U.S. College Hockey Return To Play Plans

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Ivy League cancels hockey season

Some interesting (if trivial) observations from this CHN Staff Report on the Ivy League schools' decision to suspend play for 2020-21 ...

Yale, which played the first intercollegiate hockey game, against Johns Hopkins on Feb. 1, 1896, is the only school of the six to have played contiguously ever since — even through World War I and World War II when other teams took seasons off. That's a run of 124 consecutive seasons that will be broken this year

Brown first competed in 1898, and has competed every year contiguously since 1926-27. Cornell's first game was in 1901; the program was disbanded in 1948, then came back in 1958.

Dartmouth has competed every season since 1905, except for 1918-19. Harvard, which first competed in 1898, and Princeton, took some seasons off during World War II, but have competed ever since. ...

That article also speculates on the plan forward for the remaining ECAC programs ...

There are six non-Ivy teams in the ECAC — Clarkson, St. Lawrence, Colgate, Quinnipiac, RPI and Union. The first four appear to be all systems go; Clarkson put out a schedule today. Union has a game scheduled, against Long Island, but that is all so far. RPI, which was among the first to shut down last March, has not even been practicing. And yesterday it was reported that RPI star goaltender Owen Savory was in the transfer portal, suggesting, perhaps, his anticipation there would not be a season.

 

[Teemu]

Some interesting (if trivial) observations from this CHN Staff Report on the Ivy League schools' decision to suspend play for 2020-21 ...

That article also speculates on the plan forward for the remaining ECAC programs ...

RPI and Union have both now cancelled their seasons

 

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RPI and Union have both now cancelled their seasons

Thanks for the heads up. RPI announcement and Union announcement. The field (or the ice) is getting thin.

 

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Or maybe not ... USCHO.com: RIT ‘reconsiders’ cancellation of men’s and women’s 2020-21 college hockey seasons

 

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From: College Hockey News

What Will This Season Look Like?

The Logistics; And Coaches Weigh In On How They're Handling It

by Adam Wodon/Managing Editor

So the college hockey season started last weekend ... finally. It came as a welcome relief for many players and fans, to finally have something good to look forward to, after eight long months dealing with a worldwide coronavirus pandemic. ...

Ultimately, the decisions on returning to play are up to each conference — and, really, each school — but there were ideas they could at least share with each other, and cooperate where possible. ...

But it (was) hardly smooth sailing. Atlantic Hockey dealt with RIT's cancellation, then un-cancellation in the span of a week; plus Army, Sacred Heart and Mercyhurst canceling games. Hockey East is dealing with Vermont's one-month shutdown. The NCHC bubble may be messed up before it begins because of Colorado College's two-week shutdown. The WCHA schedule was immediately blown up because of Alaska-Anchorage's cancellation. And the ECAC is down to four teams — and while at one point there was exasperation in the ECAC home office trying to find out of the State of New York was going to allow a tournament in Lake Placid this year, that's probably moot at this point anyway.

The leagues have all built in flex weekends, to allow for postponements due to the pandemic to be made up later.

So trying to explain, in a straightforward manner, what this college hockey season is going to look like — or even to offer up an opinion on it — is practically an exercise in futility. It changes from one minute to the next. But we can take a peek on how it's shaping up right now. ...


Read more at: CHN: What Will This Season Look Like?

 

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ECAC men & women have a go-forward plan ...

USCHO.com: ECAC Hockey to start 2020-21 play with Clarkson, Colgate, Quinnipiac, St. Lawrence

... The quartet of institutions moving forward will compete in a slate of non-league and league games, beginning as early as this weekend. The current slate of non-league contests in the first half of the season is outlined for the men and women. The 2020-21 league schedule, which will begin in January, will be announced in the coming days. ...

 

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On Monday, the National Collegiate Hockey Conference published their restrictions for “Pod Hockey” …

NCHC Announces Return-to-Play Protocol and Testing Requirements for Pod
By NCHC, 11/23/20, 9:30AM EST

Additional changes for 2020-21 regarding overtime, standings and postseason eligibility also detailed

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – With the National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC) set to return to the ice on December 1st, the Conference has announced its return-to-play protocol and COVID-19 testing schedule for the Pod, which will host all eight teams at Baxter Arena in Omaha, Neb. from Dec. 1-20. In addition, several other changes and adjustments for the 2020-21 season have been finalized, including overtime format, standings, postseason eligibility and more.

RETURN TO PLAY PROTOCOLS
The NCHC has created two protocols to guide the overall return-to-play plans for the 2020-21 season. The first is the Health & Safety Competitions protocol that provides guidelines for all institutions during the entire season. The second protocol is the Pod Medical Operations Protocol, which will serve as the framework for the Conference’s return-to-play plans in Omaha. The overall season protocol was developed through a committee made up of representatives of all NCHC institutions. The Pod protocol, outlined below, was established by NCHC and University of Nebraska Omaha staff, with guidance from medical professionals at the University of Nebraska Medical Center and Global Center for Health Security.

“It has been many months in the making to develop plans for a safe and responsible return to the ice in 2020-21. We believe the protocols developed for the entire season and Pod will give our student-athletes the best opportunity to compete in the sport they love,” NCHC Commissioner Josh Fenton said. ...


Read more at: NCHC Announces Return-to-Play Protocol and Testing Requirements for Pod

 

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ECAC status per College Hockey News, after one game played in their undermanned 2020-21 season ...

November 23, 2020
St. Lawrence Postpones Games Through Christmas

Teams All Over Struggling to Get Games In

CHN Staff Report

ECAC teams are struggling to get on the ice, with cases of COVID-19 growing again throughout the country, and particularly in many areas in the ECAC footprint.

St. Lawrence, today, became the latest to postpone hockey activities, thanks to an outbreak of the virus on campus there. St. Lawrence had to wipe out four upcoming games against Clarkson. That leaves only two games scheduled at the moment — both against Colgate in early January.

Quinnipiac recently postponed some games, and others postponed games on them, and has some players in quarantine after virus exposure. Quinnipiac hasn't played yet, but picked up games against Sacred Heart on Dec. 13 and 15. The rest of the team is currently practicing.

Clarkson and Colgate finally played, against each other, this past weekend. The first ECAC teams to play at all. Clarkson's next scheduled game is Dec. 9 vs. Niagara, while Colgate is not scheduled until after Christmas. Clarkson and Colgate are working on scheduling another game against each other this weekend. ...

 

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And Northern Michigan announces COVID Shuffle adjustments to the early part of their 2020-21 schedule ...

NMU Hockey Announces Schedule Changes
Posted: Nov 23, 2020

MARQUETTE, Mich. -- The Northern Michigan University hockey program has announced the postponement/cancellation of games scheduled through Dec. 5 due to recent COVID-19 testing results.

There are six games affected by the announcement. The Wildcats were set to open their 2020-21 season at home against Lake Superior State University (Nov. 25) in non-conference play. After the home opener the Wildcats' had a home-and-home non-conference series scheduled against Michigan Technological University (Nov. 27-28) followed by their Western Collegiate Hockey Association opener at LSSU (Dec. 2) and their home non-conference series with Bemidji State University (Dec. 4-5).

The Dec. 2 conference game is a WCHA contest and will be rescheduled in consultation with the WCHA and LSSU. ...

 

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You can't tell the SCHEDULE without a scorecard ...

Three more changes for the coming weekend, as reported by USCHO.com ...

• Hockey East announces postponements for Nov. 27-29 men’s, women’s hockey games

• RIT, Clarkson to play home-and-home series this weekend with no spectators

• COVID cancels Lake Superior State-Ferris State series; Lakers will now play home-and-home with Adrian this weekend

And there were several other announcements of game cancellations/changes/shuffles/COVID-business-as-usual earlier in the week. Happy Thankgiving?

 

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The Irish press on without fans-in-stands ...
USCHO.com: Notre Dame limiting attendance at hockey games to guests of players, coaches

 

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Meanwhile, some hopeful news on the women's ice ...

USCHO.com: College Hockey America announces first-half schedule, which will include at least four league games

College Hockey America announced Monday that the six members will complete a first-half schedule of at least four league games, to be completed over the next three weekends.

Following RIT’s announcement that the Tigers were reinstating their hockey programs, the league and its members pulled together to build a first-half schedule that included all six teams and allowed for as many games as possible. ...

The CHA announcement provides more details. Looks like they are leveraging school holiday breaks & clustering games in single states/regions to accommodate quarantining restrictions. Stick taps to the CHA leadership for navigating the swirling pandemic waters, and good health & good luck to all 6 teams.

... To do this efficiently and to navigate testing requirements, the first two weekends of December will see the same teams play each other with two games at home and two games on the road.

The matchups for those two weekends are Mercyhurst vs. RIT, Lindenwood vs. Robert Morris, and Syracuse vs. Penn State. All games are subject to change and we encourage all fans to look at the respective schools’ websites to confirm the games are still going on as planned.

The CHA directors did open the weekend following Thanksgiving for league competition and we will see two series. Syracuse, who opened the 2020-21 season this past weekend against non-conference foe Colgate, will play two games against RIT. Lindenwood will also travel to Penn State for a two-game set before playing at Robert Morris next week. ...

 

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Northeastern women & men proceeding with hope and caution ...

Minimal COVID issues have Northeastern men’s, women’s hockey back playing games later in December

By USCHO Staff
December 1, 2020

Northeastern will return to competition for men’s hockey and women’s hockey later this month.

These teams showed minimal COVID-19 related issues during the recent pause in activity. ...

The second-ranked women’s hockey team will open up the season with a home-and-home series with No. 10 Boston College on Dec. 11 and 13. ... The 15th-ranked men’s hockey team will play a home-and-home with Merrimack to open the season on Dec. 12 and 13 ... .

Fans will not be permitted at any home events through the end of 2020. Northeastern will re-evaluate this position in early 2021.

Read more at: https://www.uscho.com/2020/12/01/mi...-hockey-back-playing-games-later-in-december/

 

[Teemu]

 

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WCHA WOMEN'S LEAGUE ANNOUNCES SECOND HALF 2020-21 SCHEDULE

2021 portion of the schedule will open Jan. 1 and run through Feb. 27

Date: Wednesday, December 16, 2020

PDF Format - 2021 PDF Schedule - 2020-21 League Composite

BLOOMINGTON, Minn. – Dec. 16, 2020 – The Women's League of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association will open the second half of its 2020-21 schedule Jan. 1-5, 2021, the league office announced Wednesday.

The opening weekend of the second half will feature Bemidji State at Ohio State, Jan. 1-2; Wisconsin at Minnesota State, Jan. 2-3 and Minnesota Duluth at Minnesota, Jan. 4-5. ...

Read more at: WCHA Women's League Announces Second Half 2020-21 Schedule - Western Collegiate Hockey Association

 

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From: USCHO.com

WCHA adjusts 2020-21 men’s hockey schedule to account for vacated Alaska, Alaska Anchorage games

By USCHO Staff
December 18, 2020

The WCHA men’s conference has adjusted its 2020-21 schedule to fill open dates created by Alaska Anchorage and Alaska Fairbanks opting out of the season.

The eight competing WCHA teams will play their scheduled two-game league series against each of their seven remaining opponents for a total of 14 league games. ...

Read more at: https://www.uscho.com/2020/12/18/wc...nt-for-vacated-alaska-alaska-anchorage-games/

 

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Also from USCHO.com ... Big Ten unveils second half of schedule for 2020-21 season that starts Jan. 3, wraps March 18-20 with conference tournament

 

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Stick taps to the University of Vermont women's & men's teams, who finally started their 2020-21 seasons this weekend after COVID delays. It's gotta feel good for all of these young student-athletes to be back in game play. Good luck & good health to both Catamounts squads as they get back in the swing.

 

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This one slipped by me earlier this month ...

ECAC Hockey Announces 2021 League Schedule
Posted: Dec 09, 2020

Click HERE to view this release as a PDF (composite schedule included)

ALBANY, N.Y. -- ECAC Hockey has announced its men’s and women’s schedules for 2021, with league games featuring the four participating programs - Clarkson, Colgate, Quinnipiac and St. Lawrence - beginning in January.

The schedules feature six games against each team for the men’s programs (18 total), and four games against each team for the women’s programs (12 total). The schedules also align to ensure multiple teams do not travel to the same site on a given day in order to minimize contact tracing, and include “open” weekends, which can be utilized in the event there are interruptions to the originally scheduled contests due to COVID-19. ...

The four participating programs will compete in single-elimination championships at the conclusion of the regular season. All post-season games will be held on campus sites. The championship weekends will be held March 5-7 for the women, and March 18-20 for the men. The winners of the respective championships qualify to receive an automatic bid to the NCAA championship. It will mark the first time since the 2014 season that the ECAC Hockey men’s championship will not be conducted at the 1980 Rink in Lake Placid, N.Y. ...


Read more at: ECAC Hockey Announces 2021 League Schedule

 

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From: USCHO.com > Conference Season Preview

ECAC Hockey 2020-21 Season Preview: Conference quartet drops puck on new season New Year’s Eve

By Nate Owen
December 24, 2020

... In November, the Ivy League announced that it was cancelling winter sports, leaving the conference with only half of its 12 teams set to play. That number dwindled down to four several days later when Rensselaer and Union announced that they were cancelling their seasons, leaving the league scrambling to salvage some kind of a season. ...

(ECAC Hockey commissioner Steve) Hagwell said the league is prepared to be flexible if anything changes in the coming weeks.

“I like our schedule,” Colgate coach Don Vaughan said. “It’s kind of like going back to the original six in the NHL where the teams played each other ten times. We’ll know each other very well before it’s all said and done. Everybody is trying. That’s the biggest message, trying to give these kids some kind of a season. I’m proud of everyone that has given us a go. I wake up and I’m like ‘Wow, I can’t believe that we’re going to be able to play some games with everything going on.’” ...

Read more at: https://www.uscho.com/2020/12/24/ec...artet-drops-puck-on-new-season-new-years-eve/

 

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From: USCHO.com > News

NCHC announces second-half three-game series bumped to two-game series due to health and safety reasons

By USCHO Staff
December 28, 2020

Following the successful completion of pod play in Omaha, Neb., the NCHC has announced changes to its upcoming schedule for the second portion of the 2020-21 season.

The biggest change, which affects all teams, is the reduction of both scheduled three-game series down to two-game series. The two three-game series between Colorado College and North Dakota, Miami and St. Cloud State, Denver and Omaha, and Minnesota Duluth and Western Michigan, which were slated for Jan. 21-24 and Feb. 11-14, will now be played as two-game series on Friday and Saturday, Jan. 22-23 and Friday and Saturday, Feb. 12-13. ...

For health and safety reasons, the NCHC Athletic Council voted to eliminate the three-game series. The changes were made related to challenges with COVID-19 testing during the three-game series weeks, mitigating risk to COVID-19 by lessening team travel, and the desire to alleviate time away from each member institution’s campus. ...

Read more at: https://www.uscho.com/2020/12/28/nc...game-series-due-to-health-and-safety-reasons/

 

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The Rink Live blogs offer this early snapshot of NCHC hockey venue restrictions, as their conference play switches from Bubble Hockey in Omaha to 2nd half games in the various member home arenas ...

... The NCHC, which opened its season behind closed doors with a combined 38 games in 21 days in Omaha, will now transition to games at home sites, where each individual school will dictate its own fan policies. They are largely driven by local and state government regulations. ...

Colorado College

World Arena capacity: 7,343.
Number of fans allowed to start: TBA.
Parameters: TBA.
First home game: Friday (Jan. 1, 2021). ...


Denver

Magness Arena capacity: 6,026.
Number of fans allowed to start: 0.
Family of players/staff allowed: No.
First home game: Saturday (Jan. 2, 2021). ...


Miami

Goggin Ice Arena capacity: 3,642.
Number of fans allowed to start: 0.
Family of players/staff allowed: Yes.
First home game: Jan. 8. ...


Minnesota Duluth

AmsOil Arena capacity: 6,800.
Number of fans allowed to start: 0.
Family of players/staff allowed: TBA.
First home game: Jan. 8. ...


North Dakota

Ralph Engelstad Arena capacity: 11,643.
Number of fans allowed to start: 1,000.
Parameters: Masks required. Distance seating.
First home game: Jan. 8. ...


Omaha

Baxter Arena capacity: 7,898.
Number of fans allowed to start: 1,500.
Parameters: Masks required. Distanced seating.
First home game: Thursday (Dec. 31, 2020). ...


St. Cloud State

Herb Brooks National Hockey Center capacity: 5,159.
Number of fans allowed to start: 0.
Family of players/staff: Not allowed first weekend.
First home game: Saturday (Jan. 2, 2021). ...


Western Michigan

Lawson Ice Arena capacity: 3,667.
Number of fans allowed to start: 0.
Family of players/staff: Not allowed first weekend.
First home game: Saturday (Jan. 2, 2021). ...

 

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From: Holy Cross University Sports

Men's Ice Hockey
12/28/2020 5:18:00 PM

HOLY CROSS MEN’S ICE HOCKEY TO PAUSE ALL TEAM ACTIVITY

Due to a positive case of COVID-19 within the Tier 1 group, the Holy Cross men's ice hockey program will pause all activities until further notice.

The program will follow all COVID-19 isolation and quarantine protocols and will postpone contests against AIC (Jan. 2-3) and Army West Point (Jan. 6). ...

Read more at: Holy Cross men’s ice hockey to pause all team activity - Holy Cross Athletics

 

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UMDBulldogs.com > Women's Hockey
12/31/2020 12:36:00 PM
UMD-MINNESOTA WCHA SERIES POSTPONED

The University of Minnesota Duluth women's hockey Western Collegiate Hockey Association series against the University of Minnesota scheduled for Jan. 4-5 in Minneapolis, Minn. has been postponed.

The Bulldogs will be unable to meet the minimum number of players required to compete outlined in the WCHA's Return to Competition protocols. As a result, the series will be postponed to later in the season. ...