UMass Lowell has postponed its hockey season opener against Providence, originally scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 28, after learning that a member of the program tested positive for COVID-19 during routine surveillance testing on Friday.
The university has temporarily paused all team activities, and immediately initiated its isolation and quarantine protocols. Surveillance testing will continue for all team members.
“Delaying the start of our hockey season further is disheartening for the entire UMass Lowell community, but the safety of our student-athletes and staff is our utmost priority,” said UMass Lowell director of athletics Peter Casey in a statement. “This year will require flexibility on behalf of all those involved, as we work to follow the detailed protocols that have been established for these instances and look forward to returning to the ice when it is safe to do so.”
The university is still determining the impact on the timeline of any upcoming contests and will announce additional information as it becomes available.
UConn and UMass battle in a Hockey East conference game from 2019-20 (photo: Stephen Slade).
Nothing about this year’s Hockey East season will feel normal, so neither then will be this year’s season preview.
Yes, all 11 men’s team, as of the date of publication, are still planning on playing their seasons. At publication time, six teams were already supposed to have begun their seasons. Yet, only two have.
COVID-19 canceled last year’s Hockey East tournament, as well as the NCAA tournament immediately thereafter. It already forced postponement of six league games with more on the horizon as both Maine and Vermont are currently not allowing visiting teams to the respective campuses.
So there, we have the negative news out of the way.
Is there a positive? Sure.
We still have 11 Hockey East men’s teams attempting to play hockey. Coaches want to return to competition sooner rather than later. And the league has worked diligently with the member institutions to make sure that safety precautions – including a robust testing and contact tracing program – reduce the risks of contracting COVID for all involved.
“It’s been a long progression that’s gone well,” said UMass Lowell coach Norm Bazin about returning to play after eight months. “We’re not taking anything for granted to anticipating too far in advance. The world has bene moving in two-to-three-day increments. We [were] scheduled to play [on Friday, November 27] but we have to concentrate on just getting to the next practice before we focus on games.”
“There’s still a great uncertainty,” added New Hampshire coach Michael Souza, whose team had both of its games against Boston College this past weekend postponed because of a positive test and related contract tracing on the UNH team. “Anyone who follows college sports knows, the ups, the downs, the uncertainly has been interesting.”
For Hockey East commissioner Steve Metcalf, in his first season after taking over for Joe Bertagna over the summer, it’s been a lot of work just to get to a point that a schedule could be developed.
“There’s been a tremendous amount of work just getting to this point,” said Metcalf. “We spent a lot of time to ensure we can do this safely.”
The goal isn’t to play the season as normal. Instead, it’s to play “as full and complete as season as possible,” Metcalf said.
Hockey East members will only play other Hockey East teams. Though each team has scheduled six nonconference games, they are only against other nonconference teams and will be eliminated if league games need to be postponed.
In addition to placing a wrinkle in the standings by adding 3-on-3 overtime and shootouts in league games, it’s so unlikely that all of the league games get played that standings will likely be determined by percentage of overall points earned (3 points for a regulation win, 2 for OT/shootout win, 1 for OT/shootout loss and 0 for a regulation loss).
Yes, this will be a strange season.
Though fans won’t be allowed in the buildings at the start (and likely for the entire season), fans will still have the chance to follow the league better than ever. NESN will be showing more league games than ever and, those that aren’t broadcast on the regional sports network will be available 100 percent free-of-charge on collegesportslive.com.
Watching certainly will be worth it. Once again, Hockey East possesses a tremendous amount of talent, and preseason favorite Boston College likely leads the way in the depth of talent overall.
Sophomore forward Alex Newhook has to be a strong candidate for player of the year and is already being mentioned as a potential Hobey Baker candidate. That, though, will be impacted by the fact that he could miss upwards of 60 days to begin the season while participating in Team Canada’s World Junior selection camp and the subsequent tournament. Newhook left for camp more than a week ago.
That’s hardly where talent stops in the league. Goaltenders Matt Murray and Filip Lindberg at UMass are easily the best netminding duo in the nation. Tyce Thompson at Providence has been electric through his first two seasons.
Boston University returns one of the best all-around defensemen in David Farrance, though Michael Callahan at Providence and Jordan Harris at Northeastern might make arguments to dispute that.
And while newcomers will likely have an impact on multiple teams, there is another fresh face who will also give Hockey East a new look.
Brian Murphy, a veteran National Hockey League referee, will take over as the Supervisor of Officials. Murphy, himself, was a member of the Hockey East officiating staff from 1986 to 1988 before beginning his career at the game’s top level. He went onto officiate more than 2,000 NHL games, joining outgoing Hockey East supervisor Dan Schachte as the only two American officials to crack the 2,000-game milestone.
One other change that hasn’t been made yet, but one might anticipate in this strange season may be the league championship.
Should we successfully get to the end of the regular season, expect that the league tournament won’t look the same as normal.
If fans aren’t allowed into the building, don’t expect TD Garden, the tournament’s typical home, to be the venue. It is more likely to be moved to a smaller arena where the cost to turn on the lights isn’t as high.
There also, then, becomes the possibility of reducing the scope of the tournament in general. It’s quite possible that the two-weekend format with best-of-three quarterfinals played the first and the semifinals and finals played on the second weekend could be traded in for a more compressed, single-elimination event played at one site over three or four days.
That, though, is speculation and so far down the road. Right now, let’s hope that teams get on the ice, play safely and stay healthy so that we can be considering a postseason come March.
Until then, sit back and enjoy as we preview the 11 men’s teams, following, in alphabetical order:
HOCKEY EAST TEAM CAPSULES
Alex Newhook went for 19 goals and 42 points in 2019-20 to be named national rookie of the year (photo: Team Shred).
BOSTON COLLEGE Head coach: Jerry York (27th season) 2019-20 overall record: 24-8-2 (17-6-1 Hockey East, first) Key returning players: Sophomore forward Alex Newhook (19-23-42), Senior forward Logan Hutsko (19-14-33), Sophomore defenseman Matt Boldy (9-17-26), Sophomore goaltender Spencer Knight (23-8-2, 1.97 GAA, .931 SV%) Key losses: Forward Julius Mattila (10-32-42), forward David Cotton (15-24-39), forward Aapeli Rasanen (11-13-24) Key additions: Defenseman Eamon Powell (USNTDP), forward Danny Weight (Penticton, BCHL), Nikita Nesterenko (Chilliwack, BCHL) 2020-21 predictions: Boston College returns a significant part of its core to the 2020-21 team and was not hit by NHL departures (Rasanen was the only loss, returning to Finland to play professionally). Look for players like Newhook and Boldy to take some major steps forward and be the leaders of this team’s offense. There is no surprise that coaches picked the Eagles as the top team in Hockey East as this BC team might have some of the highest preseason expectations in the last few years. Jim’s prediction: First Marisa’s prediction: First
Boston University’s Robert Mastrosimone was one of seven players to skate in all 34 games a season ago (photo: BU Athletics).
BOSTON UNIVERSITY Head coach: Albie O’Connell (third season) 2019-20 overall record: 13-13-8 (10-9-5 Hockey East, sixth) Key returning players: Junior defenseman David Farrance (14-29-43), sophomore forward Robert Mastrosimone (7-10-17), sophomore defenseman Domenick Fensore (3-13-16), junior forward Jake Wise (2-11-13) Key losses: Forward Patrick Harper (14-23-37), forward Trevor Zegras (11-25-36), forward Patrick Curry (19-13-32) Key additions: Defenseman Cade Webber (Penticton, WHL), forward Nick Zabaneh (Green Bay, USHL), forward Luke Tuch (USNTDP), forward Dylan Peterson (USNTDP), forward Max Kaufman (Vermont) 2020-21 predictions: The Terriers were preparing for a series with UMass Lowell in the Hockey East quarterfinals when the season came to a screeching halt. Instead, the next time they take the ice in Vermont at the start of December, they’ll be without much of the star power that composed their roster. Patrick Harper is NHL bound after four seasons, Trevor Zegras is moving on after just one, and captain Patrick Curry will be playing in the AHL. In many ways, this is a fresh start for the Terriers. David Farrance is the key carryover player, entering his junior season, as a leader among a young group. Luke Tuch has the potential to make some noise as a freshman, and Robert Mastrosimone is sure to make a leap as a sophomore. Despite shortcomings, the Terriers still received votes in the USCHO preseason poll and landed just outside the top 20. With five other Hockey East teams inside the top 20, though, BU still has a lot of work to do. Jim’s prediction: Seventh Marisa’s prediction: Fifth
Vladislav Firstov finished third on UConn in scoring and led all Huskies freshmen with 23 points on 11 goals and 12 assists (photo: Stephen Slade).
CONNECTICUT Head coach: Mike Cavanaugh (eighth season) 2019-20 overall record: 15-15-4 (12-10-2 Hockey East, fifth) Key returning players: Junior forward Carter Turnbull (12-12-24), sophomore forward Vladislav Firstov (11-12-23), junior forward Jachym Kondelik (8-15-23), sophomore defenseman Yan Kuznetsov (2-9-11), goaltender Tomas Vomacka (15-15-3, 3.13 GAA, .898 SV%) Key losses: Forward Benjamin Freeman (7-21-28), forward Alexander Payusov (12-10-22), defenseman Wyatt Newpower (3-19-22) Key additions: Forward Nick Capone (Tri-City, USHL), forward Artem Shlaine (Shattuck St. Mary’s, Prep), defenseman John Spetz (Chicago, USHL) 2020-21 predictions: The COVID-shortened 2019-20 campaign was UConn’s best since joining Hockey East in 2014, posting a .500 overall winning percentage and tying their best finish in Hockey East (2017-18). Though graduating players like Freeman and Payusov, both high-end forwards, the Huskies return a significant portion of their offense. If there is room for improvement it comes on the back end, where UConn allowed the third-most goals in Hockey East a season ago. Jim’s prediction: Fourth Marisa’s prediction: Seventh
Eduards Tralmaks posted 14 goals and 30 points during the 2019-20 season for Maine (photo: Mark Tutuny).
MAINE Head coach: Red Gendron (eighth season) 2019-20 overall record: 18-11-5 (12-9-3 Hockey East, fourth) Key returning players: Senior forward Eduards Tralmaks (14-16-30), junior forward Adam Dawe (9-11-20), junior forward Jacob Schmidt-Svejstrup (9-9-18), senior defenseman Veli-Matti Tiuraniemi (2-8-10) Key losses: Forward Mitchell Fossier (10-32-42), goalie Jeremy Swayman (18-11-5, 2.07, .939), forward Tim Doherty (14-23-37) Key additions: Forward Keenan Suthers (St. Lawrence), defenseman Kabore Dunn (Fort McMurray, AJHL), forward Tristan Poissant (Johnstown, NAHL), forward Donavan Villeneuve-Houle (Flin Flon, SJHL), forward Zachary Aughe (Aberdeen, NAHL) 2020-21 predictions: Of all the teams that got a raw deal from last season being canceled before the Hockey East tournament, Maine might be at the top of the list. The Black Bears were on a roll and Jeremy Swayman was playing like one of the best goalies in the country. Now he’s moved on to the pros, and the Black Bears lost their leading scorer, to boot. There’s still a lot of returners, but it feels like Maine will be dealing with “what if” fever if things don’t start off well out of the gate. Jim’s prediction: Ninth Marisa’s prediction: Ninth
Filip Lindberg stands to begin the 2020-21 season as UMass’ No. 1 goalie (photo: Stephen Slade).
MASSACHUSETTS Head coach: Greg Carvel (fifth season) 2019-20 overall record: 21-11-2 (14-8-2 Hockey East, second) Key returning players: Sophomore defenseman Zac Jones (3-20-23), junior forward Bobby Trivigno (9-11-20), junior defenseman Marc Del Gaizo (4-11-15), senior goaltender Matt Murray (13-6-0, 1.86 GAA, .919 SV%), junior goaltender Filip Lindberg (8-5-2, 1.91 GAA, .927 SV%) Key losses: Forward John Leonard (27-10-37), forward Mitchell Chaffee (16-13-39), defenseman Jack Suter (4-16-20) Key additions: Defenseman Lindon Alger (Youngstown, USHL), forward Jerry Harding (Providence), forward Ryan Sullivan (Sioux Falls, USHL), forward Oliver MacDonald (Fargo, USHL) 2020-21 predictions: If not for early departures, there is no doubt that UMass would be considered a favorite to win Hockey East. But with Leonard and Chaffee signing early, forgoing their senior season, the Minutemen lose 43 of their 107 goals (40.1%) from a season ago. The good news is that UMass does return two of the best goaltenders in the nation in the tandem of Murray and Lindberg, two goaltenders with Frozen Four experience (2019). In a shortened campaign, it will be important for UMass to get off to a strong start. But there is certainly plenty of potential in this lineup once again. Jim’s prediction: Third Marisa’s prediction: Third
Carl Berglund led UMass Lowell with 12 goals in 2019-20 and finished second in scoring for the River Hawks (photo: UML Athletics).
UMASS LOWELL Head coach: Norm Bazin (10th season) 2019-20 overall record: 18-10-6 (12-7-5 Hockey East, third) Key returning players: Sophomore forward Carl Berglund (12-11-23), sophomore forward Matt Brown (6-18-24), sophomore forward Andre Lee (8-12-20), junior defenseman Chase Blackmun (5-12-17), junior defenseman Jon McDonald (4-11-15) Key losses: Goaltender Tyler Wall (18-8-6, 2.10 GAA, .931 SV%), forward Kenny Hausinger (7-12-19) Key additions: Defenseman Ben Meehan (Cedar Rapids, USHL), goaltender Henry Welsch (Aberdeen, NAHL), defenseman Brehdan Engum (Waterloo, USHL), forward Matt Kinash (Drayton Valley, AJHL) 2020-21 predictions: The River Hawks were playing their best and most consistent hockey of the season when COVID-19 forced the season to be canceled last March. They’ll hope to pick back up on that this season but will have to do so without all-star goaltender Tyler Wall, who graduated. Logan Neaton returns, though with just two career starts under his belt, while the River Hawks add Welsch and are reported to also be bringing in junior transfer Owen Savory, who will be available in the second semester after his former team, Rensselaer recently canceled its season. With sufficient fire power up front and a solid corps of defensemen, goaltending becomes the biggest question for this team. Jim’s prediction: Second Marisa’s prediction: Fourth
Merrimack’s Logan Drevitch doubled his point total from 2018-19 in 2019-20 with 18 points on seven goals and 11 assists (photo: Josh Gibney).
MERRIMACK Head coach: Scott Borek (third season) 2019-20 overall record: 9-22-3 (7-14-3 Hockey East, tenth) Key returning players: Senior defenseman Patrick Holway (3-7-10), sophomore defenseman Zach Uens (4-14-18), sophomore defenseman Declan Carlile (4-18-22), junior forward Logan Drevitch (7-11-18) Key losses: Forward Tyler Irvine (13-14-27), forward Sami Tavernier (6-15-21) Key additions: Forward Conor Lovett (Lawrence Academy, NEPSAC), forward Alex Jefferies (The Gunnery, NEPSAC), forward Jakob Lee (Brooks, AJHL), forward Filip Karlsson-Tagtstrom (Sioux Falls, USHL), forward Filip Forsmark (Tri-City, USHL) 2020-21 predictions: As ugly as the numbers work, last season was one of progress for Merrimack. Patrick Holway fit in well and Zach Uens broke out on the blue line. Alex Jefferies is a big addition after starring as one of the leading prospects in prep hockey last season, and he should give the offense a boost, something the Warriors severely need. Filip Forsmark jumps in a year late as well after having to sit out last season. There’s some promise there, especially with a weird schedule for everyone, for the Warriors to sneak up on some unexpecting opponents. Jim’s prediction: 11th Marisa’s prediction: 10th
Patrick Grasso recorded 13 goals and 24 points last season for New Hampshire (photo: UNH Athletics).
NEW HAMPSHIRE Head coach: Michael Souza (third season) 2019-20 overall record: 15-15-4 (9-12-3 Hockey East, ninth) Key returning players: Senior forward Patrick Grasso (13-11-24), senior forward Charlie Kelleher (6-17-23), junior forward Angus Crookshank (16-6-22), junior forward Filip Engaras (8-7-15) Key losses: Defenseman Max Gildon (7-22-29), forward Liam Blackburn (5-13-18) Key additions: Defenseman Luke Reid (Chicago, USHL), Carsen Richels (Blaine HS, USHS), defenseman Nikolai Jenson (Youngstown, USHL) 2020-21 predictions: Though the 2019-20 campaign had ended with New Hampshire missing the playoffs prior to the COVID stoppage, the Wildcats showed signs of brilliance at times last season, including wins over nationally-ranked Boston College, Massachusetts, Providence and Northeastern. Though UNH lost Hockey East third-team all-star Max Gildon to the NHL, it brings in a recruiting class that features plenty of size including two 6-foot-3 forwards in Richels and Cam Gendron. Jim’s prediction: Eighth Marisa’s prediction: Eighth
Northeastern senior forward Zach Solow is the top scoring returnee for the Huskies after netting 13 goals and 31 points a season ago (photo: Northeastern Athletics).
NORTHEASTERN Head coach: Jim Madigan (10th season) 2019-20 overall record: 18-13-3 (11-12-1 Hockey East, seventh) Key returning players: Senior forward Zach Solow (13-18-31), sophomore forward Aidan McDonough (11-16-27), junior defenseman Jordan Harris (3-18-21), redshirt senior forward Grant Jozefek (8-10-18) Key losses: Forward Tyler Madden (19-18-37), defenseman Ryan Shea (5-26-31), forward Matt Filipe (9-13-22) Key additions: Forward Michael Outzen (New Jersey, USHL), forward Sam Colangelo (Chicago, USHL), defenseman Johnny DeRoche (Vermont), forward Dylan Jackson (Dubuque, USHL), forward Gunnarwolfe Fontaine (Chicago, USHL), forward Marco Bozzo (UMass), goalie Devon Levi (Carleton Place, CCHL) 2020-21 predictions: Devon Levi has big skates to fill in the crease after years of a dominant Northeastern goalie group, and he’s being hyped as such. Goalies take on the heaviest load of expectations, so that’ll likely be the case again. The Huskies lost a lot upfront with Tyler Madden and Matt Filipe gone, so this feels like a season Northeastern could lock in on developing an identity for years to come. Jim’s prediction: Fifth Marisa’s prediction: Sixth
Tyce Thompson was an offensive catalyst for Providence last season, collecting 19 goals and 44 points in 34 games for the Friars (photo: Rich Gagnon).
PROVIDENCE Head coach: Nate Leaman (10th season) 2019-20 overall record: 16-12-6 (10-11-3 Hockey East, seventh) Key returning players: Junior forward Tyce Thompson (19-25-44), junior defenseman Michael Callahan (5-23-28), senior forward Greg Printz (15-12-27), sophomore forward Parker Ford (9-13-22) Key losses: Forward Jack Dugan (10-42-52), goalie Michael Lackey (16-12-6, 2.25, .932), forward Vimal Sukumaran (4-2-6) Key additions: Forward Nick Poisson (Prince George, BCHL), forward Chase Yoder (USNDTP), forward Brett Berard (USNDTP), defenseman Uula Ruikka (Chicago, USHL), forward Jaxson Stauber (Minnesota State) 2020-21 predictions: Tyce Thompson is one of the best players in the conference and the Friars are bringing back 21 players from last season’s roster. There are high expectations for Providence, projected to finish third in the coaches’ poll. Chase Yoder and Brett Berard are going to have big roles even with so much of the roster intact. It feels like the Friars are one of the few teams that made definite improvements since a year ago, and that can be dangerous with a condensed schedule. Jim’s prediction: Sixth Marisa’s prediction: Second
Ace Cowans scored seven goals and 13 points in 2019-20 for Vermont (photo: Vermont Athletics).
VERMONT Head coach: Todd Woodcroft (first season) 2019-20 overall record: 5-23-6 (2-18-4 Hockey East, 11th) Key returning players: Sophomore defenseman Andrew Lucas (5-10-15), sophomore forward Jacques Bouquot (3-11-14), senior forward Ace Cowans (7-6-13) Key losses: Goaltender Stefanos Lekkas (5-21-6, 2.76 GAA, .916 SV%) Key additions: (Sherwood Park, AJHL), defenseman Phip Waugh (Brooks, AJHL), goaltender Gabe Carriere (Waterloo, USHL) 2020-21 predictions: It is a new day in Burlington as former Winnipeg Jets assistant coach Todd Woodcroft takes the reins of the Catamounts team. Certainly, Woodcroft will have challenges right out of the gate, namely replacing Vermont’s best player by far last season, Stefanos Lekkas, who for four years gave an often overmatched UVM club a chance to win. But Woodcroft also has a great opportunity ahead. The chance to lead a program with a rabid fanbase like Vermont comes with both pressure but also satisfaction when successful. Woodcroft will tap his NHL background for advice as former NHL blueliner Mark Stuart will serve as a volunteer assistant and former Stanley Cup champion coach Mike Babcock will serve as an advisor. Jim’s prediction: 10th Marisa’s prediction: 11th
Mitchell Oliver and LSSU will play a home-and-home series this weekend with Adrian (photo: LSSU Athletics).
Ferris State and Lake Superior State announced Wednesday that their upcoming home-and-home nonconference series scheduled for Nov. 27 and Nov. 29 has been cancelled.
The cancellation is due to confirmed positive test results within the Ferris State men’s hockey program. The Bulldogs’ testing regimen has followed both state of Michigan guidelines and WCHA return to competition protocols.
Lake Superior State has announced it will now play Adrian on Friday, Nov. 27 at Taffy Abel Arena at 7:07 p.m. ET and will travel to Adrian on Sunday, Nov. 29 for a 2 p.m. ET start.
The Rochester Institute of Technology men’s hockey team will open the 2020-21 season this Friday and Sunday versus Clarkson in a pair of games just added to the schedule.
The Tigers will host the Golden Knights on Friday at 5 p.m. before traveling to Potsdam, N.Y., on Sunday for a 5 p.m. road game.
No fans will be admitted to the games. However, Friday’s game will be webcast live via FloHockey.tv while Sunday’s game will be available on ESPN+ and internationally on Stretch Internet.
RIT was originally scheduled to host Niagara in its season opener on Friday before playing Saturday on the road, but both games were put on hold due to COVID-19 protocol. The games have tentatively been rescheduled for Dec. 5-6 with locations and times still to be announced.
Hockey East announced schedule updates Wednesday afternoon.
The women’s series between Holy Cross and New Hampshire scheduled for November 27-28 will no longer be played. Holy Cross and New Hampshire remain scheduled to play February 19-20.
Following earlier announcements from Northeastern and Maine, rescheduled games for all postponed contests involving those schools’ men’s and women’s teams will be announced at a later date.
In addition, the men’s teams at UMass Lowell and Providence will play a single game on Saturday, November 28 at 4 p.m. at The Tsongas Center. The game will be streamed online via SportsLive.
The following games are all postponed:
Friday, November 27
Northeastern at UMass Lowell (men)
New Hampshire at Holy Cross (women)
UConn at Maine (women)
Saturday, November 28
UMass Lowell at Northeastern (men)
Maine at UConn (men)
Holy Cross at New Hampshire (women)
UConn at Maine (women)
Each week during the season, we look at the big events and big games around Division I men’s college hockey in Tuesday Morning Quarterback.
Jim: Paula, first off, it’s been too long since we’ve been able to sit down at our keyboard about 700 miles apart from one another and talk about college hockey.
For me, at least, March 17, our last Tuesday Morning Quarterback feature, seems like it was written 10 years ago. So let me bid you a fond welcome back and I sincerely hope you and all your family are safe and healthy at this very strange time in the world.
The somewhat good news is that 251 days later, there are some college hockey games played. I emphasize the word some, as to this point, there have been about as many games postponed, rescheduled or changed as there have been games played.
Since the Big Ten returned to play on Friday, November 13, a total of 21 Division I men’s games have been played, while 12 have been postponed. The reasons for postponement run from government regulations restricting teams from travel to a given campus to positive COVID tests among players and staffs.
Colorado College, Quinnipiac and New Hampshire all currently have positive cases among their team. Nine programs have entirely shutdown their programs for the season.
Our colleague, Candace Horgan, opened her NCHC season preview that ran yesterday asking, “Are we really going to do this?,” referring to whether or not playing Division I men’s college hockey at this time is the right decision.
So I’ll pose that question to you. Is playing college hockey right now the right thing to do?
Paula: Candace asked the question that needed to be asked and I commend her for it.
My short answer is that, no, I don’t think that playing college hockey – or any other sport – is the right thing to be doing now.
It is, of course, far more complicated than my simple, “Nope.” I am not a public health expert. I have no expertise in medicine. Also, there are seriously mixed messages coming from various state governments and a unified, “Open everything up!” coming from our government at the federal level, leaving people feeling everything from confusion to disbelief to anger.
There are people who say that sports and entertainment are rewards for a society that is functioning well, and people in that camp who argue against college hockey claim that we’re not a society that is functioning well at the moment. While I agree with the latter part – we are fragmented, going through more than just this pandemic – I am not thinking about the argument that we shouldn’t be rewarded.
I’m thinking about the science. I’m thinking about the healthcare system strained beyond its limits. I’m thinking about how easy it has become to look at COVID victims as collateral damage for doing business in America.
All of that having been said, I am torn about hockey because I love it so. I relish this chance to participate in our hockey community. I admire the spirit of carrying on and attempting to attain some semblance of “normal” in a fragmented world.
I do think that the colleges that have cancelled their seasons have done the right thing. It pains me to say that.
And, yes, March feels like decades ago. Everything has changed.
Jim: I think I’m actually leaning the opposite way of you on this one.
Do we need college hockey. Likely no. Can it happen safely? My gut is yes.
College football, a sport that is much more complex to successfully make happen, has for the most part successfully been played among the Power 5 conferences, and some others. Hockey should be able to execute a season, but thus far we have seen so many hurdles. It is quite obvious to me thus far that teams that play in Power 5 conferences have a distinct advantage. Hence why we haven’t seen many problems in the Big Ten. But other conferences are facing larger hurdles.
For me, I’m highly impressed by the simple amount of effort that has been put forth by every conference and every institution. While sports is something that is often dealt with by athletic directors, commissioners and administrators have gone out of the way to talk about the involvement from the President and Trustee levels. That top-level decision making has been beneficial to helping teams get back on the ice.
On the other side, though, I feel for the programs that are not playing. Certainly the student-athletes and coaches are disappointed, but more so I feel like there is permanent damage being done to these programs. There have already been rumors of players transferring out of the Ivies, RPI, Union and Alaska Anchorage. And the NCAA’s transfer portal is also filled with players from these schools wanting to transfer. These typically aren’t fourth-line players, rather some of the top talent at these schools up and down the lineup.
Whether or not this season is completed and champions are crowned, it seems that there could be permanent damage done for programs that have decided not to play.
Paula: There is no question, Jimmy, that there may be enormous implications for programs that are not playing.
Losing that top talent is one of the ways that all of those teams will be affected. Another is how programs will be affected sort of systemically as they sit out and other teams in their conferences continue to play. That experience, that growth that can happen over the course of the season, and the ways in which the teams learn from each other while competing – all of that is lost for teams that are opting not to play.
I’m glad that you brought up the ways in which decisions are being made that include entire campuses. Playing devil’s advocate against my own argument, institutions of higher education are suffering in the same ways that businesses are suffering: financially. Higher ed as an industry has taken a huge hit because of the pandemic, and high-profile sports can help generate much-needed revenue and heighten the profile of schools during a really difficult time. I get why collegiate sports continues.
In my mind, the reason doesn’t justify playing the games. Again, it pains me to say that. All it will take for my heart to break in a million pieces is for someone associated with NCAA hockey to sicken and die, or for someone related to a player who tests COVID positive to sicken and die and for that player to have to live with that forever.
I hear everything that you’re saying on safety, too. Look at the NCHC and its bubble. What an amazing concept. What an interesting experiment.
To paraphrase Bobby Motzko, the programs – and conferences – that can deal with the pandemic the best will come out on top in the end, whatever shape or form that end takes, and whenever it happens.
Jim: Let’s look a little bit at what has taken place on the ice to date. The Big Ten has played the most games, and two teams that most thought could excel are Michigan and Minnesota.
Each team has succeeded differently.
Minnesota is riding the success of its veterans while Michigan, which obviously getting strong play from an upper-class goaltender Strauss Mann, has four freshman leading the team in scoring. Mel Pearson knew he returned a solid nucleus but when you get contributions from your freshman class, that seems like a major bonus.
How do you handicap the Big Ten based on what we have seen thus far?
Paula: Having so much B1G hockey right away – in fact, it’s the middle of the second period between Penn State and Wisconsin as I write Monday evening – is a gift I hadn’t anticipated to start the season, and from what I’ve seen, Minnesota and Michigan are the two teams to watch as the season progresses.
The preseason coaches’ poll has Minnesota finishing first based on the Gophers’ remarkable second-half performance last year and my B1G writing partner, Drew Claussen, agrees with that assessment. I was inclined to as well until I saw Michigan play its first game. I cannot believe how much talent the Wolverines have this season, and Mann has returned to form.
Through four games, the Wolverines have scored 18 goals and allowed four. In their first two games, the Golden Gophers scored seven and allowed three. Michigan’s defense was solid last season while Minnesota’s was average, and both teams had middling offenses. The missing ingredient for the Wolverines last season was offense; for the Gophers, it was balance. Both teams seem to have improved where they needed to. I think everyone will be chasing Michigan and Minnesota.
It’s always interesting to see how talented rookie classes play out. Last year, a big influx of highly talented freshman made Wisconsin fun to watch but didn’t translate into the kind of season the Badgers wanted. This year, team chemistry is complicated for everyone because of the restrictions on how teams can interact because of the pandemic.
I guess we’ll see how it all plays out more quickly for B1G Hockey, with 40 total games scheduled to be completed by Dec. 20, including games against Arizona State.
And we’ll see soon enough how it plays out for all of college hockey. For what it’s worth, Jimmy, I hope you are right about everything COVID-related and that my skepticism is unfounded.
It’s good to hockey with you again, my friend. I hope that you and yours are safe as well.
Maine athletics are paused until at least Dec, 8 due to positive COVID-19 tests among varsity athletes.
University president Joan Ferrini-Mundy, in consultation with the University of Maine system and other campus leaders, announced the decision Tuesday.
This decision will most immediately impact students participating in the men’s and women’s basketball, and the men’s and women’s hockey programs. All games scheduled to be played between Nov. 25 and Dec. 8 have been canceled.
Maine will re-evaluate the situation on Dec. 8.
Scheduled games will be canceled and traveling teams will return to Orono following safety and travel protocols outlined in public health guidance. Practices and other organized activities will be modified over the coming two weeks.
COVID-19 testing protocols for the teams will continue during the two-week pause.
Fall and spring sports athletes are not practicing again until mid-January.
“We love to see our Black Bears compete, but the health of our student athletes, coaches, staff and communities comes first,” said Ferrini-Mundy in a statement. “We are responding to test results and contact tracing to prevent the further spread of infection within Athletics, throughout the university community and beyond.”
“While this interruption will be difficult on our teams, it is in keeping with our premise that the health and safety of our community is the priority,” added Ken Ralph, Maine director of athletics. “We will do all we can to positively engage our students in the safest way possible. We are grateful for the support we have received and our teams look forward to returning to competition when it is deemed safe to do so.”
The Rochester Institute of Technology men’s hockey games against Niagara scheduled for this Friday and Saturday (Nov. 27-28) have been postponed.
The Tigers were originally scheduled to host the Purple Eagles in their season-opener on Friday before playing Saturday on the road, but both games were put on hold due to COVID-19 protocol.
The games have tentatively been rescheduled for Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 5-6 with locations and times still to be announced.
RIT is now scheduled to open the 2020-21 campaign hosting Long Island on Friday and Saturday, Dec. 11-12. Both games are slated for a 5:05 p.m. faceoff.
Due to a small cluster of recent COVID-19 cases that led to quarantining athletes on five varsity teams, Northeastern has canceled games and practices for all winter sports through Dec. 18.
Northeastern athletic director Jeff Konya said he is hopeful that the winter teams will resume practices in early December and launch abbreviated seasons after Dec. 18.
“When you’re making a decision of this magnitude, the No. 1 priority is the wellness and safety of the student-athletes,” Konya said in a news release. “Analyzing the facts as we know them right now, this decision gives us our best chance of conducting intercollegiate athletics in an appropriate way in mid-December.”
The postponements involve women’s and men’s hockey teams.
Konya said he does not expect the cancellations to affect the NCAA tournament hopes of the affected teams.
“It should not impact us because our pathway to those postseason tournaments is going to be dependent on how we do in conference play,” Konya said.
Konya said that “small outbreaks” of COVID-19 cases had been discovered on Northeastern teams in women’s basketball and (women’s) hockey, and men’s and women’s track and field.
The opening games for the men’s hockey team on Friday and Saturday against UMass Lowell have been postponed. No member of the hockey programs have tested positive for COVID-19, Konya said.
The Ivy League announced Nov. 12 the cancellation of its winter sports program, leading days later to the cancellation of the 2021 Beanpot men’s hockey tournament, which Northeastern had won for the past three seasons.
Minnesota State announced Tuesday it has paused all men’s hockey team activities due to positive COVID-19 test results within the program.
The positive results were detected during COVID-19 testing of the team, which is being conducted three times per week in accordance with state guidelines and WCHA return to competition protocols.
As a result of the pause, the Mavericks’ nonconference series with Bemidji State slated for Nov. 27-28 in Mankato, Minn., has been postponed. No makeup date has been announced.
The directors of the NEHC have come to the difficult decision to cancel the league’s regular-season schedule and 2021 NEHC championship tournament – for both the men and women – due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The conference had previously announced the postponement of the 2020 portion of this season’s schedule in July.
Member institutions – Babson, Castleton, Hobart, Johnson & Wales, UMass Boston, New England College, Norwich, Skidmore, Southern Maine, Suffolk (men) and Castleton, Johnson & Wales, UMass Boston, New England College, Norwich, Plymouth State, Salem State, Southern Maine, and Suffolk (women) – will have autonomy to schedule competition based on institutional policy coupled with local and state health guidelines.
“The NEHC had remained optimistic that a season could safely take place this winter,” reads a statement. “However, with a surge in cases both nationally and regionally, state-to-state travel amongst the membership has proved insurmountable. The NEHC membership hails from six different states that each have a variety of travel restrictions in place as it pertains to crossing state lines during the pandemic.”
Individual institutions may make announcements regarding competition for their hockey programs this winter.
The conference will continue to monitor the latest data and health guidelines as it pertains to COVID-19 and provide additional updates as appropriate.
North Dakota is hoping celebrations like this one from 2019-20 become the norm in 2020-21 (photo: Russell Hons).
With 30 first-place votes, North Dakota is again the No. 1 team in the USCHO.com Division I Men’s Poll.
Boston College earned three first-place nods and sits second this week, followed by Minnesota Duluth.
Fourth-ranked Michigan picked up six first-place votes, while Denver is fifth and Minnesota State sixth, with the Mavericks garnering the other first-place vote.
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.
“Today’s announcement is a culmination of months of planning and discussion and we are thrilled that we can have our six members return to action over the next couple of weeks”, said AHA commissioner Robert DeGregorio in a statement. “We found a way to get some games in the first half while still focusing on player health and safety.”
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.
The second-half schedule will be finalized in the coming weeks and announced at a later date.
St. Lawrence’s Appleton Arena will not see hockey for at least several weeks (photo: Tara Freeman).
The St. Lawrence men’s hockey season opener with Clarkson, originally scheduled for December 5, has been postponed.
The Saints’ games against Clarkson scheduled for December 12, 16 and 19, have also been postponed. It is uncertain if the games will be made up at this time.
The evolving COVID-19 situation on campus and locally may lead to further changes in the schedule, including the possibility of adding games to the schedule.
Details will be released as they become available.
Notre Dame, in accordance with campus health and safety protocols and with the guidance of local health officials, will limit attendance at the beginning of the winter seasons to only guests of student-athletes and coaches of competing teams at this year’s men’s and women’s basketball and hockey games.
Those in attendance will be required to adhere to campus policies to protect the local community (i.e. wearing a mask, practicing physical distancing, etc.).
According to a Notre Dame news release, “as the seasons progress, the university, the Atlantic Coast Conference and the Big Ten will continue to monitor the conditions and evaluate the possibility of welcoming additional audiences. If Notre Dame decides to extend invitations beyond the campus community, season ticket members will receive priority to purchase single game tickets.”
The WCHA announced Monday that the Dec. 2 WCHA season-opening game between Northern Michigan and Lake Superior State has been postponed due to positive COVID-19 tests within the Northern Michigan hockey program.
Additionally, NMU announced Monday it is cancelling its first five non-conference games of the 2020-21 season due to the positive tests.
In addition to the Dec. 2 postponement, NMU’s home nonconference game versus Lake Superior State on Nov. 25, its home-and-home nonconference series with Michigan Tech on Nov. 27-28 and a home nonconference series with Bemidji State on Dec. 4-5 have been cancelled.
A decision on the new date for the WCHA game will be announced by the league office in the coming weeks.
Hockey East announced Monday the following schedule updates:
The men’s teams at Boston College and Massachusetts are now scheduled to play a home-and-home series on Friday and Saturday, November 27-28. Friday’s game from Conte Forum will be shown live on NESN at 6:00 p.m. while Saturday’s contest will air on NESN+ beginning at 4:30 p.m.
The women’s programs at Boston College and Providence are now scheduled to play a home-and-home series on Friday and Saturday, November 27-28. Friday’s game from Conte Forum will be shown live on NESN at 2:00 p.m.
The women’s game between Holy Cross and New Hampshire on Saturday, November 28 will now be played at 6:00 p.m. and shown on NESN.
The men’s series between Maine and UConn will now be played on Saturday, November 28 and Sunday, November 29. Times will be announced at a later date.
The men’s series between Boston College and New Hampshire remains scheduled for February 5-6.
The men’s series between Boston College and Providence remains scheduled for February 19-20.
The women’s series between Providence and Northeastern remains scheduled for February 19-20.
Rescheduled games for all contests involving Vermont men’s and women’s programs will be announced at a later date.
(5) Ohio State 0, (4) Minnesota 4 (5) Ohio State 2, (4) Minnesota 1
On Saturday, Grace Zumwinkle scored 28 seconds into the game and the Gophers did not look back en route to a 4-0 win to open the season. Josey Dunne scored her first goal at Minnesota in the second to double the lead. Zumwinkle potted her second of the game with about five minutes to go and Taylor Wente added an empty-netter to seal the game for the Gophers. Lauren Bench had 36 saves and earned the shutout in her first game at Minnesota.
In game two, all the game’s tallies came in the opening ten minutes. Once again, it was Zumwinkle early as she put the Gophers on the board 3:01 into the game. But Ohio State quickly responded with a goal from Liz Schepers just 21 seconds later to tie it up. Tatum Skaggs scored the game-winner a few minutes later and the Buckeyes held on to earn the win and a weekend split.
(8) Minnesota Duluth 5, Minnesota State 0 (8) Minnesota Duluth 7, Minnesota State 3
Five different Bulldogs scored to lead UMD to an opening night win to start the season. Taylor Anderson opened the scoring and Naomi Rogge, returning to the ice after missing last season to injury, doubled the score midway through the period. Anna Klein scored a short-handed tally with less than four minutes to go in the first to give Minnesota Duluth a 3-0 lead heading into the locker rooms. Ashton Bell and Clara Van Wieren scored power play goals to give UMD the 5-0 win. Emma Soderberg earned her first career shutout and stopped all six Maverick power plays in the win.
On Saturday, the game was close until midway through the second period, when UMD began to pull away. Anna Klein had the Bulldogs up 1-0 after the first period, but in the second, Kennedy Bobyck scored on the power play to tie the game for Minnesota State. Anneke Linser scored short-handed to put the Bulldogs ahead 2-1, but Madison Oelkers’ extra attacker goal tied it and a few minutes later, Kelsey King scored to put the Mavericks up 3-2. Fourteen seconds later, Kylie Hanley tied it at 3. Van Wieren potted the game-winner just before the second period break. In the third, Minnesota Duluth secured the win thanks to second goals from Hanley, Linser and Klein to earn the 7-3 win and weekend sweep.
Maine 2, Holy Cross 1 Maine 2, Holy Cross 3
Ida Kuoppala picked up where she left off, leading scoring for Maine to give them the lead midway through the first on Friday. Morgan Sadler doubled the Black Bears’ lead 17 seconds before the first buzzer and that would prove to be enough to earn the win. Bryn Saarela got Holy Cross on the board in the third, but it wasn’t enough as Maine won 2-1.
With a 3-2 sin on Saturday, Holy Cross women’s hockey team tallied the first victory for any athlete at the university in more than eight months. The Crusaders’ third line of Sommer Ross, Carly Beniek and Lilly Feeney notched six of the team’s seven points for the day. Ross opened the scoring before the first horn to put Holy Cross 1-0. Kuoppala scored a short-handed goal early in the second to tie it up. Beniek opened up a 2-1 lead :32 seconds into the third and Ross tallied her second with less than two minutes to go. Kuoppala scored on the empty net with seconds left, but Maine couldn’t mount the comeback and Holy Cross won to earn the weekend split.
Boston College 6, New Hampshire 2 New Hampshire 1, Boston College 4
Ten different Eagles tallied points on Friday’s win for Boston College. Freshman Gaby Roy scored four goals in her college hockey debut to pace BC and Savannah Norcross added three assists. Willow Corson, and Jillian Fey were the other goal scorers for the Eagles. Brianna Brooks and Jada Christian scored for New Hampshire in the 6-2 loss.
In game two, it was a busy first period as Norcross and Fry scored to make it 2-0 at the midway point before Tamara Thierus responded for the Wildcats. But Hannah Bilka’s short-handed tally just before intermission doubled the lead once again and Kelly Browne’s goal in the third ensure a 4-1 win and weekend sweep for Boston College.
Colgate 3, Syracuse 2 (OT) Syracuse 1, Colgate 3
On Friday, Syracuse carried a two-goal lead well into the third period thanks to two opening frame goals from Rayla Clemons. But Colgate responded with two goals after the midway mark with goals from Maggie MacEachern and Malia Schneider to force overtime where Sydney Bard ended it just 19 seconds in to give the Raiders a 3-2 win.
In the second game, Eleri MacKay put the Raiders up 1-0 in the opening two minutes. Kristen Siermachesky responded shortly thereafter to knot it up at 1. It stayed close until the later part of the third period, where once again Colgate found another level and was able to pot two to earn the 3-1 win and weekend sweep. MacKay and Rosalie Demers were the goal-scorers.
Connecticut 2, Providence 6 Providence 1, Connecticut 1 (UConn won the shootout 2-0)
UConn got on the board first thanks to a power play goal from Savannah Bouzide. Brooke Becker responded for Providence with her own extra attacker tally to tie the game at 1. Caroline Peterson scored just before the horn to give the Friars a 2-1 lead heading into the second. Lauren DeBlois’ power play goal extended the lead in the second and Annelise Rice and Sara Hjalmarsson made it 5-1 early in the third. Danika Pasqua got one back for the Huskies, but Hayley Lunny quickly responded to make it a 6-2 win for Providence.
On Saturday, Maddy Coene put Providence up 1-0 and Bouzide responded with a power play goal in the final minute of the first to tie. That would be all the scoring until the shootout. It was Bouzide again that put UConn ahead and Natalie Snodgrass the scored to seal the win while Tia Chan stopped both Friar attempts to give the Huskies the additional shootout point.
UMass Lowell has postponed its hockey season opener against Providence, originally scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 28, after learning that a member of the program tested positive for COVID-19 during routine surveillance testing on Friday.
