FRAMINGHAM, Mass. – Officials at Joseph P. Keefe Technical High School and Marian High School canceled the rest of the season for a joint boys hockey team over anti-Semitic antics amongst players.

Officials at both schools launched investigations Friday into allegations that some of the 25 Marian-Keefe Tech Mustangs made racist jokes and found “a pattern of locker room activity in which the players admitted to participating in these types of comments and actions in which they described as ‘joking around,’” Marian High principal John Ermilio wrote in a letter to parents, according to the Boston Globe.

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“I am both saddened and disappointed to report that the Keefe Tech and Marian High investigations found both anti-Semitic and extremely derogatory behavior and actions have occurred among players on the team during the season,” Keefe Tech Principal Shannon Snow wrote to parents.

“Our investigation found that this was not an isolated instance or stand-alone event; instead, that this has been a pervasive issue with the team and that there has been an overall toxic and negative culture that has permeated the team dynamics.”

A mother of one player, Mary Connaughton, penned an editorial for the Metrowest Daily News that alleges roughly a half dozen players participated in the teasing, which including “telling jokes that mention the Holocaust and referring to stereotypes of people who practice the Jewish faith.”

But Connaughton argued “the problem is that the entire team lost its ability to play, while a minority of the players committed the offenses,” according to the news site.

“This consequence is either because the principals condone guilt by association or expect heroics from a group still wet behind the ears, focused on playing the game of hockey,” Connaughton wrote.

Snow acknowledged many players are disappointed by the decision to cancel the season after only one game – a 6-0 loss on Dec. 14 – but argued that the stern punishment is warranted.

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“Being a member of the team is not just about playing a sport, but it is also about character development, working with others and camaraderie,” she wrote, according to WCVB.

“When we get away from that, we lose sight of what is most important. My hope is that this becomes a learning opportunity for students.”

School officials from both schools met with students to review the decision and discuss the racist activity.

“This is going to be a learning experience for these kids,” Marian spokesman Terrence Donilon told the Globe. “There’s going to be some effort put forth to demonstrate how serious this behavior is. It’s unacceptable.”

Donilon said the players hid their antics from coaching staff, and school officials invited the coaches to lead the program again next year. The decision to end the season also means the team will forfeit 19 games, he said.

Ermilio wrote in his letter to parents that Marion High officials are working with the Boston chapter of the Anti-Defamation League to devise a lesson for the jokester hockey players, CBS Boston reports.