Matt, Logan, and Bill get together to check the pulse of boys hockey in the Twin Cities at roughly the mid-point of the season!

Starting at (4:53), they discuss the Northwest Suburban Conference with an interesting race between Rogers, Maple Grove, Andover, and Centennial at the top, along with improving squads in the middle of the pack that have made it arguably the State’s deepest league. At (17:18), they discuss Shakopee asserting themselves as favorites atop the South Suburban Conference after a gritty road win in Rosemount, and look back on Lakeville South’s recent dominance of the league in years past.

They also discuss the talent on display at Gentry Academy, who are making a strong case as a No. 1 seed in Section 4AA despite being iced out by the competition (22:09) and discuss heavyweights Wayzata, Edina, and Benilde all blocking each other for one State Tourney berth in 6AA.

Finally, they round out the show with some basketball observations concering Spring Lake Park, Shakopee, and Jack Robison of Lakeville North as part of their “notes from the field” for the week (35:27)!

It’s a girls high school hoops frenzy for the first time this season on the pod as the crew welcome in Grant McGinnis, a prep basketball scout and writer for PrepGirlsHoops.com in Minnesota!

The gang starts the conversation at (4:38) by keying on Friday’s matchup between Class 4A No. 3 Lakeville North and Class 2A No. 1 Providence Academy, and discussing standout sophomore Maddyn Greenway, her State-wide appeal, and where she fits among recent superstars in the State.

Starting at (17:30), they talk about the headliners of a talented senior class, led by Benilde’s Olvia Olson (Michigan), Hopkins’ Liv McGill (Florida), and Mountain Iron-Buhl sharpshooter Jordan Zubich (UNC), among others.

At (23:58), McGinnis splits hairs to determine Minnetonka and Hopkins’ candidacy as the best team in the State right now, while also not counting out Wayzata, STMA, and others as top title-contenders in Class 4A. At (30:37), Logan and Grant talk about the best girls players they’ve ever seen at the high school level, including a standout 8th grader from Duluth you’ve got to keep an eye on (32:17).

Finally, they discuss other Class 4A teams to follow at (35:36) before Matt, Logan, and Bill talk some hockey and wrestling in their final “notes from the field” of 2023 (49:00).

Tony Zosel, aka “Tony Scott,” from the Youth Hockey Hub joins the podcast to talk about the suprises of the boys and girls high school hockey seasons so far!

Starting at (2:24), they head to the boys side of the ice and discuss the the gap closing between title favorites Minnetonka and the rest of the field as well as the possibility of an undefeated season for the Skippers. They also discuss other contenders to challenge the Skippers in Class AA, including Wayzata (7:00), Chanhassen (9:26), and Benilde-St. Margaret’s (10:18), among others. Other teams and topics include the talent coming up in Moorhead (13:40), Saturday’s top-15 clash between Rogers and Shakopee (16:15), and the depth of the Northwest Suburban Conference this year (23:50).

Starting at (27:39), they transition to girls hockey where they discuss the three remaining unbeatens entering the week in Class AA, including how Hill-Murray are ahead of schedule as title contenders after a summer of upheaval (28:57). They also discuss Lakeville North, Northfield, and some of the best Section Finals to watch out for this winter.

Finally at (35:49), they close the show with Tony’s seven locks and short-list of dark horse candidates for the “Mr. Hockey” award.

Matt and Logan are joined by the “TC Hoops Czar” to talk everything high school hoops as the boys basketball season tips off en masse this week in Minnesota!

They start their in-depth season preview by talking the implications of the shot clock this season (2:51) and the most notable coaching changes around the Metro heading into the year (7:01).

Discussed next are the top players in the Metro to watch going into the year (12:23), including recent Creighton commit Jackson McAndrew of Wayzata, Daniel Freitag (Wisconsin, Breck School), future Colorado State teammates Jon Mokonnen (Eastview) and Kyle Jorgensen (Minneapolis-Washburn), among others.

Starting at (21:26), they discuss pre-season favorites to make the State Tournament in each of the eight Class 4A Sections, before talking title favorites in Class 3A (29:54) and 2A (42:21). They close the show by previewing some of the huge matchups to follow at this weekend’s Hopkins Tip-Off event.

David La Vaque, a prep sportswriter for the Minneapolis Star Tribune, makes a record sixth appearance on the 100th episode after appearing as the first-ever guest back in the Fall of 2021!

The guys come off their Thanksgiving food coma to first recap an exciting slate of Prep Bowl Championships from the weekend, starting with Centennial grabbing their first-ever title in school history as they captured the Class 6A crown! Starting at (11:57), they recap Chanhassen’s storybook season, going to overtime for a second consecutive week in a matchup of premier running backs in the State. Finally at (21:19), they discuss Class 4A and down, including Hutchinson’s annual Minneapolis invasion of black & gold, a record-breaking performance from Minneota in the Class A title, and a controversial refereeing decision in the 9-man title game.

To close the show, La Vaque, one of the definitive auhorities on high school hockey and the co-author of “Tourney Time: Stories from the Minnesota Boys Hockey State Tournament” discusses preaseason favorites in the prep landscape on the ice (27:41). Discussed is Minnetonka’s embarassment of riches committed to the Division 1 level, challengers to the Skippers in Class AA, and standout results from Thanksgiving tournament action. They also discuss some girls hockey preseason favorites at (44:54) to close the show.

Chris Ohm, one of the voices of Channel 45’s coverage of the Prep Bowl and the Assistant Director of the Upper School at Breck, makes his second appearance on the podcast to help preview this weekend’s slate of seven State Football Championship games at the Bank!

After some brief introductions, the guys dive into last week’s Class 6A Semifinal games, starting with a physical battle that saw senior quarterback Daylen Cummings lead Centennial to their first championship game appearance in 39 years over Lakeville South (5:33). Starting at (15:18), they break down Edina’s upset win over previously unbeaten Eden Prairie, and speculate how the Hornets’ deep ball threats of Sonny Villegas and Meyer Swinney might match up against a formidable Cougar secondary.

Moving to Class 5A at (27:28), Chris talks about St. Thomas Academy’s come-from-behind win over previously undefeated Alexandria, and places Savion Hart in his upper echolon of running backs in the State. Next, the guys talk about Chanhassen’s thrilling overtime victory at (30:48), and preview their upcoming match with STA in a battle of two of the top running backs in Minnesota.

They also preview the Class 4A title game between perennial U.S. Bank residents Hutchinson and Rocori at (37:30), and discuss favorites and standout teams and players from Class 3A all the way down to 9-man football beginning at (40:15).

The co-host of KARE 11’s Prep Preview show, Craig Norkus makes his second appearance on the podcast this year to help the guys set up the State Football Semifinals in Class 6A, 5A, and beyond this week!

They start by breaking down all four quarterfinal matchups in the large school division from last week, starting with Craig’s impressions of an impressive Edina win over Stillwater on Thursday night. He talks sophomore QB Mason West and all the weapons the Hornets have available in their impending matchup with Eden Prairie this week (3:32). They also talk Eden Prairie’s dominance in the trenches over North (10:43), including some bullet point board material that the podcast fired up the Eagles with last week. Also discussed is Centennial’s dominant display of revenge from last year’s quarterfinal loss to Rosemount (18:25), and Lakeville South’s dramtic finish to knock off East Ridge and punch their ticket back to U.S. Bank Stadium (25:00).

They discuss Class 5A starting at (28:25), including a matchup worthy of a State Championship game, and talk Gopher commit Koi Perich and some of the teams involved in the Class 4A and Class 3A tourneys this week in Minneapolis at (38:16).