Here we go with the first big event of winter state tourneys…the girls’ hockey tournament will run Wednesday through Saturday at Xcel Energy Center. The first-round pairings are …

Class 1A quarterfinals on Wednesday

11 a.m.: Alexandria vs. South St. Paul

1 p.m.: New Prague vs. Roseau

6 p.m.: Marshall vs. Austin

8 p.m.: Breck vs. Hibbing

Class 2A quarterfinals on Thursday

11 a.m.: Benilde-St. Margaret’s vs. Cretin-Derham Hall

1 p.m.: Eden Prairie vs. Elk River

6 p.m.: Eagan vs. Farmington

8 p.m.: Centennianl vs. Grand Rapids/Greenway

Who are the favorites? Who brings a Cinderella story to state? What’s your favorite quarterfinal matchup?

Let’s hear from you girls’ hockey fans!

Katharine Chute scored on a breakaway at 2:38 of the third period to lift Blake to its first state title since 2003.

Farmington needed only 36 seconds to tie the score in the second period, when Krystal Bauman poked a rebound over the pad of goaltender Rachel Bowens-Ruben. Blake has outshot the Tigers 20-6 through two periods, but Farmington goalie Erin McNamara is playing strong in the net, and the Tigers are somehow still in this.

Blake has dominated the first period, outshooting the Tigers 11-1 and getting a power-play goal from Margaret Chute. Although Farmington has come out looking sluggish, that’s been their pattern throughout the postseason. The final two periods have always been their strongest.

Puck just dropped at 12:17 p.m. … in a rematch of last season’s section 4A semifinal game, which Farmington won 6-5 in OT.