In the wake of Charlie Kirk’s assassination, when church pews across Minnesota are filling and many families say they are turning to their faith more than ever, one youth hockey league is moving in the opposite direction.
Alpha News has learned that District 10 Hockey — which governs several youth associations in the north metro — has voted to eliminate on-ice prayer circles after games.
The move was reportedly justified in the name of “time constraints and safety,” according to an email Alpha News obtained from a youth hockey association president.
But critics call it a direct attack on an organic, faith-driven tradition that has united players for years.
“These prayer circles are led by the players and are wildly popular. I bet over 80 percent of each team participates,” one tipster told Alpha News.
“Anyone who has witnessed these knows the truth: team prayer circles are respectful, voluntary, and take less than one minute. This is not about time. This is about silencing public expressions of faith,” said another tipster.
Meeting minutes provided to Alpha News from the Centennial Youth Hockey Association, which is in District 10, spelled it out: “Prayer circles that happen on ice will be a 1 game suspension for team.”
That led a parent to reach out to the Elk River Youth Hockey Association’s president to ask if the information from the meeting minutes was accurate. In an email exchange provided to Alpha News, that association’s president replied: “Yes. District-wide rule. All presidents voted to move these off the ice due to safety and time constraints. D10 added the fine on their own.”
Draft minutes, shifting penalties
Alpha News reached out to District 10 for comment but as of publication has not received a response.
The outlet also reached out to Centennial Youth Hockey Association board president Tom Schoolmeesters, whose name was listed on the meeting minutes. He replied in an email: “Our September Meeting Minutes were in a Draft Form and were ‘Not Yet Approved.’ We review these minutes at the next board meeting and will make any corrections to them before approving them. In this case … The wording was inaccurately listed as a 1 Game Suspension for the Team.”
Schoolmeesters said the corrected language should read: “If gatherings happen on ice, a game misconduct will be assessed to each Team’s Head Coach.” Schoolmeesters added that the minutes will be updated on the association’s website.
As of publication, the approved meeting minutes with that corrected language were not listed on the website.
Minutes from District 10’s most recent meeting state that “all center ice player gatherings are being moved off ice so that the arenas are kept on time.”
Parents: ‘No transparency, no data’
Parents told Alpha News they were blindsided by the decision.
“There was zero transparency or communication with the hockey community regarding this issue,” said Charlie and Jennifer, parents from Elk River. “This vote was done behind closed doors and has remained in secret until it was found in the September meeting minutes of a local D10 association. We reached out to our board president immediately and had it confirmed.”
When asked about the board citing “time constraints and safety” as a reason for the prayer ban, they replied: “No player removes their helmet, and zero players have been injured by a Zamboni … ever. We do not buy the explanation. But again, no warnings have been given to the hockey community regarding these issues. We have yet to see a prayer over 45 seconds. Safety we believe is a non issue.”
The parents said their daughter has played across multiple states — Colorado, Wisconsin, South Dakota, North Dakota — and prayer circles happen “at every game, boys and girls, all ages.” They described them as lasting “9 to 45 seconds” and fully player-led.
Faith rising, rules tightening
Parents also warned the policy could open children up to bullying.
“When you punish an entire team for one child violating this policy, that will put them at risk for being bullied and discriminated against just for standing firm on their faith convictions,” Charlie said.
Alpha News also spoke with a 14-year-old District 10 hockey player who described how the postgame prayers usually unfold.
“We pray on center ice after every game as a team, and sometimes with both teams,” he said. “We pray for thirty seconds, maybe a minute — that’s it.”
When asked about the meeting minutes suggesting teams could face a one-game suspension for praying, the teen didn’t hesitate.
“Get the suspension,” he replied.
Jenna Gloeb
Jenna Gloeb is an Edward R. Murrow Award-winning journalist, media producer, public speaker, and screenwriter. Most recently, she worked as a reporter and on-air host for CCX Media. Jenna is a Minnesota native and resides in the Twin Cities with her husband, son, daughter, and two dogs.
