Call it a rock fight, call it mid, call it the weakest Section 7AA since the two-class split, doomed to slaughter in the first round of the State Tournament at the hands of Minnetonka or Moorhead. Objectively, it’s all true. It’s also great theater. Five teams have a legitimate shot at a section title, making for as wide open a race as you’ll ever see in AA Minnesota high boys’ school hockey, promising a great last two rounds of playoffs at Amsoil Arena in Duluth in late February. Here is a breakdown of the five contenders, none of whom will go down in history as a great team, but all of whom nonetheless have some chance at a section title.

Grand Rapids

Overall record: 7-11-1

PageStat rating: 19.52 (#25)

Record among 7AA contenders: 1-1-1 (win over Duluth East; loss to Forest Lake; tie against Duluth East)

Games vs. 7AA contenders remaining: at Duluth Marshall, Jan 27; at Rock Ridge, Jan. 30

The good: Wins over Elk River, Andover, and Lakeville South are some of the best non-section results anyone here can claim; also just suffered a final minute loss to Hill-Murray

The bad: The loss to Forest Lake; no individual results here are really that bad, but there is the question of the accumulated weight of their poor record.

Why they could win it: They’re the most proven commodity here. This senior class has played in a State Tournament, and while neither the depth nor the high-end talent are exceptional, the top unit, with Jacob Garski, Seth Carlson, Ander Rajala, Will Shermoen, and Alexander Salisbury are experienced and can compete with just about any top unit here. They’ve got a coach with a proven track record in Grant Clafton, and they are going through a meat grinder of a schedule to prepare for big moments in late February. Forget the record: they are playing the best hockey of anyone here right now.

Cause for concern: For the first time in what seems like decades, goaltending is a real question mark in Minnesota’s greatest goalie factory. Four different tenders have split time this season, and only in the past week has sophomore Luke Sherlock stepped up and laid claim to the job. If he can keep it up, I like the Thunderhawks’ odds.

Keep an eye on: Garski, the star senior forward who has missed time due to injury this season; he has decent numbers, but hasn’t set the world on fire. He’s capable of some big things, and if he gets rolling, Rapids will be a tough out.

Section seeding fate: Control their own destiny and can grab the top seed with wins over Marshall and Rock Ridge. Lose one and they’re 2^nd or 3^rd; lose both and they’re in the 4/5 game.

Duluth Marshall

Overall record: 14-2-1
PageStat Rating: 19.07 (#33)

Record among 7AA contenders: 1-0 (win over Rock Ridge)

Games vs. 7AA contenders remaining: vs. Grand Rapids, Jan. 27; at Duluth East, Feb. 10

The good: For the second year in a row, they tied rival Hermantown; ran out to an impressive lead in a win over Rock Ridge

The bad: A loss to a Superior team that tied the likes of Duluth Denfeld; needing overtime to beat Rochester Lourdes; a loss to Cloquet

Why they could win it: Depth. Marshall has been building toward this season for a while, and while they do not have the star power of some of their rivals here, they are chalk-full of B-plus players like Benson Peterson, Bennett Scissions, Kyler Black, Leyton Anderson, and Sam Berry. In a section without any elite teams, that is usually a pretty good formula.

Cause for concern: The schedule. There are weak schedules, and then there is Marshall’s schedule, which is possibly the weakest I have ever seen for any realistic AA section contender ever. There’s no doubting there is talent here, and the Hermantown and Rock Ridge games show they can give good teams a run. But when you’re playing against the likes of Greenway, Anoka, Irondale, and Pine City most weeks, it’s hard not to fall into bad habits that simply don’t work against higher quality teams, especially when you need to win a couple tough games in a row.

Keep an eye on: Viljami Sinisalo, the Finnish exchange student who has contributed some key goals, helping to make up for the holes in the Hilltopper lineup left by a couple of early departures. This team’s balance is the key to its success, and if they can outmatch other teams’ lower lines and play smart defensive hockey, they have the pieces to a run through sections.

Section seeding fate: Can grab the top seed with wins over Rapids and East. Lose one of those and they’re in the 2/3 range; lose both and they’re probably in the 4/5 game. If it gets really messy, it’ll be fascinating to see what other coaches make of this schedule.

Forest Lake

Overall record: 11-7

PageStat rating: 18.42 (#40)

Record among 7AA contenders: 2-1 (wins over Rock Ridge and Grand Rapids, loss to Duluth East

Games vs. 7AA contenders remaining: None

The good: Those overtime stunners against two 7AA frontrunners catapulted the Rangers toward the top of 7AA. For a team that has so long lingered in the middle tier of this section, this is a rare, golden opportunity to make a serious run.

The bad: Lost to Duluth East when they had a chance to wrap up the top seed; lost to a weak Woodbury team

Why they could win it: They’ve won the big games against the section’s preseason favorites. Coach Jay Ekman seems to have this group believing, and it’s easy to build a Rangers-against-the-world narrative given their humble history and the departure of freshman wunderkind Maverick McKinnon for St. Thomas Academy before the season. Their Suburban East Conference schedule gives them ample tests against quality Metro competition, and they seem comfortable playing without the puck, able to withstand some tough shot margins and strike in transition to change the tenor of a game.

Cause for concern: Depth, or lack thereof. They’re going to get outshot in most big games and have a thin margin for error. Those two dramatic overtime section wins were cool, but home games around New Year’s are a far cry from playoff success for a program that has never won a section semifinal.

Keep an eye on: Ryder Siedow, the senior forward who is having a huge year and scoring clutch goals. Sidekick Nate Peterson has helped the cause plenty, too. They’ll go as far as their stars can carry them.

Section seeding fate: Have a chance at the top seed, but need Grand Rapids and Duluth Marshall to both lose section games down the stretch. More likely to land at #2 or #3.

Rock Ridge

Overall record: 9-9

PageStat Rating: 19.07 (#32)

Record among 7AA contenders: 1-2 (win over Duluth East, losses to Duluth Marshall and Forest Lake)

Games vs. 7AA contenders remaining: vs. Grand Rapids, Jan .30

The good: Frankly, for their talent level, they do not have any particularly impressive results.

The bad: Spotted Duluth Marshall a 5-goal lead with some ugly play in an eventual 6-4 loss; could not finish off Forest Lake

Why they could win it: They’ve got the best player in the section by a healthy margin in Caz Carlson, along with his sidekick Colton Bialke, and they have enough strong forwards to round out two pretty good lines. They are a fiery group, capable of laying big hits and showing off real talent. Pound for pound, they are the most talented team in this section, and if they can play to that potential, they have the best odds of winning the thing.

Cause for concern: Consistency and performance under pressure. This team is Jekyll and Hyde: they have parts of games where they look like a top 15 team in the state, controlling the pace with their heavy play. They also have moments where they look utterly discombobulated, and when things start to go downhill, they struggle to recover that swagger. Discipline is a somewhat regular concern, too. Do they have that championship mettle?

Keep an eye on: The easy answer would be Carlson, the star who needs to control his emotions and put the team on his back. My other name to watch is sophomore forward Jackson Bartovich. The flashy sophomore is the key to the Wolverines’ depth, and if he can help carry a second productive line, they’ll be a load.

Section seeding fate: Probably stuck in the 4/5 game unless they can beat Grand Rapids, and even then may need some help; #3 is their ceiling.

Duluth East

Overall record: 6-10-2

PageStat rating: 17.70 (#53)

Record among 7AA contenders: 1-2-1 (win over Forest Lake; losses to Grand Rapids and Rock Ridge; tie with Grand Rapids)

Games vs. 7AA contenders remaining: vs. Duluth Marshall, Feb. 10

The good: Section win over Forest Lake and tie with Grand Rapids; a couple of competitive top 20 losses

The bad: Losses to East Ridge and Roseville; a tie with lowly Mounds View

Why they could win it: East is the fifth of the five teams in 7AA at the moment on body of work, but the upside may be the highest of anyone. They have the best core of young talent, headlined by defenseman Liam Brooks and forward Zane Medlin. The defensive corps, one through five, is probably the deepest here.

Cause for concern: Chemistry is always a real question mark on teams where the sophomore class is the most talented. Coach Steve Pitoscia and company have their work cut out for them as they try to lean into the youth movement while also weaving in some of the older kids who have paid their dues and have some imperfect talents; the young group can’t carry the load alone. Too often, these Hounds look like a collection of individuals trying to do things themselves rather than a complete team.

Keep an eye on: Where the goals will come from. The defensive point production from Brooks and fellow sophomore Greyson Medak is nice, but it has never felt like the forward lines have settled into a productive hierarchy; there’s a lot of aimless rotating of bodies without committing to combinations that make real sense, and I scratch my head at the continued use of four lines. Medlin and McKennen Kramer have the points, Jax Edgerton has an all-around game I really like, and a few others like Easton Orhn and Fin Kuzmuk bring different skills that could cohere; can the whole come to exceed the sum of the parts?

Section seeding fate: Currently in line for the 5-seed, but could rise up to #3 or so if they can beat Duluth Marshall and perhaps get a little help.