A boys hockey co-op between Fargo South and Fargo Shanley-Fargo Oak Grove-Moorhead Park Christian was approved 9-2 by the North Dakota High School Activities Association on Tuesday.
"I'm excited," Shanley activities director Randy Nelson said. "It gives our kids a chance to participate at the high school level in a program, and it's also a positive for the two schools we had a co-op with before in Oak Grove and Park Christian."
Shanley's boys hockey program was suspended last month due to lack of interest.
However, a second chance came when a recent Fargo South survey showed less participation in the Bruins program than initially expected following the school's split with Fargo Davies.
The Fargo School Board accepted a co-op proposal on Aug. 25.
ADVERTISEMENT
The co-op will allow South to field full varsity and junior varsity rosters for the upcoming season, Fargo Public Schools Activities Director Ed Lockwood said.
"It will give us an opportunity to get some of our younger students playing at the junior varsity level as well as having a varsity team," Lockwood said. "It's a good way to keep the students from all of the schools involved in hockey."
Shanley made 11 state hockey tournament appearances from 1976-89 before forming co-ops with Wahpeton and West Fargo. The Deacons boys hockey team re-launched in 2002.
South has earned three state titles since 1994.
The new co-op will begin this season and will be in effect for at least three years.
"It's going to be good for all the schools involved," Nelson said.
Readers can reach Forum reporter Heath Hotzler at (701) 241-5562.
Hotzler's blogs can be found at www.areavoices.com
