As we head into the stretch run of the season, some questions have been answered and some still remain.

The biggest question was whether or not a season could be salvaged. After a six-week pause, players masked up and hit the ice Jan. 3 and so far (knock on wood), it appears there will be an 18-game season with a full slate of playoff games.

The question that remains is what teams will rise to the top as they head down the stretch for the state tournament that will culminate on Saturday, April 3, for a true “Championship Saturday” that will feature the Class A and AA girls title games and the Class A and AA boys title games.

Save for COVID-19 rearing its ugly head again, it should make for a great day of hockey.

We reached the halfway point of the season last week, and while some teams have gotten all their games in, there have been some postponements due to some positive COVID-19 cases within some programs.

But for the most part we have a pretty good idea who the top teams are in the state. Here is a closer look at each class of hockey in the state of hockey.

Boys Class AA

Kyle Kukkonen is proving he is a front runner for the Mr. Hockey Award as he has led his Crimson to an undefeated 12-0 mark  and is putting up some gaudy numbers with 19 goals and 31 assists in 12 games.

The only question about the Crimson is their schedule thus far having only faced two ranked teams in Centennial, a 9-3 win, and Andover, whom they defeated 5-1.

Regardless, it appears they will venture out of Section 5AA and could hold onto the No. 1 ranking in Let’s Play Hockey for the remainder of the season.

But there is no easy path to state and there certainly is no easy path once you get there.

Our No. 2 ranked team started the season ranked No. 1. Eden Prairie has a dynamic offense, evidenced by their 4-1 win over an extremely good Benilde-St. Margaret’s squad. Jackson Blake rejoined his team after playing a spell in juniors and has made an immediate impact to an already loaded roster. Since his arrival, the junior University of North Dakota recruit has 30 points (9-21) in just eight games. They also have the experience, having finished runner-up at state the past two seasons and are hungry not just to get back but also to win it.

But getting there won’t be easy in Section 2AA. They have to deal with Prior Lake (10-1-1), Minnetonka (8-3-0) and Holy Family Catholic (7-3-1) in one of the toughest sections in Class AA.

Speaking of sections, 4AA, 6AA and 7AA look to bring contentious battles the second half of the season. In 4AA, returning state champion Hill-Murray (10-2) is the favorite, but Stillwater (8-2-1) is much improved and White Bear Lake is off to a 10-2-1 start.

In Section 6AA, no doubt the state’s top section, No. 6-ranked Cretin-Derham Hall (10-1), No. 4 Benilde-St. Margaret’s (11-1), No. 12 Wayzata (7-4-0), No. 15 Edina (5-6-1), Blake (5-5-1), and St. Louis Park (7-3-1) all have a legitimate shot at getting through. With six teams who have been ranked in the top 20, you can bet for some great match ups down the stretch and into the section playoffs.

Section 7AA looks like it will be a battle between No. 8 Andover (11-1-0) and No. 5 Grand Rapids (7-1-0), although the section also houses perennial powerhouse Duluth East  and a much improved Forest Lake.

Section 3AA has No. 14 Rosemount (7-2-1) and No. 10 St. Thomas Academy (8-1-3). Section 1AA looks good for No. 3 ranked Lakeville South (10-0), who is one of just two remaining undefeated teams along with Maple Grove, and Section 8 should be a battle between them and  Rogers and Moorhead.

Boys Class A

In Class A, Hermantown is the obvious front-runner, as they are seemingly each year. And this year might be one of their best ever. They have averaged over eight goals a game while giving up an average of one per game and have outscored opponents 89-11. They have 11 players averaging at least a point a game and are led by sophomore sensation Zam Plante. The son of former Cloquet standout, UMD legend and NHL regular Derek Plante, Zam is tied for the state lead in goals with 23 and has racked up 40 points in his first 11 games as a varsity player. But he isn’t the only talent as Hermantown runs a deep squad that would give most Class AA teams fits.

But they may have a match in upstart Gentry Academy who is ranked No. 2 behind the Hawks in the Let’s Play Hockey poll. At 10-0 they too are averaging eight goals a game while allowing just one and outscoring opponents 78-8. They too have 11 players averaging a point a game.

Hermantown shares a section with Duluth Denfeld who has climbed the rankings and lost to the Hawks 6-3 a week ago, so they pose a mild threat to the Hawks come section time. Gentry Academy comes out of Section 4A and will have to go through the likes of Mahtomedi, ranked No. 3 in this week’s LPH poll because they play mainly an AA schedule. It wouldn’t be a surprise if the Zephyrs, who are coming off their first state title a year ago, give Gentry a good run.

Section 6A has seen some emergence from some also-rans of the past while seeing some juggernauts slide down the list. St. Cloud Cathedral, two years removed from a state title, are just 4-7 and are going through a rebuilding phase while Little Falls and Fergus Falls appear to be the top teams to beat. Little Falls is ranked No. 3 this week, climbing one spot, and beat Cathedral 6-1 recently. Perhaps to show the talent at the top between Gentry and Hermantown, consider that Gentry defeated Little Falls 8-1 on Feb. 4, and Hermantown defeated Cathedral 10-1 earlier this season.

Fergus Falls suffered a season-opening loss to Alexandria but has since won 10 in a row and cracked the top 10 recently.

One other team to watch for is Northern Lakes in Section 5A. The Lightning are big, fast and physical and have more than a dozen seniors on the roster. But they will have to get through Monticello, Chisago Lakes and Cambridge-Isanti, all who are above .500 and have solid squads.

Another brattle to look for is in Section 1A where the top five teams have a combined record of 38-9. Mankato East/Loyola appears to be the front-runner, but just lost a close battle with Dodge County. Layten Liffrig leads Mankato East and Dodge County has Brody Lamb, two prolific players that should make for some great hockey come section playoffs. Also don’t count out Mankato West,  Minnesota River or Waseca.

Section 8A will also be a battle between two top teams as East Grand Forks and Warroad are currently ranked No. 6 and No. 8, respectively in the most recent LPH poll.

New Ulm and Hutchinson appear to be the frontrunners in Section 3A and Orono, Minneapolis and Southwest Christian will battle it out in 2A.

Girls Class AA

Much like Boys Class A, this also appears to be a two-horse race, although Hill-Murray, Minnetonka, Benilde-St. Margaret’s and some others may have something to say about that.

But Andover (11-0) and Edina (11-0) are clearly the top two squads, as they were last season when Andover dethroned Edina, breaking their string of three straight state titles. Both teams are loaded with talent.

Andover has outscored opponents 97-2. Yes, that’s not a typo. They have allowed two goals all season. Led by University of Minnesota recruit Peyton Hemp (13-23-36), they have nine players averaging a point a game. Edina, meanwhile, has outscored opponents 59-7 and have the likes of Emma Conner, Vivian Jungels and Hanna Chorske. And an outstanding goalie in Uma Corniea.

But don’t count out No. 3 Hill-Murray, who played Edina close in their lone battle, losing 1-0. A third period goal by Conner was the difference.

Stillwater, though, could give the Pioneers a run in Section 4AA as they remain unbeaten heading into the second half of the season.

Minnetonka, Eastview, Maple Grove and Lakeville South also look to be section favorites heading into the second half.

Class A Girls

Chisago Lakes enjoyed their first billing as the top team in the state when they emerged to No. 1 after formerly top-ranked Warroad suffered a loss to Gentry Academy.

The Tigers are led by Dani Burgen and Jenna Lawry, both who are averaging three points a game and are committed to Minnesota State and UMD, respectively. Warroad, of course, is a common sight atop the rankings and are a close No. 2 heading into his week. They are led by Genevieve Hendrickson, who already has 40 points, and Tayla Hendrickson, who has 29 points in 10 games as a sophomore.

Proctor/Hermantown is ranked No. 3 and undefeated, as is Mound Westonka in Section 2A and ranked No. 4.

The field is filled with perennial powers such as Breck, South St. Paul and Cloquet-Esko-Carlton. And there are some emerging programs such as Gentry Academy, River Lakes and Duluth Marshall who are knocking on the door.

It certainly has been a year of uncertainty in the world of high school hockey, and the second half of the season will likely bring more of it. And as long as it isn’t any stoppages due to the virus, then uncertainties are good because it keeps fans on the edge of their seats.

A lot can happen between now and April 3. Stay tuned to what looks to be one of the more memorable high school seasons the state of hockey has ever had.