Hockey East Announces Intent for 2020-21 Season

The Hockey East Association announced this week its intent to play the 2020-21 college hockey season while prioritizing competition between league members and the completion of a regular-season schedule. Details regarding the new schedules, including a new start date and specifics of regular-season competition, will be released at a later date, the league said in a release.

“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,” the league said. “Ultimately, Hockey East is committed to providing the best experience possible for its student-athletes.”

Hockey East said that it will be emphasizing competition between Hockey East member institutions. 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 said it 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,” said the release. “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.”