Every game has one or more, from the first of Wednesday’s Class 1A quarterfinals (St. Cloud Cathedral’s John Hirschfeld) to the last in Thursday’s Class 2A first round (Rogers’ Parker Deschene and Nolen Geerdes, Edina’s Sam Peckham).

Sixteen boys hockey teams have a chance to win a state title. But they must first get past the first round.

Writers David La Vaque and Jim Paulsen pick which teams advance to the semifinals, the championship game and the eventual victor.

Going into the state tournament, here’s where Minnesota’s best teams fall in line.

Take a tour through some sections where competition will be fierce, and then check out the predictions.

Second seed Stillwater, with goalie Cal Conway off MSHSL suspension, will face Andover, a state champ not long ago but a 15-13 seventh seed this season.

The Spuds have reached the final eight 21 times but have never won. Hibbing/Chisholm is seeded No. 1 in Class 1A.

The Class 2A and 1A brackets will come out Saturday, and the games will start Wednesday.

Section final matchups have been decided. A reordering of Minnesota’s top teams will commence leading into next week’s state tournament.

Star Tribune reporters Jim Paulsen and David La Vaque pick the week’s biggest matchups, including St. Thomas Academy at Armstrong.