Wednesday, March 11, 2020

Coronavirus Chases Out NCAA Tournament Crowds


First it was Rensselaer, followed by Cornell in banning spectators, and then the Ivy League as a whole canceling its entire spring season.

Now, no spectators will be allowed at any of the games of the 2020 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey tournament, or any NCAA tournament in any sport this spring, as stipulated by the college governing body today in response to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

That includes the Division I men's ice hockey regionals in: Albany, N.Y.; Allentown, Pa.; Loveland, Col., and; Worcester, Mass., on March 27-29 There will also be no spectators allowed at the 2020 Frozen Four at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit in April, the first time the championship is being held in that building, and the first time in the Motor City since Ford Field hosted the 2010 NCAA Frozen Four.

According to USCHO.com, "only credentialed institutional personnel, student-athlete family members, credentialed media crews and official team party members will be allowed to attend games."

The 2020 ECAC Hockey men's championship quartefinals have also been re-worked, as Harvard and Yale will no longer participate. Princeton will now play at Quinnipiac, and Colgate will vist Rensselaer this weekend, while top-seeded Cornell and No. 2 Clarkson will receive byes to the league semifinals in Lake Placid the following weekend.

ADDENDUM: The remainder of the 2020 ECAC Hockey championship through Lake Placid has been canceled., along with the rest of the men's WCHA championship. The NCAA Tournament has also been canceled.

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