by Madison Evans
Sartell hockey families joined others across Minnesota to push back against a new policy prohibiting on-ice post-game gatherings, which were often used for prayer. Their voices helped pause the ban.
In late September, District 10, a hockey region just east of Sartell that includes cities such as Becker, Anoka, Blaine, Pine City and Hinckley, approved a new rule stating coaches would face a one-game suspension if their teams held post-game on-ice gatherings. The policy was introduced to save time and speed up transitions between games.
The backlash was swift. Many parents took to social media to speak out against what they felt was an attack on post-game prayer.
District 10 board members quickly clarified off-ice gatherings are allowed and the prohibition was not intended to exclude prayer but rather it was strictly a timing concern – a need to ready the ice quickly for the next game. But due to an overwhelming number of complaints, “Minnesota Hockey,” the governing body of youth and amateur hockey in the state, paused and is re-evaluating the District 10 rule prohibiting on-ice, post-game gatherings.
The Newsleaders set out to discover what really happens in the prayer circle and what they mean to Sartell hockey players.
The formation of the prayer circle is a long-standing tradition and doesn’t require any coordination ahead of time. The final buzzer rings, the players typically form lines behind their teammates and congratulate the opposing team on a game well-played with fist bumps. Then, a player will kneel. Within seconds, jerseys, bent knees and arms entwined are apparent at the center of the ice sheet. A quick prayer is said and then the players disperse off the ice and back into their locker rooms. Around them, coaches and referees tie up loose ends while the goal nets are dragged away and the ice is readied for the Zamboni machine’s slow, steady sweep to clean and smooth the ice.
Participation in prayer is voluntary. It can involve as few as two players or bring both teams together unified as one group.
Sartell hockey player Nolan Guzman, 13, of Sartell, explained a typical prayer format.
“We’ll start off with Dear God, and then we’ll thank him for nobody getting injured, or hope that somebody won’t get injured, then we’ll thank the other team for being here and playing the game with us,” Guzman said.
The exact words spoken in the circle are typically short and sweet, but for the players it’s a meaningful moment. An example of a prayer said by Grant Kiffmeyer, a Sartell 11-year-old, who normally leads his team’s prayer circle is this: “Thanks for giving us this awesome sport and playing with these awesome people.”
Hoyt Johannes, 13, of Sartell, finds the prayer circle to be joyful, uplifting and powerful. He is motivated to lead his team’s circle because he likes to help remind others of their blessings.
Kiffmeyer agrees with the idea of gratitude, especially when it comes to thanking God for giving him the strength to play the demanding sport of hockey. He also sees a difference in the team’s mindset after the prayer.
“Usually there’s no anger,” Kiffmeyer said. “I mean, there’s still some if you lose a big game, but there’s not as much anger or disappointment after a prayer circle.”
The physical nature of the sport is often a reason why players value the circle. It’s a way for them to connect and forgive each other for what happened in the game.
“If there are problems or disagreements throughout the game, the prayer circle kind of just brings everyone back together and leaves the issues on the ice,” Johannes said.
The prayer circle can also be an emotional time for the players. An example of that kind of time is when a player’s grandmothers died earlier that morning and players from both sides were able to pray for the grieving family. In another especially moving moment, a player was injured during the game, and both teams found comfort and unity in the prayer circle’s wishes for a quick recovery.
Despite District 10 allowing for off-ice gatherings, the players agreed the ice is the best spot for the post-game gathering.
“We could do it in the locker room, but it wouldn’t be the same,” Guzman said. “We might lose the opportunity to include the other team or anybody else on the ice who wants to be a part of it and we’d lose the bonding on the ice, or even the ability to show good sportsmanship to the other teams.”
A petition was started on Change.org called Let Minnesota Hockey know you support post-game on-ice prayer gatherings. There are 806 verified signatures.
Nolan Guzman, 13, of Sartell (kneeling in the center), is surrounded by his Sartell hockey teammates and members of the opposing team during a post-game prayer circle at center ice following their matchup.
