No. 9 Duluth East at No. 12 Grand Rapids
7:30 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 9 
At IRA Civic Center, Grand Rapids

For the past five years, Section 7AA has boiled down to these two northeastern superpowers — always in favor of the East and often in heartbreaking fashion for the Thunderhawks. It could be more of the same this season, although Rapids does feature the favorite for Mr. Hockey (Avery Peterson) and the Brimsek Award (Hunter Shepard).