Four of the top six Class 2A boys’ hockey teams in the state will face off in a doubleheader that begins at 6 tonight at Mariucci Arena. Game 1: No. 2 Bloomington Jefferson vs. No. 3 Edina in the Section 2 final; Game 2: No. 1 Eden Prairie vs. No. 6 Minnetonka in the Section 6 final. Not surprisingly, ticket sales have been brisk.

Officials said there are likely going to be about 2,000 tickets remaining for general sale when doors open at 5 tonight Mariucci Arena. Those hoping to snag a pair are advised to head down early because tickets could go fast. Tickets are $8 for adults and $6 for students.

Conversations with folks over at both Edina and Eden Prairie make it sound as though fans who bought early are willing to go the extra mile.

Edina AD Jenny Johnson said this afternoon that the school sold close to 2,000 tickets, split almost evenly between adults and students. There have also been reports that Edina fans have gone to the other three schools in order to purchase tickets.

At Eden Prairie, Sports Coordinator Nancy Schmitt said the school has sold around 1,400 tickets. Eden Prairie stopped selling tickets at 1 p.m. this afternoon and has since had to turn away disappointed fans.

We haven’t heard from Minnetonka or Jefferson, but one has to imagine sales have been similarly brisk. Mariucci Arena holds close to 10,000 people, and one ticket gets fans into both games. Schmitt, who has been in constant contact with Mariucci Arena manager Craig Flor, said he told her there have been more calls about tickets to tonight’s games than in all other years these sections have played at Mariucci combined. While that might be a touch of hyperbole (and then again, it might not), I personally cannot remember a greater buzz for two section finals in my decade at the Star Tribune.

It’s a testament to the quality of these teams and the devotion of their fans — as well as hockey fans in general — that two non-state tournament high school hockey games could fill one of the premier college arenas in the country.

Remeber to check back on this blog for written updates from tonight’s section finals as well as checking out the audio webcasts from section final sites, including Mariucci.

This entry was posted on Thursday, March 5th, 2009 at 2:42 pm and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.