1. Top heavy: The top three seeds — Hill-Murray, Duluth East and Edina — have made a combined 80 state tournament appearances and captured 16 championships. The other five teams have a combined 25 appearances and one title.
2. Short on stars: Four players who have made Division I college commitments reached the tournament: Edina's Connor Hurley (Notre Dame), Matt Nelson (Princeton) and Parker Reno (RPI) and Hermantown's Neal Pionk (Minnesota Duluth). Reno and Hill-Murray senior Zach LaValle are Mr. Hockey candidates. The Pioneers' John Dugas and St. Thomas Academy's David Zevnik are finalists for the Frank Brimsek Award, given to the state's top senior goaltender.
3. Ticket information: Adult tickets are $17 for championship sessions and $12 for consolation sessions. Student tickets are $11 for championship sessions and $8 for consolation sessions.
Can't get to St. Paul? No sweat. All championship-round games can be seen on KSTC-TV, Ch. 45 and www.Prep45.com or heard or BOB 106.1 FM and 107.5 FM. For coverage from the first puck drop to the final trophy presentation, log on to www.mnhockeyhub.com.
David La Vaque