VADNAIS HEIGHTS, Minn. (August 17, 2018) – The Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL) has officially approved the Gentry Academy Stars boys hockey team for high school competition with the 2018-2019 school year being its inaugural season.
This approval allows Gentry Academy to compete locally against other area high schools. MSHSL competitions take place in Minnesota and provide competitive, equitable and uniform opportunities for high school students to learn valuable lessons through participation in athletics and fine arts.
“This is an exciting day for our kids, parents, coaches, administration and everyone involved,” said Gentry Academy’s Boys Varsity Hockey Coach Joe Cullen. “The approval (from MSHSL) was something we’ve been striving towards for our student-athletes.”
The Gentry Academy boys varsity hockey team is led by two individuals with outstanding hockey pedigree. Head Coach Joe Cullen and Assistant Coach Paul Ostby boast impressive hockey resumes playing Division I college hockey. Cullen also enjoyed an 11-year professional career across North America and Europe, and Ostby played for the U.S. National Team and scouted for NHL hockey teams. Additionally, they have spent their careers coaching and training youth athletes and will serve as role models and advocates for their players both on and off the ice.
Jennifer Kurth, Gentry Academy Education Director, noted, “We’d like to thank the Minnesota State High School League for the approval, which will provide our students an added level of local competition with neighboring high schools. It’s an exciting day for everyone involved!”
About Gentry Academy
Gentry Academy is an accredited school for students in grades 5-12 and is designed for students who seek to be high-achieving leaders in life. This is accomplished through Gentry Academy’s hallmark leadership and life skills program, which is combined with a traditional curriculum and flextime, allowing students to spend time in areas of passion, thus ensuring well-rounded students who will become tomorrow’s leaders.
About the MSHSL
The MSHSL is a non-profit, voluntary association of schools, and receives no money from the state legislature nor is it a state agency. Rather, it is comprised of a group of schools, both public and private, that set common eligibility guidelines for members to follow during regular and post-season competition. Schools set the guidelines, elect representatives to serve on the League’s Board of Directors, and determine which activities will be sponsored by the MSHSL.