There are plenty of old favorites in this year’s tournament, with defending champions from Edina in Class AA and Breck in Class A teaming for numerous appearances -- and titles.  But there are also unfamiliar faces, programs that have been to St. Paul before, but aren’t nearly as frequent guests such as Eagan and Thief River Falls.

Class A action begins the four-day celebration at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.  Second-seeded Hermantown (23-3-2) plays Alexandria (12-15-1) at 11 a.m. Wednesday, March 9, followed by No. 3 Rochester Lourdes (24-3-1) against Hibbing/Chisholm (17-9-2). 

The evening session kicks off at 6 p.m. with No. 1 St. Thomas Academy (22-6-0) taking on New Ulm (21-4-2), followed by two-time defending champion and No. 4 Breck (20-8-0) against Thief River Falls (19-8-1).

The Class AA tournament opens the next morning (Thursday, March 10)  at 11 a.m. with defending champion and No. 2 Edina (18-7-2) against Blaine (20-4-4).  At 1 p.m., No. 3 Duluth East (22-5-0) faces White Bear Lake (21-5-2). 

In the evening, top-seeded Eden Prairie (21-5-2) gets its tournament underway against Lakeville North (13-14-1) at 6 p.m.  The 8 p.m. game features No. 4 Eagan (17-6-2) and Moorhead (18-7-2) squaring off.