Girls hockey state tournament: Times, teams, TV and more of what you need to know

Minnesota’s girls hockey state championships, 16 teams competing for two titles, will begin Wednesday at Xcel Energy Center. Here are details to know:

The seeding for the two eight-team brackets will be released Saturday. It’s the first time the MSHSL will seed the teams 1 through 8. In previous seasons the top five teams were seeded and the other three assigned first-round opponents by random draw. Look for the Class 2A bracket here and the Class 1A bracket here.

The Class 1A tournament begins with Wednesday quarterfinals in two sessions, the first starting at 11 a.m., the second at 6 p.m. The Class 2A tournament has Thursday quarterfinals on the same schedule. Those starting times apply again for Friday’s semifinals, with Class 1A starting in the morning and Class 2A at night. The finals start at 4 p.m. Saturday, back to back with Class 1A first. Click here for other details.

The semifinals Friday and finals Saturday will be broadcast on Ch. 45. The quarterfinals will be streamed free by NSPN at NSPN.tv. Those details are here.

Tickets cost $20 per adult and $13 per student. They must be purchased online. Click here for details.

The MSHSL provides tips for those attending here, including a link to the commemorative program, available online and not at Xcel Energy Center.

Cossetta Italian Restaurant and Market

Just a five-minute walk from the X, Cosetta is perfect for a quick grab-and-go. It features an Italian market, a restaurant, a tavern and an eatery, serving up classic Italian fare in house and to go.

Smorgie’s

If you’ve got a bit more time, this casual restaurant is known for classic comfort food. Serving up such Minnesota favorites as tater tot hot dish and Swedish meatballs, alongside an extensive, popular menu, Smorgie’s opens its doors at 11 a.m. during the week and 9:30 on weekends.

La Fusion Cafe

For espresso drinks and healthier fare, La Fusion is a great option just an eight-minute walk from Xcel Energy enter. The Kenyan-inspired cafe serves breakfast, salad, sandwiches and Kenyan rice bowls.

Zamboni’s on 7th

Another pizza spot, Zamboni’s has great sit-down and grab-and-go options. Inside, it’s a classic sports bar serving burgers, sandwiches and pizza — but if there’s a hurry to get to the next game, just about everything can be made to go.

Class 2A has five qualifiers, with the other three to be determined Friday:

Section 8: Moorhead

Section 7: Andover

Section 6 final: Edina vs. Benilde-St. Margaret’s

Section 5 final: Centennial/Spring Lake Park vs. Maple Grove

Section 4: Hill-Murray

Section 3: Rosemount

Section 2 final: Minnetonka vs. Holy Family

Section 1: Farmington

Class 1A has seven qualifiers and awaits the final one Friday:

Section 8: Warroad

Section 7: Proctor/Hermantown

Section 6: Fergus Falls

Section 5: Orono

Section 4: Holy Angels

Section 3: Marshall

Section 2: River Lakes vs. Willmar

Section 1: Dodge County