- Dale Duff Reporting ([email protected])
Bucking the trend of many college sports leagues in recent weeks, Hockey East Association (HEA) plans to play college hockey this winter. The priority will be on league games and completing a regular season schedule.
The UMaine Black Bears are a member of Hockey East, as is UNH, Merrimack, Boston College, Boston University, Northeastern, UMass Lowell, Providence, UConn, UMass and Vermont.
HEA is working on multiple schedule models for both men’s and women’s play for 2020-21.
The league released this statement…
WAKEFIELD, Mass. – Hockey East and its member institutions have been facing uncertain and unprecedented times and anticipate further challenges as the 2020-21 season approaches. Ensuring the health, safety, and physical and mental well-being of our student-athletes, coaches, on-ice officials, league staff, and school administrators has been and will continue to be the league’s top priority. Ultimately, Hockey East is committed to providing the best experience possible for its student-athletes.
By emphasizing competition between Hockey East member institutions, the league allows itself to make significant and often difficult decisions in real time that will protect the health and safety of all parties involved in the administration of the conference schedule. Further, Hockey East’s geography allows the league to conduct conference competition, including the men’s and women’s championships, while mitigating non-essential travel and allowing maximum flexibility to adjust its schedule based on ever-changing developments and best medical practices surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic.
Specifically, the league plans to construct multiple balanced schedule models for both the men’s and women’s leagues for the 2020-21 season. These models will include added safety measures and allow for maximum scheduling flexibility.
Hockey East member institutions will continue to rely upon the most up-to-date medical information available to establish best protocols for a return to on-campus workouts and resocialization of athletes. These protocols will remain in full compliance with federal, state, and local guidelines while the conference office formalizes a league-wide return to play plan. This plan will also account for all guidelines set forth in the NCAA Resocialization of College Sport publication.
