2020–21 Dartmouth Big Green men's ice hockey season explained

The 2020–21 Dartmouth Big Green Men's ice hockey season would have been the 115th season of play for the program and the 60th season in the ECAC Hockey conference. The Big Green represent Dartmouth College.

Season

As a result of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic the entire college ice hockey season was delayed. Despite the issues, Dartmouth and most of ECAC Hockey were expecting to start playing some time in November. After the teams had assembled and began practicing, however, a sizable number of Yale's players tested positive for coronavirus. On October 16, Yale raised the campus alert status from green to yellow when the 18th member of the men's ice hockey team tested positive.[1] Less than a month later, the Ivy League, Dartmouth's primary conference, announced that it was cancelling all winter sports for 2020–21. Additionally the schools would not be participating in any Spring sports until the end of February.[2] The announcement was not particularly surprising, considering that, unlike other conference, the Ivy League does not rely on revenue generated from its athletic programs.

Because the NCAA had previously announced that all winter sports athletes would retain whatever eligibility they possessed through at least the following year, none of Dartmouth's players would lose a season of play.[3] However, the NCAA also approved a change in its transfer regulations that would allow players to transfer and play immediately rather than having to sit out a season, as the rules previously required.[4] Because of this, players who would have been members of Dartmouth for the 2021 season had a pathway to leave the program and immediately play for another university.

Departures

Ryan Blankemeier Forward Graduation
Adrian Clark Goaltender Graduation
Ben DiMaio Defenseman Graduation
Will Graber Forward/Defenseman Graduation (signed with Hershey Bears)
Clay Han Defenseman Graduation
Forward Signed Professional Contract (Pittsburgh Penguins)
Dean Shatzer Goaltender Graduation
Cam Strong Forward Graduation
Daniel Warpecha Forward Graduation

Recruiting

Tyler Borsch Defenseman 20 Maple Grove, MN
Troy Burkhart Goaltender 19 Tampa, FL
Luke House Forward 20 Chicago, IL
Ryan Lovett Forward 20 Franklin, MA
Joey Musa Goaltender 19 Orange Park, FL
Ryan Sorkin Forward 19 Chicago, IL
Clay Stevenson Goaltender 21 Chilliwack, BC
Nick Unruh Forward 20 Fort McMurray, AB
Josh Waters Forward 20 Collegeville, PA
† played junior hockey or equivalent during 2020–21 season.

Roster

As of September 11, 2020.[5]

Schedule and Results

Season Cancelled

Players drafted into the NHL

2021 NHL Entry Draft

7 211 Robert Flinton Tampa Bay Lightning
† incoming freshman[6]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 18 members of Yale's men's ice hockey team test positive for Covid-19 . CNN . October 16, 2020. January 25, 2021.
  2. Web site: Ivy League cancels winter sports season, delays spring play . ESPN . November 12, 2020. January 25, 2021.
  3. Web site: NCAA approves blanket waiver for 2020 fall sports athletes to retain year of eligibility . CBS Sports . August 21, 2020. January 25, 2021.
  4. Web site: DI Council grants waiver to allow transfer student-athletes to compete immediately . NCAA . December 16, 2020. January 25, 2021.
  5. Web site: 2020–21 M Hockey Roster . DartmouthSports.com . July 2, 2018.
  6. News: NCAA player rankings, selections in 2021 NHL Draft . USCHO.com . July 24, 2021.