Parents, players urge board to keep girls hockey co-op with Moose Lake

Parents, coaches and a student urged the Hinckley-Finlayson School District board at open forum to keep the existing girls hockey cooperative with Moose Lake, which has operated since 2015 and currently includes Hinckley players.

Nate Panovich, who identified himself as both a parent and a longtime coach, described the co-op as "a really great experience" that emphasizes skill development and a positive environment over wins and losses. He said he and other parents value the stability and communication the co-op provides and noted that two current Hinckley students participate in the program.

Several other speakers reinforced that message. Joel Jerry said the co-op created opportunities for students who would not otherwise get to play at the high-school level, and a parent named Vicky recounted multiple family members benefitting from the arrangement over 11 years.

Administrators updated the board on outreach to Pine City, a nearby district that the board had asked the superintendent to contact. The superintendent said Pine City’s superintendent described a tentative stance: "possibly would be open to it, but would not say yes and would not say no," noting Pine City’s concern about the co-op potentially moving that school into a higher classification and changing competition levels.

Board members and commenters emphasized that the Moose Lake co-op has historically provided transportation and booster support that reduced district costs for families. Administration reminded the board that any change to a co-op requires agreement by existing co-op partners and advance notice, typically a year in advance, because of Minnesota State High School League registration and scheduling.

The board did not take a formal vote on the co-op at this meeting. Administration said it would continue outreach and inform families once other districts provide clearer answers.