WASECA (LEARFIELD) – A state lawmaker is appealing to the Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL) to reverse its decision and allow Waseca hockey teams to wear jerseys honoring wounded police officer Arik Matson.

Senator John Jasinski (ja-SIN-skee) of Faribault (fair-uh-boe) says there’s a time for following rules and guidelines, but this is a time for compassion.

“Because for a small community, like Waseca, of 10,000 people this means a lot,” said Jasinski. “The entire community is behind their fallen officer, and I think it’s something that would be a reasonable request for this community.”

The MSHSL informed coaches in Waseca that the jerseys don’t comply with rules for special recognition or commemorative or memorial patches.

The jerseys have the words Waseca Police along with Officer Matson’s badge number on the front and Matson’s last name on the back. Matson was shot in the line of duty earlier this month and remains hospitalized.

Waseca’s girls’ hockey team was in Marshall on Friday night – they hung the jerseys behind the bench since they were not able to wear them in the game.