After securing approval last week from the Kenai Peninsula School Board for a waiver that would let them play for Homer High School, a group of hockey players from the Russian Old Believer villages of Voznesenka, Razdolna and Kachemak-Selo suffered a setback Monday in Anchorage when representatives from the Alaska School Activities Association's 16 Region 3 schools voted 8-7 against supporting the waiver.

Homer High School, represented by principal Rayna Duenas, abstained from voting.

Although the players and their chief representative, Kim Duggar, hoped to gain approval for the waiver from the Region 3 board, the "no" vote does not mean their proposal is dead in the water.

The waiver request now heads to the ASAA board of directors, which is scheduled to take it up at a meeting in Nome on Monday and Tuesday.