ST. PAUL — Section 8 hockey stays on top, with the Warroad Warriors claiming the boys Class A title, and Moorhead Spuds repeating as the 2A champs.
Last year, it was East Grand Forks and the Spuds boasting 218 hockey superiority.
After taking a year off from the tourney, Warroad returned to win its fifth state title and first since 2005.
The Warriors came back to beat Hibbing/Chisholm 5-4 in overtime in an electrifying game.
In the Bluejackets’ first title game appearance in three decades, senior forward Isaiah Hildenbrand, sophomore defenseman Whitaker Rewertz and senior forward Benny Gall all scored within 14 minutes in the third period to take a 4-3 lead.
But with 46 seconds remaining, junior forward Gavin Anderson scored for Warroad to tie it up. Anderson and freshman forward Rodrick Jackson had the assists on senior forward Mooney Shaugabay's game-winner one minute into overtime.
In 2A, Grand Rapids handily won the consolation championship, beating Lakeville South 6-2. Senior forward Seth Carlson had two goals and an assist, and junior forward Ander Rajala and senior forward Will Miskovich each had a goal and an assist.
Warroad and Moorhead winning the titles marks the first back-to-back all Northland champions in the two-class era.
Before 2025, Northern Minnesota hadn't claimed both titles since Grand Rapids/Hermantown in 2017. Roseau and Hermantown won in 2007, Duluth East and Eveleth-Gilbert won in 1998 and Duluth East and International Falls won in 1995.
The last all-Northland repeat was in the one-class era, when Grand Rapids won in 1975-76.
Eight rural Northern Minnesotans were named to the all-tournament teams: Warroad's goalie Patrick Kennedy, defenseman Broden Hontvet and forwards Anderson and Shaugabay; Hibbing/Chisholm's goalie Gavin Lamphere, defenseman Rewertz and forward Tate Swanson; and Grand Rapids' forward Carlson.
