The Proctor/Hermantown Mirage girls’ hockey team is making preparations once again for the state championships, where they will face a familiar opponent in the form of the Warroad team. The Minnesota State High School League has released the brackets and confirmed that the Mirage has secured the fifth seed in the Class A’s eight-team bracket.
This highly anticipated matchup is expected to be intense, as both teams have a history of dominance in the state championships. The last three state championships have been won by either the Proctor/Hermantown Mirage or the Warroad team, further adding to the anticipation surrounding their upcoming game.
The Mirage and the Warriors have a rich and competitive history at the state championships. In 2021, the Mirage emerged victorious in the semifinals against a higher-seeded Warroad team. However, the tables turned in 2022, with the Warriors securing a 6-1 win in the final. The following year, the Warriors once again came out on top, securing the title after the Mirage lost a one-goal game to Orono in the semifinals. It’s evident that both teams are eager for victory in their upcoming clash.
In addition to their rivalry at the state championships, the two teams also face off in the regular season. In the 2023-24 season, their meeting resulted in a 2-1 win for the Warriors at Warroad Memorial Gardens on Nov. 10, further adding excitement to their upcoming showdown at the state championships.
The 4 vs. 5 game is scheduled to bring the first day of tournament play in St. Paul to an exciting close, with the action kicking off no earlier than 8 p.m. The winner of this matchup will advance to a 1 p.m. game on Friday against either the No. 1 seed Holy Angels or unseeded Luverne, making it a high-stakes battle for both teams.
Moving on to the broader scope of the tournament, the early quarterfinals on Wednesday will feature No. 2 Orono taking on Willmar at 11 a.m., followed by No. 3 Dodge County facing off against Fergus Falls at 1 p.m. Notably, five of the eight teams from last year’s Class A tournament have returned for the 2024 championships, setting the stage for some intense competition.
In contrast, the Class AA tournament is set to commence on Thursday, without any Northland teams in the mix. The quarterfinals will see matchups such as No. 2 Hill-Murray vs. Roseau, No. 3 Andover vs. Rosemount, No. 1 Minnetonka vs. Maple Grove, and No. 4 Edina vs. No. 5 Northfield, promising an equally gripping display of talent and sportsmanship.
With such an exciting lineup of matchups on the horizon, the state girls’ hockey championships are shaping up to be a must-watch event for hockey fans across Minnesota. Stay tuned as these talented teams battle it out for glory on the ice.