Eleven days following one of the most horrific acts of violence in American history, students at Marjory Stoneman Douglas (MSD) High School in Parkland, Fla., had a reason to celebrate.

The school’s hockey team, which came into the Florida state tournament as the No. 4 seed, won the championship and will now compete in the USA National High School Tournament at the Plymouth Ice Center in Minnesota on March 22-26.

“It’s a great honor to be hosting the boys’ and girls’ USA Hockey National High School Tournament,” said Greg Gibson, president of the Wayzata Hockey Association, who will organize and run the tournament. “The Wayzata Junior Gold and all the teams will welcome MSD with open arms as members of our hockey family, supporting them and wishing them the best in the tournament.”

With the MSD team will come a national spotlight, but the Wayzata Hockey Association and Plymouth community are well-prepared to handle the increased attention the tourney will receive.

“We are planning to provide an equal opportunity for all teams to compete and win,” said Gibson. “We understand this story has attracted a lot of attention and are preparing as such.”

A media center will be set up at the Plymouth Ice Center to provide access to all teams, and the City of Plymouth will provide all resources to ensure an enjoyable and safe environment for all participants, Gibson said.

The tournament will host 32 boys’ high school teams split into two divisions. Division I consists of teams made up of players from the same school. Division II are teams formed by players from multiple schools.

The Wayzata Junior Gold team won the national title in 2016. This year, Minnesota will be represented by Wayzata and either Edina or White Bear Lake, depending on who finishes higher at the Minnesota state tournament.

USA Hockey is also sponsoring a girls’ national tournament for the first time where four girls’ teams will compete for a national title. Minnesota Black and Minnesota Green will represent Minnesota in the tourney.

Terri Larson of 24/7 Active is one of the approved merchandise vendors at the USA Hockey National High School Hockey Tournament at the Plymouth Ice Center on March 22-26, and is known for her “Home Ice” line of apparel. She has designed “Home Ice Florida” apparel with proceeds benefitting the school. Larson is also a long-time exhibitor at the Let’s Play Hockey Expo, held this Friday and Saturday where she will be taking orders for the MSD apparel. 

“It is a great testament for their hockey team to win the Florida state championship being the underdogs, clearly playing with purpose, and rising above. These are traits of a great hockey team,” Larson said.

Gibson, meanwhile, is excited to welcome the students from MSD to Minnesota, and hopes that the hockey team’s success can help ease the pain felt in the wake of the tragedy on Feb.14.

“We recognize that every team participating in the tournament may have someone to honor, or a special cause they play for,” Gibson said. “Youth sports in general, and hockey specifically, can help put tragedy behind us.”