When the coronavirus shut down everything on or around March 12, a strong case could be made that no sports team was more disappointed or distraught than the Minnesota State men's hockey team.
Looking to get to its first Frozen Four and possibly win a national championship, it was as good and deep and balanced a team as the Mavericks have ever had — at least at the Division I level. Seven seniors. Three All-Americans. One of the best goaltenders in college hockey. A burning desire to right some wrongs from previous postseasons.
As heartbreaking as last season's ending was, this season's start has been more frustrating, as COVID-19 continues to impact our lives.
After causing a month-plus delay to the start the season, the disease hasn't allowed for a smooth beginning, doing the same thing to hockey that it's done in college football and other sports.
The Mavericks opened the season with an impressive 5-0 victory at Bemidji State on Nov. 22 and had to postpone the next day's rematch due to positive COVID test results. The following week's home series against the Beavers was also postponed, and this weekend's series at Michigan Tech was pushed back a couple of days — to today and tomorrow. (Yes, the Mavericks are playing today!)
Tech (0-1-1) also hasn't played since Nov. 22.
As good as it will be to get MSU's season started again, there's already another glitch in the schedule, as next weekend's home games against Northern Michigan have been canceled due to a COVID situation at NMU. The following weekend, Minnesota State and Bemidji State are slated to play their rescheduled series in Mankato. The dates were free for MSU because Alaska Anchorage opted not to play this season (effectively putting the final nail in the coffin of the Seawolves' program).
The Mavericks and other WCHA teams appear to be doing their best to get the season going amid a tough and trying situation, but they're getting little traction out of the gate. MSU and BSU have each played just the one game, and Tech has played twice. Lake Superior State (3-0-2), Bowling Green (3-1-0) and Alabama Huntsville (0-2-1) have played a handful of games, although some of those were against a Division III team. Alaska, Ferris State and Northern Michigan have yet to play.
They're not alone. Several programs in the east have yet to get started while others, including Ivy League and some other ECAC teams, have canceled their seasons altogether.
So far, the Big Ten (with Arizona State as part of its schedule) seems to have be off to a good start, but that conference does not have a schedule beyond the end of December. The NCHC is trying out a bubble, with all of its teams beginning play in Omaha over a three-week stretch that started this past week. And then there's Long Island University, which, unbelievably, started a program from scratch during a pandemic and has played twice.
Nobody knows the right or wrong way to do this. Any outbreak or even a single positive test can throw any scheduling system out of whack. The hope is that everything is being done wisely and safely and that there are no short- or long-term health problems for anyone involved. (Remember: there are more than just players involved here; there are coaches and staff members and officials and media and more.)
Although Sundays (because of NFL games) and Monday afternoons are not ideal from a fan standpoint (no fans in the stands, of course, but some have paid for FloHockey or want to listen to the radio broadcast), the season is back on for Minnesota State.
As a media member, I've learned to loathe the "one game at a time" cliché over the years, but it's never been a more appropriate term than it is right now.
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