There are 16 teams that compete at the girls state hockey tournament in St. Paul. Of all that played last year, only two return for the 08-09 incarnation. In fact, none of the eight teams representing class A made a return trip. The teams were seeded on Sunday by the eight head coaches. Blake (1A) and Stillwater Area (2A) are the top seeds.
Each coach gives the other teams in their class a ranking of 1-7. The highest and lowest rank for each team is ignored, giving five rankings for each team. The highest four teams are ranked in order. The four teams left are chosen at random to play one of the four ranked teams.
1A Seeding
1. The Blake School
2. Warroad
3. Fergus Falls
4. Eveleth-Gilbert
Unseeded: Hutchinson, Mahtomedi, New Ulm, Red Wing
2A Seeding
1. Stillwater Area
2. Hopkins
3. Edina
4. Eagan
Unseeded: Cloquet/Esko/Carlton, Elk River/Zimmerman, Irondale, Lakeville South
Eagan and Elk River/Zimmerman are the only two teams that are back from the 2007-08 tournament.