Updated: Oct 23, 2:40 p.m.
After initially releasing a draft of proposed schedules for men’s and women’s basketball as well as men’s hockey, the SUNYAC changed gears and announced Monday that all winter sports are now canceled.
The championships canceled also include men’s and women’s indoor track and field, and men’s and women’s swimming and diving. The status of wrestling is unknown.
On Oct. 23, the Northeast Women’s Hockey League also announced its cancellation of the 2020-2021 season, ending any hope of a women’s hockey season for Oswego State. The NEWHL’s press release called it a “difficult decision.”
A majority of the teams in the NEWHL – Oswego State, Plattsburgh State, SUNY Potsdam, Buffalo State, Morrisville State and SUNY Cortland – all have men’s programs in the SUNYAC. The sixth team, SUNY Canton, and its men’s program plays an independent schedule in Div. III.
“The priority must be to protect the health and safety of our student-athletes as well as the members of our campuses and communities,” said Tom DiCamillo, the commissioner of the NEWHL and SUNYAC. “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 press release from the SUNYAC said the decision was made out of “an abundance of caution.” The decision was made by SUNYAC presidents.
“This was not an easy decision and I empathize with all of our student-athletes across the SUNYAC,” said Erik Bitterbaum, the chairman of the SUNYAC presidents. “However, despite our best efforts to plan for a winter season, our priority must be the health and safety of everyone involved with intercollegiate athletics, and our campuses as a whole.”
The league is still internally planning the possibility of a spring sports season, but does not mention any return of fall sports in the spring. The decision will be made at a later date, according to the press release.
Oswego State Interim Director of Athletics Eric Summers said that there is hope that there will be some answers over the next few months so athletics can resume practices and competitions.
Summers also added there are a lot of unknowns with athletics, including safely conducting practices and competitions, plus testing protocols and safely traveling to different campuses.
“This was a very difficult decision, but the right one given the current situation with COVID,” Summers said. “My heart goes out to our athletes, but we will get through this stronger than before.”
