High School Hockey Team Seeks Injunction Against Sports League Over COVID Guidelines

A high school hockey program in Maplewood, Minn., is suing the state's governing body in order to keep playing despite an opponent's positive COVID-19 test, according to the St. Paul Pioneer Press.

Hill-Murray is the defending Class AA state champion, but the Minnesota State High School League indicated the school could be disqualified from the state tournament following the positive COVID test. A lawsuit on behalf of nine Hill-Murray senior players was filed Tuesday.

Hill-Murray is scheduled to face a Wayzata in the tourney on Wednesday.

"Under MSHSL COVID-19 guidelines, the Pioneers cannot be cleared to play until Thursday at the earliest, a full week after 'close contact' with a team that has registered positive tests," the Pioneer Press wrote. "According to the lawsuit, Wayzata — Hill-Murray’s quarterfinal opponent — agreed to play the quarterfinal on Thursday, if necessary."

Former Minnesota North Stars player and current NHL scout Neal Broten weighed in on the lawsuit, saying the tournament is “an extremely important evaluation” period for potential pro and college prospects.

“These high school boys will be unfairly denied an opportunity … they have trained for and dreamed about their entire lives," Broten said.