Minnesota Duluth men’s hockey players give a traditional stick salute after a weekend sweep.
The Hockey Commissioners Association, which includes all 11 men’s and women’s Division I college hockey conference commissioners, announced Thursday a delay to the start of the 2020-21 college hockey season.
The HCA’s statement reads:
“The eleven Division I men’s and women’s ice hockey conferences, represented by the Hockey Commissioners Association (HCA), are committed to providing memorable experiences for our student-athletes during the upcoming season. The conferences have been working together on plans to return to play with a focus on the health and safety of everyone associated within our campus communities. Due to the impact COVID-19 continues to have across the country and within higher education, the start of competition for the Division I college hockey season will be delayed. Each conference will announce plans for the season individually. We look forward to enjoying the college hockey experience this season.”
UMD’s men’s team plays its games as a member of the National Collegiate Hockey Conference. In a separate statement Thursday, the NCHC said it anticipates competition for its member schools will begin “on or around November 20.”
“The health and safety of all involved across the campus communities, particularly our student-athletes, is the top priority,” said NCHC Commissioner Josh Fenton. “We fully expect NCHC hockey to be back this season. As COVID-19 continues to have an impact on higher education, we have an obligation to host athletic competitions in a safe and responsible manner. We are committed to doing everything we conceivably can to provide competitive experiences that our student-athletes deserve. This delay affords us valuable time to continue formulating plans to start the season successfully.”
The Bulldog women play in the WCHA, which did not offer a specific target date for the start of the season. Commissioner Jennifer Flowers said the league will give specifics when it is appropriate to do so.
UMD’s men’s team had been scheduled to open its season Oct. 16-17 at Northern Michigan, while the women were to kick things off Sept. 25-26 at Bemidji State.
