Championship Predictions

Class A

Warroad (28-2-0) vs. Breck School (26-3-1)

I have to gloat a little. If you've been following the site all season, you will know that I picked Breck to win it all at the beginning of the season. I'm picking them to be beat Warroad today. Warroad essentially has one line, just like Little Falls. The Mustangs need to shutdown Nelson, Hebel, and Shaugabay like they shutdown Hanowski, Hirsch, and Waytashek. I have a soft spot for the outstate teams so it is hard for me to pick a Twin Cities Metro team but I have to call them as I see them. Not only will Breck win the championship on Saturday, I'm saying it right now that, if Breck gets all of their underclassmen to come back, they will win it in 2010 as well.

Traditional, small public school, out-state team vs. young, private school, Twin Cities Metro team. Two very physical teams. It should be another classic Minnesota high school state championship game.

Breck School 3, Warroad 2

Poll result:

Warroad 36 votes (52%)
Breck School 33 votes (47%)
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Class AA

Eden Prairie (27-3-0) vs. Moorhead (17-9-3)

Moorhead is an incredible story this season. I have affectionately called them the Cardiac Spuds. This team went from being alive and kicking tail going 5-0-1 in their first six games, then flat-lining for an entire month going 0-8-0 from December 23rd through January 20th while scoring just seven goals in eight games, then playing five of their next six games in overtime going 4-1-1 in that stretch.

When this team went 0-8-0, I did not give this team a chance to get to the state championship game. I thought they could still win Section 8AA but I seriously thought that they did not stand a chance of winning a quarterfinal game at state, no matter who they happened to play. When I saw that they were going to face Edina, my prediction was a 6-1 Hornets win. The Cardiac Spuds did it again. They were unpredictable and defeated Edina 5-2.

Eden Prairie, witnessed on the ice and on paper, has the better offense and defense. Goaltending could be considered even. No team with more than five losses in a season has won a state championship in Class AA. Moorhead has nine.

Eden Prairie deserves to win. They have never won a state championship in hockey. It is their turn. They have a state championship team this year and probably will have for a few more years after this. We may be seeing the next Minnesota high school dynasty in Eden Prairie.

Actually, Moorhead, also, has never won a state championship. They have been the 'bridesmaid', runner-up six times. Maybe it is their turn. It would surely be an unforgettable season if they become champions.

So, today, the day of the 2009 Class AA Minnesota State High School Boys Hockey Championship Game, I yet again will pick the clear favorite, Eden Prairie, to win it all. However, Moorhead may not quite be done surprising us all.

What I think the score should be: Eden Prairie 5, Moorhead 2

What the Cardiac Spuds will probably do: Moorhead 3, Eden Prairie 2 in 3 overtimes

After all, that would be a fitting end for this team and this season.

Poll result:

Eden Prairie 63 votes (51%)
Moorhead 59 votes (48%)