Bemidji High Girls Hockey Wins Section 8AA, Return to State Since 2007

Bemidji High School’s girls hockey team won the Section 8AA championship on Feb. 12, 2026, securing a return to the Minnesota state tournament for the first time since 2007. The victory ends a 19-year absence for the program and sends the Lumberjacks back to the state stage that has eluded them since their last appearance in 2007.

The Section 8AA title-game result on Feb. 12 delivered the decisive outcome that Bemidji needed to punch its state ticket. That result carries particular weight for Bemidji High and Beltrami County, where high school hockey is a central winter tradition and a prominent part of the school’s athletic calendar. The program’s return to state marks a milestone for players who grew up watching Bemidji teams compete and for families who have supported the squad through multiple seasons.

The championship closes a long rebuilding arc for Bemidji High. From the last state appearance in 2007 to the Feb. 12 victory in 2026, the Lumberjacks navigated nearly two decades of roster turnover, coaching adjustments, and competitive shifts within Section 8AA. That 19-year gap underscores how significant the Feb. 12 win is for the student-athletes now representing the school at the state level.

Beyond the scoreboard, the Section 8AA crown will shape the remainder of the season for Bemidji High. The return to the state tournament brings additional practices, travel planning, and preparation needs for players, coaches, and families in Beltrami County. For the Bemidji High program, the Feb. 12 title is both a culmination of this season’s work and a prelude to the heightened competition the team will face at state.

Community interest in Bemidji’s next steps will focus on the state tournament schedule and matchups that follow this Section 8AA victory. The Feb. 12 championship has already reconnected Bemidji High with a state stage it last reached in 2007, providing a clear benchmark for the program and its supporters as the Lumberjacks prepare to represent Bemidji and Beltrami County at the next level of competition.