SBLive's Minnesota boys hockey Power 25: Warroad remains on top, Duluth East makes jump (Feb. 28)

Minnesota boys and girls hockey top performers of the week (Feb. 20-26)

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Minnesota Class 2A girls hockey state final: Gentry Academy defeats Andover

1. Warroad (26-0-1)

Last Week: 1

The Warriors still remain unscathed in battle, defeating both of their sectional opponents so far by a combined score of 14-1. Their trip to the Xcel Energy Center lies through East Grand Forks, a team that has also dominated its opponents on its way to a section championship.

2. Minnetonka (25-2)

Last Week: 2

To no one’s surprise, the Skippers cruised their way to the section final with decisive victories over Chaska and Shakopee. Now, they will face a tough test against similarly ranked Chanhassen with a trip to state on the line.

3. Chanhassen (24-3)

Last Week: 3

Whether it was fate or fortune, it favored the Lightning. With the season on the line in the section semifinals against Eden Prairie, the Lightning’s leading scorer Gavin Uhlenkamp threw a pass that hit off a skate and into the net, punching Chanhassen’s ticket to its first ever section final.

4. Andover (20-6-1)

Last Week: 5

The defending state champions have been gaining momentum for months, which spells trouble for anyone that gets in its way. The Huskies have steamrolled their section so far, winning their first two games by a combined score of 16-2. Their next matchup will be the Section 7AA championship against Duluth East.

5. Maple Grove (20-5-1)

Last Week: 4

As expected, the Crimson took out their first sectional opponent Osseo, winning 8-0 in a one sided rout. Now, they will host Champlin Park for the Section 5AA semifinals, hoping to get one step closer to state.

6. Wayzata (19-6-2)

Last Week: 7

The Trojans ended two seasons in two different ways. They blanked Hopkins 9-0, but had to stave off a three goal third period onslaught from the Holy Angels to win 5-3. With a trip to state as the prize, Wayzata and Edina will duke it out in the Section 6AA championship.

7. Edina (19-6-1)

Last Week: 8

The Hornets are seeing ghosts. After cruising through their section with minimal effort, they find themselves facing a familiar Wayzata program in the section championship. The last time these two teams met, Wayzata won by seven goals, so Edina will need to change its game plan going into this matchup if they want to clinch a state berth.

8. Rogers (17-6-3)

Last Week: 9

Like many teams above and below them on this list, the Royals easily dispatched their first round opponent Spring Lake Park, winning 8-1. Going forward, they will play Centennial in the Section 5AA semifinals.

9. Hermantown (24-2-1)

Last Week: 10

The Hawks soared high and nearly fell just as hard in their sectional journey so far. They beat North Shore 15-1 in a one sided domination, then barely beat Hibbing/Chisholm in a 3-2 nail biter. Rock Ridge awaits Hermantown for its Section 7A championship match.

10. White Bear Lake (20-5)

Last Week: 6

The Bears almost fell victim to what would have been a classic upset. They narrowly escaped Tartan in the first round of sections, winning a 4-3 game in overtime thanks to a last-second goal by senior defenseman Grady Gallatin. They will face a familiar opponent in Gentry Academy for the next round of their sectional gauntlet.

11. St. Thomas Academy (19-7)

Last Week: 11

The Cadets blanked Eastview in the first round of sections, advancing in style as they shut out the Lightning 4-0. For the quarterfinal game, St. Thomas Academy will match up against a very good Cretin-Derham Hall squad in a win or go home contest between two highly ranked teams.

12. Lakeville South (20-6-1)

Last Week: 12

Although it may be getting repetitive, the Cougars are another team on this list that has swept their section so far, winning both of their games against Farmington and Rochester Century. Thanks to their performance so far, South’s section championship game is a dream come true; they face Lakeville North in what will likely be one of the most historic games in their storied rivalry.

13. Champlin Park (17-9)

Last Week: 15

The trap game was almost realized by Mounds View. Despite beating the Mustangs 12-2 only one game prior, Champlin Park barely held on to win 5-4 against the same Mounds View team in round one of the playoffs. However, they did in fact come out on top, and their reward will come in the form of a section semifinal matchup against Maple Grove.

14. Duluth East (20-6-1)

Last Week: N/R

The Greyhounds have willed their way to the section championship, beating Blaine and Coon Rapids with ease as they progress closer to state. Their final obstacle will be the defending state champs, and the Greyhounds will need to bring their A game in order to punch their ticket.

15. Gentry Academy (18-8)

Last Week: 17

Once again, Gentry Academy proved they can play with ranked opponents. They faced the No. 23-ranked Roseville Silver Foxes in the first round of playoffs and dominated, winning 7-0. Their semifinal matchup with White Bear Lake will be yet another test for Gentry Academy, but as of late, the Stars have been passing with flying colors.

16. Cretin Derham-Hall (17-9-1)

Last Week: 16

The Raiders took care of business, slicing through their section with victories over Apple Valley/Burnsville and Rosemount. The Section 3AA championship awaits, as does a matchup against 11th ranked St. Thomas Academy.

17. New Ulm (23-3-1)

Last Week: 20

The New Ulm Eagles beat both of their section opponents on the way to the championship game, and their one track mind is seemingly laser focused on a Class 1A state title. To get there though, they must win their section championship, and will go against a 20-win Luverne squad.

18. Lakeville North (13-14)

Last Week: N/R

For the first time since the first few weeks of these rankings, Lakeville North is back in the top 25. While the Panthers' record alone didn’t get them there, their playoff performance has. They caught fire in sections, defeating Owatonna and Rochester Mayo to earn themselves a matchup against rival Lakeville South, with the winner being state bound.

19. Moorhead (19-8)

Last Week: N/R

Moorhead is riding a nine-game winning streak and can look forward to a section championship game on its calendar, a nice rebound after their 2-3 start to the season. For the 8AA Section Championship, they will face Roseau, who averages almost five goals a game.

20. Roseau (17-9-1)

Last Week: N/R

As aforementioned, this team can flat out score. Roseau has already scored 15 goals in its two playoff games thus far, and frankly hasn’t faced a postseason challenge yet. However, with a road game against Moorhead looming and a section championship on the line, it is safe to say Roseau will need to put their best skate forward in order to make it to state.

21. Hill-Murray (12-13-1)

Last Week: N/R

The second “losing” team on this list, Hill-Murray has outlasted many teams with better records en route to a section semifinal appearance. The Pioneers won their first round game against East Ridge by a final score of 6-1, and they will go head to head against Woodbury, with the winner making it to the Section 4AA championship.

22. Woodbury (12-13-1)

Last Week: N/R

Similar to Lakeville South and Hill-Murray, Woodbury may not have the best record out there, but it nonetheless is still one of the few teams left in the postseason. They defeated conference opponent Stillwater in a 1-0 overtime thriller that saw both teams unable to score in regulation despite combining for almost 60 shots. At long last, the game winning and season saving goal went to Ethan Hansen, and the Royals made it to the next round, now set to face Hill-Murray in the semis.

23. Benilde-St. Margaret's (18-9)

Last Week: 14

The Red Knights season ended at the hands of Edina, who beat them 5-2 in the section semifinal game. Their season may be over, but they will have at least one more week on these rankings as a testament to the great season they had.

24. Academy of Holy Angels (19-7-1)

Last Week: N/R

Although they were eliminated this week, The Stars went out in dramatic fashion, stringing together three third period goals to shave a five goal deficit down to only two. While they may still have lost to Wayzata in the end, their furious final push is what playoff hockey is all about.

25. Holy Family (20-6)

Last Week: 18

Boasting a 20 win season and a 12 game winning streak, many thought Holy Family could make a splash in the playoffs. Unfortunately for them, sports are often unpredictable, and when the final horn sounded, they were first round exits, losing to Eden Prairie 1-4.