The Minnesota boys hockey state tournament brackets were released Saturday morning. The top seed in Class 2A is Moorhead, while Hibbing/Chisholm resides on the top line in Class A after knocking off Hermantown in section play.

The winners’ brackets for both tournaments will be played at Xcel Energy Center. All winners’ bracket games for both classes will be televised on KSTC Ch. 45, and also can be viewed online for free at 45tv.com.

2025 BOYS HOCKEY STATE SCHEDULE

The complete brackets for each class are listed below, and can also be viewed on the MSHSL website. Brackets will be updated here throughout the tournament:

CLASS 2A

Thursday’s quarterfinals

No. 2 Stillwater vs. No. 7 Andover, 11 a.m.

No. 3 St. Thomas Academy vs. No. 6 Shakopee, 1 p.m.

No. 1 Moorhead vs. No. 8 Lakeville South, 6 p.m.

No. 4 Rogers vs. No. 5 Edina, 8 p.m.

Friday’s semifinals

Thursday afternoon quarterfinal winners, 6 p.m.

Thursday evening quarterfinal winners, 8 p.m.

Saturday’s final

Friday evening semifinal winners, 7 p.m.

CLASS A

Wednesday’s quarterfinals

No. 2 St. Cloud Cathedral vs. No. 7 Mahtomedi, 11 a.m.

No. 3 Northfield vs. No. 6 Orono, 1 p.m.

No. 1 Hibbing/Chisholm vs. No. 8 Luverne, 6 p.m.

No. 4 East Grand Forks vs. No. 5 Northern Lakes, 8 p.m.

Friday’s semifinals

Wednesday afternoon quarterfinal winners, 11 a.m.

Wednesday evening quarterfinal winners, 11 p.m.

Saturday’s final

Friday afternoon semifinal winners, 12 p.m.

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The Wild added a veteran forward for the stretch run on Saturday, acquiring Gustav Nyquist from Nashville for a second-round pick in the 2026 draft.

Nyquist, 35, has nine goals and 21 points in 57 games for the Predators this season while playing on both of the team’s special team’s units. He is a pending unrestricted free agent with a $3.18 million salary cap hit, although Nashville will retain 50 percent of Nyquist’s contract.

The Wild are in solid playoff position despite playing without superstar winger Kirill Kaprizov, who hasn’t played since early January and had surgery Jan. 31 to repair a lower-body injury. Center Joel Eriksson Ek also is on injured reserve with a lower body injury.

This is the second time Wild general manager Bill Guerin has traded for Nyquist ahead of the NHL trade deadline, which comes Friday afternoon this season. Acquired in 2022-23, Nyquist had a goal and nine assists in nine games, the last six in the postseason (0-5–5). Playing for Columbus in 2021-22, Nyquist appeared in 82 games and scored four short-handed goals, third in the NHL that season.

The Wild were off Saturday following an 0-2 road trip through Utah and Colorado. Guerin is scheduled to speak to reporters before Sunday’s 2:30 p.m. puck drop at Xcel Energy Center.

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Bruce Helmer and Peg Webb

Small businesses aren’t as small as you might think. They drive 44% of the U.S. GDP and employ more than 60 million Americans, according to U.S. Chamber of Commerce estimates.

Yet despite their impact, many small-business owners overlook financial planning, often waiting until it’s too late. In fact, 78% of business owners expect to fund their retirement by selling their business, but 60% haven’t met with a financial adviser, according to BizEquity. That’s a risky approach, and one that can leave many business owners unprepared for the future.

Financial planning isn’t just about investing — it’s about creating a strategy to ensure your business success translates into long-term personal financial security. Whether you’re looking to grow, manage risk or plan for an eventual exit, a sensible financial plan can help you make informed decisions and avoid common pitfalls.

Why small-business owners need a financial plan

A well-crafted financial plan provides business owners with clarity, stability and control. Here are three key reasons how a plan can benefit you:

• 1. Managing cash flow — You know that cash flow is the lifeblood of any business, but it’s also crucial for personal financial stability. Poor cash flow management can lead to business failure, but it can also impact your ability to save for retirement, pay down debt or reinvest in growth. Planning helps balance income and expenses while ensuring liquidity when it’s needed.

• 2. Preparing for growth — If you’re like many business owners, the value of your business represents the majority of your net worth. Growing that value takes intentional planning. A solid financial plan integrates business expansion with personal wealth-building, ensuring both are moving in the right direction.

• 3. Managing risk — Entrepreneurs take risks every day, but some risks can be mitigated with smart planning. Many business owners have a dangerously high concentration of their wealth tied to their business. If market conditions change, or if personal circumstances force an unexpected exit, an unprepared business owner could see years of hard work disappear. A strong financial plan builds buffers against these risks and creates options for when things don’t go as planned.

Aligning business and personal financial goals

A common mistake business owners make is treating their business and personal financial goals as separate. The truth is, they are deeply connected.

On the personal side, owners may have retirement goals, a desire to build generational wealth or aspirations for charitable giving. On the business side, they may focus on profitability, achieving scale economies and eventually transitioning the company. A smart financial plan aligns both — ensuring that as the business grows, so does the owner’s personal financial security.

For example, a business owner reinvesting all profits into expansion might overlook the need to build a retirement fund. Without a separate savings strategy, they risk being entirely dependent on the business’ sale, which isn’t always guaranteed. A strong financial plan can help set milestones that support both business success and personal wealth accumulation.

The importance of diversification

Many small-business owners have the majority of their wealth locked up in their business, leaving them vulnerable to financial downturns. Diversification helps mitigate this risk.

Consider utilizing tax-deferred accounts such as a SIMPLE IRA or 401(k) to grow retirement savings without immediate tax burdens. Tax-advantaged accounts such as a Roth IRA or Health Savings Account (HSA) provide additional tax-efficient savings opportunities. Taxable investment accounts can also provide flexibility, offering liquid assets that aren’t tied to strict withdrawal rules.

By strategically spreading investments across different tax treatments, you can balance their immediate cash flow needs with long-term financial stability.

Liquidity strategies

Many business owners assume they need to sell their company outright to generate retirement income. However, there are other ways to create liquidity without giving up full control.

• Strategic partnerships or partial sales — Selling a portion of the business to a like-minded investor or colleague can provide immediate capital while keeping an active role in operations.

• Minority or majority recapitalization — Bringing in outside investors allows owners to extract cash from the business while maintaining influence.

• Employee stock ownership plans (ESOPs) — Transferring ownership to employees can provide significant tax advantages while allowing the business to continue thriving.

Each of these options has unique tax and structural considerations, so working with a financial expert is essential in determining the best approach.

Plan today for the future you want

At its core, financial planning for a small business is about preparing for the future. A thriving business is a wonderful achievement, but it’s only truly successful if it translates into lasting financial security.

If you’re a business owner, ask yourself:

• Do I have a plan for steady income in retirement?

• Is my personal wealth growing alongside my business?

• Have I explored tax-efficient strategies for diversification and liquidity?

A well-structured financial plan doesn’t just protect what you’ve built — it helps you make the most of it. Take the time to craft a strategy that supports both your business and personal financial goals. Your future self will thank you.

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The opinions voiced in this material are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual.

Bruce Helmer and Peg Webb are financial advisers at Wealth Enhancement Group and co-hosts of “Your Money” on WCCO 830 AM on Sunday mornings. Email Bruce and Peg at yourmoney@wealthenhancement.com. Securities offered through LPL Financial, member FINRA/SIPC. Advisory services offered through Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services, LLC, a registered investment advisor. Wealth Enhancement Group and Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services are separate entities from LPL Financial.

 

BUFFALO, N.Y. — Hilary Knight was more impressed than surprised in discovering she was leading PWHL forwards in ice time three months into the league’s second season.

At 35 and one of the PWHL’s oldest players, the face of U.S. women’s hockey has always valued being someone capable of playing in every situation. In averaging nearly 22 minutes per game, the Boston Fleet captain also finds the playing time reassuring in putting to rest any questions following a drop in production last year.

It helps that Knight is injury free after being slowed by an ankle issue she chose not to address until last summer. What’s also true is Knight can focus more on playing after no longer being consumed by feeling a need to shoulder the burden of ensuring the launch of a league she helped establish went off without a glitch.

“We can all kind of just go out there and play a little bit more than before, right?” Knight told The Associated Press during the Fleet’s Takeover Tour stop in Buffalo last weekend. “You’re not having to worry about all the overhead, what’s going to happen and feeling responsible for a missed bus or whatever wrinkle arises.”

It’s liberating knowing the PWHL is in good hands. And the four-time Olympian and inaugural winner of the IIHF’s female hockey player of the year in 2023 is enjoying the chance to skate pain-free again.

“I feel like I don’t have as much tread on the tires considering how many minutes I have,” Knight said. “You know, it’s more fun where you can actually play the game that you’re used to playing at the level you want to play at.”

Last season, she finished tied for 31st with 11 points, and 14th with six goals while playing all 24 games. Knight failed to register a point in eight playoff games as Boston lost the final series in a decisive Game 5 to Minnesota.

Through Wednesday, she is tied for fifth with 17 points and tied for fourth with eight goals through 19 games, while her ice-time average ranks seventh among skaters when factoring in defensemen.

She has a point in all but six games this season, and has two game-winning goals, coming in consecutive outings as part of a 6-1 run that pushed Boston into third-place in the standings.

“This year, she’s really been able to settle in to be the hockey player we all know that she is,” Fleet general manager Danielle Marmer said.

Knight’s leadership in establishing the team’s culture was invaluable in a season Boston closed 4-0-1 to clinch a playoff spot. Marmer praised Knight for finding a defensive role by clearing pucks and blocking shots, particularly in a grueling semifinal series against Montreal, in which Boston won all three games in overtime.

“And that’s why she’s a winner,” Marmer said. “Even when she’s not putting pucks in the net and finding a way there, she’s finding a way to impact us in a way that allows other people to step up and put pucks in the net.”

Knight brings with her 19 seasons of U.S. national team experience in which she won Olympic gold in 2018 and three silvers, along with nine golds at the world championships. Barring injury, she’s already a lock to make her record fifth Olympic appearance next year in Italy.

Knight is the Fleet’s unquestioned leader.

She consults with coach Courtney Kessel on when the team might need a break from practice. She can keep the team loose with a joke or bring a competitive focus when the moment calls. Teammates are impressed how Knight seamlessly handles her many off-ice responsibilities — interviews, autograph sessions and promotional appearances.

“She’s truly a professional. I’ve learned so much from her,” said Fleet and U.S. national team goalie Aerin Frankel. “I think she’s an all-encompassing person and player. And when she puts her mind to do something, she does it.”

Age hasn’t slowed Knight. Two years ago, she scored her third world championship gold-medal-winning goal as part of a hat-trick in the United States’ 6-3 win over Canada. At the worlds last year, Knight finished tied for the tournament lead with 10 points as the U.S. lost the title game to Canada.

For all she’s done, Knight feels disappointed in failing to produce for Boston in the playoffs last year.

“It’s really fun to score. And if it’s something you’re supposed to be doing and you’re not doing it; it’s definitely tough,” she said.

And yet, her determination showed through in saying nothing, including her ankle injury, was going to prevent her from playing.

“That was sort of the mental battle of last year, wanting to show up for the team … with the understanding that I wasn’t where I would like to be,” Knight said. “But I was going to do everything I could in my capability when I was out there.”