The Hockey East tournament is officially canceled, according to a league statement on Thursday. After the league announced on Wednesday that all of its postseason games would be played without spectators, on Thursday it released the statement saying it would be cancelling the tournament altogether, citing the utmost caution for the safety of all involved...
The Hockey East tournament is officially canceled, according to a league statement on Thursday.
After the league announced on Wednesday that all of its postseason games would be played without spectators, on Thursday it released the statement saying it would be cancelling the tournament altogether, citing the utmost caution for the safety of all involved amid the rapidly growing health crisis.Â
The quarterfinal round of the tournament was to begin on Friday and run through Sunday.Â
Hockey East’s decision to cancel comes is the fifth out of the six college hockey conferences to call off their postseasons because of the growing and wide-spread concerns related to the coronavirus and was made just hours after several professional and college sports leagues suspended play, including the NHL. Â
The Big Ten is the only conference that hasn’t canceled, but an announcement is expected later on Thursday.Â
The NCAA has yet to release a statement regarding the status of the national tournament. The Frozen Four this year is slated to be held in Detroit, April 9 and 11.
However, amid the four major sports leagues suspending their operations on Wednesday night and college athletic tournaments following suit on Thursday, it is highly doubtful it takes place.
New cases of coronavirus are being diagnosed hourly in the United States with new deaths occurring around the world. According to the CDC, as of Thursday at noon, in the U.S. 1,215 cases had been diagnosed in 42 states and the District of Columbia, with 36 deaths.
Liam Flaherty can be reached at lflaherty24@gmail.com and on Twitter @_LiamFlaherty.
