HOCKEY: Bemidji boys gets Section 8AA home game

BEMIDJI – The Bemidji boys hockey team will host at least one home playoff game at Bemidji Community Arena.

Seeds for the Section 8AA hockey tournament were announced Wednesday, and the Lumberjacks earned the No. 4 seed. They will host No. 5 seed St. Cloud Tech next Tuesday, Feb. 19 at 7 p.m. at the BCA.

The Lumberjacks, who are currently 7-14-2 overall with one game to play in the regular season, finished with a 4-5-1 record against section opponents. The Tigers have a better overall record at 14-10 but are just 4-5 in the section. The Lumberjacks also defeated the Tigers earlier this season, claiming a 3-2 victory Dec. 8 in Bemidji.

Moorhead, the No. 1 seed, will take on the winner of the play-in game between No. 8 River Lakes and No. 9 Northern Lakes. The Spuds earned the top seed by virtue of their 6-1-1 section record.

Brainerd/Pillager/Pierz earned the No. 2 seed. The Warriors are 19-5 overall and 9-3 in section games. They will play the winner of the other play-in game, between No. 10 Becker/Big Lake and No. 7 Monticello/Annandale/Maple Lake.

A matchup between No. 3 Roseau and No. 6 Buffalo round out the quarterfinal games.

The section semifinal games are scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 23, at the higher seed, while the section final is scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 28, at a neutral location.

The state tournament will be held from March 6-9 at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul and Mariucci Arena in Minneapolis.

Section 8AA Tournament

Schedule

Play-In Games

Saturday, Feb. 16

Game 1: No. 9 Northern Lakes (11-12) at No. 8 River Lakes (10-14), 7 p.m.

Game 2: No. 10 Becker/Big Lake (9-15) at No. 7 Monticello/ Annandale/ Maple Lake (10-14-1), 7 p.m.

Quarterfinals

Tuesday, Feb. 19

Game 3: Winner Game 1 at No. 1 Moorhead (11-10-2), 7 p.m.

Game 4: No. 5 St. Cloud Tech (14-10) at No. 4 Bemidji (7-15-2), 7 p.m.

Game 5: Winner Game 2 at Brainerd/Pillager/Pierz (19-5), 7 p.m.

Game 6: No. 6 Buffalo (12-10-2) at No. 3 Roseau (15-8-1), 7 p.m.

Semifinals

Saturday, Feb. 23

Game 7: Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 4, at higher seed, 7 p.m.

Game 8: Winner Game 5 vs. Winner Game 6, at higher seed, 7 p.m.

Finals

Thursday, Feb. 28

Game 9: Winner Game 7 vs. Winner Game 8, location TBD, 7 p.m.