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Board approves girls hockey cooperative with New Life Academy; players to compete as South Saint Paul Packers
Summary
The school board approved a two-year cooperative agreement that joins New Life Academy and South Saint Paul for girls hockey; the team will continue to play under the South Saint Paul banner, the district said.
The South Saint Paul School Board voted to approve a girls hockey cooperative agreement with New Life Academy for the 2025–26 school year on Feb. 24.
Brady Krueger described the agreement to the board, saying the district has been forming co-ops in sports as participation and demographics shift. "Girls hockey is just kind of one of those sports that... we're going to need to co-op to continue to offer girls hockey here," Krueger said, adding that the district's numbers dip significantly after the current junior and sophomore classes. He told the board the cooperative mirrors a previously successful boys' co-op with New Life Academy.
When asked whether the combined team would still play under the South Saint Paul identity, Krueger said, "Yes. They will play under the banner of South Saint Paul. That's what the part of the agreement was."
Krueger said all co-ops are initially two-year agreements and that the arrangement will require subsequent approvals by the board, the conference and the section if continued beyond the initial term. The motion to approve passed on a voice vote; the board chair announced the motion carried.
Why it matters: The arrangement is intended to preserve the opportunity for girls to play at a competitive level in South Saint Paul despite a drop in participation numbers in coming classes.
Ending: The board approved the coop and Krueger said he hopes the agreement will maintain the district's programming for students who want to compete.
