District 10 statement says removing prayer was not the intention

by Bryan Zollman, Let’s Play Hockey

One of the emerging traditions over the past several years has been a meeting between members of both teams at center ice following games for a moment of prayer.

Recently, District 10 amended their End of Game policy that would have removed the prayer as an on-ice tradition with an attempt to accommodate it off the ice.

This wrangled some parents within the district and from around the state who took to social media to question the move by District 10. Kare 11 even featured the story on its 10 p.m. broadcast Thursday night.

DIstrict 10 maintains that removing prayer was never the intention, and that keeping the arena on schedule was the focus of the policy change. They said the decision caused confusion, and that the policy would make accommodations for post-game prayer off the ice.

District 10 posted on its website: “District 10 Hockey is pausing its End of Game policy for further review, as it has caused some confusion with people thinking it was removing prayer.   It is District 10 Hockey’s goal to keep the arenas on time for games, scrimmages, and practices, along with keeping accommodation of an area for prayer or player gatherings. Because this confusion has caused some people to think it was removing prayer, it was to make accommodation for prayer, while keeping the ice time with the Arena’s on time for games, scrimmages and practices.”

Minnesota Hockey, the governing body overseeing the districts throughout the state, administered the pause on the decision.

Acccording to a social media post, Minnesota Hockey said: “Currently, Minnesota Hockey District 10 will be pausing its policy regarding post-game  on-ice activities for further review. It is Minnesota Hockey’s understanding that it was never the intention of the district to discriminate against or prohibit player prayer.”

Minneosta hockey outlined its unwavering commitment to religious accommodation and cultural diversity.

“Minnesota Hockey affirms its unwavering commitment to honoring and respecting the diverse religious and cultural backgrounds of all individuals participating in our programs. We recognize and uphold the right of every participant to engage in personal religious practices, such as prayer, as an important aspect of their individual expression and beliefs.”

The full statement form Minnesota Hockey reads:

District 10 consists of 17 programs including Andover, Anoka, Becker/Big Lake, Blaine, Cambridge-Isanti, Centennial, Champlin Park, Coon Rapids, Elk River, Hinckley, Mora, North Branch, Pine City, Princeton, Rogers, Spring Lake Park ,and St. Francis.

District 10’s next board meeting is scheduled for Oct. 6.