Nine girls hockey players from the state are in Nova Scotia for the U18 IIHF Women’s World Championship this week, representing Team USA through Jan. 18.

Centennial/Spring Lake Park emerged from the holiday break as champions of a stacked Walser Invitational, with a field featuring four of the state’s top five squads.

Inside Minnetonka’s Pagel Activity Center on Saturday, Edina and Minnetonka wrote another chapter in their storied rivalry.

One team exited the top 10 while another entered, but the newest No. 1 position is a first for a relatively young program.

After defeating Edina in a rematch of last year’s Class 2A state championship, Hill-Murray will travel to face No. 2-ranked Holy Family on Saturday.

Undefeated Bemidji is on the rise, arriving in the first 10 this week. A chance to prove itself further is just ahead.

Defending state champions Hill-Murray and Dodge County saw success while Holy Family proved itself against Edina.

Strib Varsity’s ranking spans the state and two classes and includes both of the teams that won state titles last season.

Listen: NSPN.tv’s Ryan Phelps has a first look at the Class 2A and 1A brackets and discusses the matchups with the Star Tribune’s David La Vaque.