• Spring Lake Park is a first-timer but reaching the state tournament isn't a novelty for the rest of the field. East Grand Forks and Hermantown met in last year's championship game; New Prague took third place. Breck took third place and St. Cloud Apollo went 0-2 in 2013. New Ulm completed a run of three consecutive appearances in 2012. Mahtomedi last appeared in the tournament in 2009 and 2010.

• Being in the Northwest Suburban Conference, Spring Lake Park had a steady diet of Class 2A teams on its schedule. The Panthers played 17 big-school teams in the regular season, the most of any team in the tournament. Mahtomedi played 12 Class 2A teams, Hermantown 10.

• Adult tickets are $17 for championship and $12 for consolation sessions. Student tickets are $11 for championship, $8 for consolation. All championship-round games will be televised on KSTC-TV (Ch. 45) and streamed live at Prep45.com for a charge of $4.97 per day. All championship round games in Class 1A and 2A can be heard on 106.1-FM and 107.5-FM. The Class 2A quarterfinals and all semifinal and championship games can be heard on 105.7-FM.

LOREN NELSON