NH Judge Says Girl Can Stay On Boys' Hockey Team

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — A New Hampshire judge has ruled that a high school girl can continue to play on the boys' varsity ice hockey team even though her school has formed a girls' team.

Seventeen-year-old Shelby Herrington made the boys' varsity team at Bishop Brady High School three years ago, when there was no girls' team.

Herrington is fighting a decision by the New Hampshire Interscholastic Athletic Association that she needs to switch to the girls' team formed jointly by her school and Trinity of Manchester.

She hopes to play Division I women's ice hockey in college and her lawyer argues that she should be judged on her ability, not her gender.

The judge issued the order on Wednesday.

A NHIAA lawyer did not immediately return a phone call seeking comment.

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.