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At least five boys' hockey players from Achiever Academy will not play in the section playoffs as a result of a school inquiry into their eligibility.
The school's roster posted Monday includes 14 players, down from 19 that were listed as recently as last Friday.
The private online school, which offers intensified hockey training, was instructed last week by the Minnesota State High School League to resolve potential eligibility problems after similar concerns were raised about its girls' hockey team.
School attorney Matthew Resch said Monday that it was his understanding that the boys' team would have 14 players available Wednesday when it takes on St. Paul Johnson in the opening round of the Class 1A, Section 4 playoffs.
High school league executive director Dave Stead said he had not seen the team's roster or been in conversations about it. He described Achiever as "a member school doing exactly what it needs to do" to address player eligibility.
The school withdrew its girls' team from the section playoffs last Thursday, just hours before it was scheduled to play in a championship game. The team subsequently forfeited its victories during the season.
While neither the school nor the MSHSL has disclosed the exact nature of the eligibility questions, an unsigned e-mail sent to the league indicated some girls' players did not meet residency requirements. In some cases, parents did not relocate to Minnesota when players moved here, the e-mail claimed. In others, in-state players transferred but no family move apparently took place, as required by league rules.
DAVID LA VAQUE
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