SYRACUSE, N.Y. – With the priority being the health and safety of students and staff at member institutions, the Northeast Women’s Hockey League has made the difficult decision to cancel its 2020-21 conference schedule and league championship. The conference announced the decision on Friday, Oct. 23.
“The priority must be to protect the health and safety of our student-athletes as well as the members of our campuses and communities,” Tom DiCamillo, commissioner of the NEWHL, explained. “We are disappointed in having to make this decision and feel for our student-athletes; however, our intention is to stay safe and united as a league, and prepare for the 2021-22 season.”
The conference transitioned from the ECAC West to the NEWHL in 2017-18, which the Potsdam Bears joined with Buffalo State, Cortland, Oswego and Plattsburgh. Morrisville and Canton joined the league last season bringing the total number of schools to seven to secure a permanent NCAA Division III automatic qualifier in the national championship tournament. Potsdam has qualified for the NEWHL tournament in two of the league’s three seasons, earning the No. 2 seed in 2018-19.
