Here are the boys hockey teams likely to win section titles and advance to the state tournament

High school section tournament quarterfinals begin Tuesday for boys hockey, with section champions decided next week.

As postseason plays gets underway, here’s a look at which teams are likely to advance to St. Paul, the site of the boys hockey state tournament at Xcel Energy Center:

Rochester Century/John Marshall ended the Lakeville North and Lakeville South monopoly in this section by winning last season. But Rochester Century/John Marshall comes in as the third seed this time behind South and North. Pick: Lakeville South

Winner of this section a year ago, Chanhassen showed what is possible. Shakopee, the No. 2 seed, is poised to make a jump of its own. Top-seeded Eden Prairie is an obstacle. Pick: Shakopee

First-year coach Mark Strobel has had St. Thomas Academy among the top teams in Class 2A all season. But this has been Cretin-Derham Hall’s section to lose for two consecutive seasons. Pick: Cretin-Derham Hall

Hill-Murray or White Bear Lake? That is always the question this time of year. Second-seeded Stillwater wants to crash the party this season, and judging by a regular-season split with the Bears, the Ponies are indeed good enough. Pick: White Bear Lake

All signs point to Rogers winning its first section title this season. The top-seeded Royals went 7-0-0 in section play. Pick: Rogers

Can Holy Angels top Edina in this section for the first time since 2021? The Stars better watch out for Wayzata and Benilde-St. Margaret’s on the other side of the bracket. Pick: Edina

Hold the “Blazing Saddles” references — Rock Ridge is no laughing matter. The top-seeded program seeks to empower predecessors Eveleth and Virginia with a run to state. Pick: Rock Ridge

Moorhead, No. 1 in Class 2A much of the season, is the lead dog, but Bemidji makes this far northern section one to watch. Pick: Moorhead

Northfield, the defending section champ, holds the No. 1 seed, and I do not foresee any upsets, especially considering the team’s 4-0-1 record against section opponents this season. Pick: Northfield

Minneapolis is the No. 1 seed, but the big-city cooperative holds a more precarious perch when you consider the team’s overall record of 15-7-3. Delano and Orono are poised to snag the upset. Pick: Orono

No. 1 seed Luverne holds a 14-0-1 section record, but No. 2 seed Mankato West and No. 3 New Ulm can spring an upset. Pick: New Ulm

Chisago Lakes sports a 4-0-1 against section foes, but second seed Mahtomedi has won six of the past seven section crowns. Pick: Mahtomedi

No. 2 seed St. Cloud Cathedral won the 1A state title last season, but expect No. 1 Monticello or No. 3 Little Falls to offer resistance. Pick: St. Cloud Cathedral

Northern Lakes, under new coach Mike Randolph, earned the top seed with a perfect 6-0-0 record in the section. But don’t count out Alexandria for the upset. Pick: Northern Lakes

Cloquet/Esko/Carlton is the fashionable choice to reach St. Paul, but Hermantown has won seven of the past eight section titles and will look to avenge that Jan. 30 loss to the ‘Jacks. Pick: Cloquet/Esko/Carlton

No. 1 seed Warroad has ruled the section for the past three seasons. But East Grand Forks looms at No. 2. Pick: Warroad

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