If you’ve spent any time in a frigid arena in Baudette or sat in the traffic jam outside the Xcel Energy Center in March, you know the deal. In Minnesota, the "rankings" aren't just a list. They’re an argument. They are a reason to stay up until 11:00 PM on a Tuesday refreshing a forum to see if your local team finally cracked the top ten.
Right now, we are in the absolute teeth of the season. It’s January 2026. The holiday tournaments are in the rearview, and the mn hs hockey rankings are shifting faster than a winger on a breakaway.
Honestly, the Class AA landscape feels like a heavyweight fight where nobody wants to stay down. One week Minnetonka looks invincible, and the next, Moorhead or Edina is breathing down their necks. It’s chaotic. It’s loud. It’s exactly what makes this sport the heartbeat of the state.
The Chaos at the Top: Class AA Breakdown
Let's talk about the big schools. As of mid-January, the battle for the #1 spot is basically a game of musical chairs between the Minnetonka Skippers and the Moorhead Spuds.
Minnetonka (13-1-1) has been playing like they’ve got cruise control engaged. They recently shut out East Ridge 5-0, and their defensive depth is just stupidly good. But then you look at Moorhead. The Spuds are also sitting at 13-1-1 after absolutely demolishing Sartell 10-3. They’ve got this weird, chip-on-the-shoulder energy this year that makes them terrifying to play in the third period.
Behind them, the usual suspects are loitering. Edina (11-4) is right there. They split a doubleheader recently, which kept them at #3, but you can never count out the Hornets. They have a way of peaking exactly when the snow starts to melt.
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Then you have St. Thomas Academy and Shakopee. The Sabres have been the quietest "loud" team in the state, winning four straight and vaulting into the #5 or #6 spot depending on which poll you’re looking at. They took down Stillwater in a game that felt like a playoff preview.
The AA Top Ten (Current Vibe)
- Minnetonka – The defense is a brick wall.
- Moorhead – Scoring goals like they’re going out of style.
- Edina – Always dangerous, always deep.
- St. Thomas Academy – Elite coaching and a nasty power play.
- Shakopee – The "new" kids on the block who aren't so new anymore.
- Rogers – Solid, reliable, and capable of beating anyone on a Tuesday.
- Hill-Murray – Had a weird loss to Holy Family, but the talent is undeniable.
- Maple Grove – The Crimson are lurking. Keep an eye on them.
- Rosemount – Plenty of talent, just looking for that extra gear.
- Stillwater – Battling for Section 4 dominance.
Class A: Is it Warroad’s Year or Just a Hibbing Mirage?
Class A is where the real "Old School" Minnesota hockey lives. If you want to talk about the mn hs hockey rankings in Class A, you have to start with the Iron Range and the North Woods.
Hibbing-Chisholm (13-1-1) is currently sitting pretty at the top of the heap. They tied Delano 3-3 recently, which some people saw as a slip-up, but Delano is a tough out for anybody. The Bluejackets have that classic Range grit.
But right behind them is Hermantown (12-1-3). The Hawks are the perennial boogeyman of Class A. They just opened a new arena, but the results are the same: they win. They had a close 3-2 victory over White Bear Lake that proved they can handle AA competition without blinking.
And then there's Warroad. The Warriors (11-4-1) are always in the conversation. They’ve got a win over AA rival Roseau that solidified them as a legitimate threat to take it all in March.
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Wait. Did I mention Sartell-St. Stephen? They just jumped to #3 in the latest Let’s Play Hockey poll. Devin Jacobs is on a heater right now with 41 points. If he stays hot, the Sabres could ruin someone's season very quickly.
The Girls’ Side: Holy Family and the Skippers
It’s not just the boys making noise. The girls' mn hs hockey rankings are equally stacked. Holy Family (16-1) has been a wrecking ball in Class AA. They have one loss on the season and a roster that looks like an All-Star team.
However, Minnetonka and Hill-Murray are right there. In fact, some polls have Centennial/Spring Lake Park moving up after they won a stacked Walser Invitational. The girls' game in Minnesota is arguably deeper than the boys' right now in terms of top-tier talent.
In Class A, Warroad (15-3) and Breck (14-1-1) are the teams to beat. Warroad’s girls are just as legendary as the boys, and they play with a speed that most teams can’t touch.
Why Rankings Actually Matter (and Why They Don't)
Look, coaches will tell you they don’t look at the polls. They’re lying. Sorta.
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Rankings dictate the "hype" and the seedings. In Minnesota, the Section tournaments are the real "State Tournament." If you're ranked #2 in the state but you’re in the same section as #1, one of you isn't going to St. Paul. That’s the cruelty of the MSHSL system.
For example, Section 6AA is always a bloodbath. You could have three of the top ten teams in the state in that one section. The rankings help the selection committee, but they also put a massive target on your back.
Factors that swing the rankings:
- Strength of Schedule: A win against a top-tier AA school counts way more than a blowout against a struggling program.
- The "Holiday Invite" Effect: Teams like Edina and Moorhead play in high-profile tournaments over New Year's that can vault them up five spots in 48 hours.
- Injuries: Lose your starting goalie in January, and watch your ranking plummet by February.
What’s Next for the Rankings?
We’re heading into the "Section Seed" window. This is where every game feels like it's played on thin ice.
If you’re following the mn hs hockey rankings, keep your eyes on the matchups between the top five. When Minnetonka plays Wayzata or Edina, it’s more than a conference game; it’s a statement for the pollsters.
The state tournament is set for March 4–7, 2026, at the Xcel Energy Center. Between now and then, expect at least three more teams to claim the #1 spot before falling. That’s just how it works here.
Actionable Insights for Fans:
- Follow the Hubs: Use sites like Youth Hockey Hub and Let’s Play Hockey for the most frequent updates.
- Watch the Sections: Don’t just look at the state rank; look at who is in Section 2AA or 8AA. That’s where the real drama is.
- Go to a Game: Rankings are numbers, but the atmosphere in a place like the Roseau Memorial Arena or the Braemar in Edina is something you can't capture in a list.
The road to the "X" is paved with broken sticks and nervous parents. Enjoy the ride, because once the puck drops in March, the rankings don't mean a thing.
Next Steps:
- Monitor the Section 8AA standings specifically, as the Moorhead vs. Roseau/Bemidji battles often decide the top state spot.
- Check the updated Let's Play Hockey polls every Tuesday afternoon for the most recent movement in Class A.