RPI Latest NCAA Program to Cancel Season

RPI announced today that it will become the latest NCAA program to cancel its 2020-21 hockey season. RPI’s decision comes on the heels of RIT, Alaska-Anchorage and the Ivy League announcing similar decisions last week.

RPI goalie Owen Savory entered the transfer portal last week, which many took as a precursor that bad news was coming. Under new NCAA rules for this year, due to COVID, all players will receive an extra year of eligibility.

“While this decision maybe isn’t a surprise, this has been very hard on the leadership of our hockey program,” RPI coach Dave Smith told College Hockey News. “The players themselves, today was an opportunity for dialogue which was much needed. One of the biggest points of frustration for the athletes is, they haven’t had a voice other than through me to the cabinet, board and (school president) Dr. (Shirley) Jackson … and so the dialogue today with Dr. McElroy was good.”

RPI became the ninth school to cancel its 2020-21 season, following RIT, Alaska-Anchorage and the six Ivy League schools.

This also puts the ECAC in a difficult position. With the six Ivy League schools already having canceled and now RPI following with their own cancelation, the ECAC is down to just five teams for the 2020-21 season.

“Long term for RPI hockey, this is a major blow,” Smith said. “We’ve got an unbelievable staff that has helped us create a lot of momentum that ended abruptly in March. We’ll continue. Our guys have been working their tails off. And we’ll find a way to build back. It will absolutely be a challenge, but it’s one I feel our staff can handle. We’ll play the cards we’re dealt, and I love the guys playing the cards on our part.”