Boys State hockey field nearly set

Arenas around the metropolitan area and the state at large were packed to capacity and then some on Thursday night as champions were determined in eight sections across two classes of boys hockey competition. The fields for the Class A and AA state tournaments came closer to completion as four Class A teams and an equal number of Class AA squads held aloft their respective section championship plaques and began work on their travel plans to the Xcel Energy Center next week. Behind two goals from forward Marshall Everson, Edina laid waste to Bloomington Jefferson's state championship plans by means of a dominating 5-0 victory in the Section 2AA championship at Mariucci Arena. Top-ranked Eden Prairie disposed of Minnetonka, 4-2, in the 6AA nightcap contest at Mariucci to also claim a State berth. Cretin-Derham Hall advanced to State for the first time since winning the Class AA crown in 2006 as Ben McClellan's overtime goal gave the Raiders a 2-1 victory in the Section 3AA championship. Duluth East claimed one of the northern Minnesota section crowns by means of a 4-1 win over Elk River. Hill-Murray will take on Stillwater for the Section 4AA title tonight in the State Fairgrounds Coliseum in a game following another Blaine/Centennial showdown for the 5AA honors beginning at 6 p.m. Class A Breck will fight for the metro in the Class A State Tournament after defeating Mound-Westonka, 7-2, for the Section 2A championship on Thursday night. Outstate section champions decided on Thursday were: Rochester Lourdes (1), Little Falls (6) and Warroad (8). Defending Class A champion St. Thomas Academy will face Mahtomedi for the Section 4A title at 7 p.m. tonight in Aldrich Arena.