Photo by: David Stluka
Delayed start awaits Badger hockey programs for 2020-21 season
September 10, 2020 | Women's Hockey
MADISON, Wis. – The Big Ten Conference and the Western Collegiate Hockey Association, along with all the other Division I men's and women's ice hockey conferences, announced on Thursday that the start of the 2020-21 season will be delayed due to COVID-19.
The Big Ten and WCHA were joined by Atlantic Hockey, College Hockey America, Eastern College Athletics Conference (ECAC), Hockey East, the New England Women's Hockey Alliance (NEWHA) and the National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC) in the joint decision.
Statement from UW head coach Mark Johnson:
"As a program, we believe that this is the right step for the WCHA and college hockey. The health and safety of our student-athletes, coaches and staff has been and will continue to be our top priority. Last week, we were able to hold practices for the first time in 179 days since we found out that our 2019-20 season was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In the short time that I've had with our players, I know they are ready for any challenges that await them and they will be ready whenever we are able to play games. Â
Statement from the Hockey Commissioners Association:
"The eleven Division I men's and women's ice hockey conferences, represented by the Hockey Commissioners Association (HCA), are committed to providing memorable competitive experiences for our student-athletes during the upcoming season. The conferences have been working together on plans to return with a focus on the health and safety of everyone associated with 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 details on game schedules, including the start dates, individually. We look forward to our players and fans enjoying the college hockey experience this season."Â
Statement from WCHA Commissioner Jennifer Flowers:
"From day one, our discussions have centered around providing our student-athletes safe, meaningful competition opportunities. While our desire was to begin the season as scheduled, our Board and the leadership at our member institutions recognize that is not an option given the current climate.
"Our primary focus continues to be the health, safety and wellness of our student-athletes, coaches, support staffs, officials and fans. We are actively engaged in the crafting and implementation of a return to play model that includes a new start date, addresses the diverse guidelines our member institutions are operating under and recognizes today's ever-evolving medical and safety environments.
"This decision comes as our member institutions, which have only recently seen students return to campus, are concentrating on fulfilling their educational mission in the current landscape. Their success in tracking and meeting those challenges, coupled with rapid advances in COVID-19 testing, provide new data that inform our efforts. The League office and membership are working tirelessly to develop protocols allowing us to safely drop the puck on our season. We look forward to announcing a start date as soon as it is reasonable to do so." Â
The Big Ten and WCHA were joined by Atlantic Hockey, College Hockey America, Eastern College Athletics Conference (ECAC), Hockey East, the New England Women's Hockey Alliance (NEWHA) and the National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC) in the joint decision.
Whenever the puck drops, we'll be ready.#Badgers || #OnWisconsin pic.twitter.com/sPyAATWBSD
— Wisconsin Hockey (@BadgerWHockey) September 10, 2020
Statement from UW head coach Mark Johnson:
"As a program, we believe that this is the right step for the WCHA and college hockey. The health and safety of our student-athletes, coaches and staff has been and will continue to be our top priority. Last week, we were able to hold practices for the first time in 179 days since we found out that our 2019-20 season was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In the short time that I've had with our players, I know they are ready for any challenges that await them and they will be ready whenever we are able to play games. Â
Statement from the Hockey Commissioners Association:
"The eleven Division I men's and women's ice hockey conferences, represented by the Hockey Commissioners Association (HCA), are committed to providing memorable competitive experiences for our student-athletes during the upcoming season. The conferences have been working together on plans to return with a focus on the health and safety of everyone associated with 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 details on game schedules, including the start dates, individually. We look forward to our players and fans enjoying the college hockey experience this season."Â
Statement from WCHA Commissioner Jennifer Flowers:
"From day one, our discussions have centered around providing our student-athletes safe, meaningful competition opportunities. While our desire was to begin the season as scheduled, our Board and the leadership at our member institutions recognize that is not an option given the current climate.
"Our primary focus continues to be the health, safety and wellness of our student-athletes, coaches, support staffs, officials and fans. We are actively engaged in the crafting and implementation of a return to play model that includes a new start date, addresses the diverse guidelines our member institutions are operating under and recognizes today's ever-evolving medical and safety environments.
"This decision comes as our member institutions, which have only recently seen students return to campus, are concentrating on fulfilling their educational mission in the current landscape. Their success in tracking and meeting those challenges, coupled with rapid advances in COVID-19 testing, provide new data that inform our efforts. The League office and membership are working tirelessly to develop protocols allowing us to safely drop the puck on our season. We look forward to announcing a start date as soon as it is reasonable to do so." Â
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