local scouts' reports for players like Joe Erickson and Ethan Sturgis, who are expected to dominate the AA landscape this winter.