MORRISVILLE, N.Y. – The Northeast Women's Hockey League (NEWHL) announced today the cancellation the 2020-21 season and league championship, with the health and safety of students and staff at its member institutions as the priority.

SUNY Morrisville is a member of the NEWHL, an NCAA Division III women's ice hockey league that features seven SUNY-based institutions, including Buffalo State, Canton, Cortland, Oswego, Plattsburgh and Potsdam.

"We understand this was a difficult decision to make, but the health and well-being of our student-athletes has been and will continue to be our priority as we navigate through this trying time together," said head women's ice hockey coach Melissa Lomanto.
 
"My commitment to the young women in this program remains unchanged. They are bright individuals with promising futures not only in ice hockey, but in their potential careers.
 
"I am proud of the commitment they made during this uncertain semester, not only academically and athletically, but to keeping the campus community safe as well."
 
Prior to this decision, the NEWHL Board of Directors had previously announced in August that it was delaying the start of the 2020-21 season until Jan. 1, 2021, with the goal of a safe return to competition.
 
"This is very difficult news to share with our student-athletes; we all wish they were able to play this season," said SUNY Morrisville Interim Athletics Director Todd Kleinhans. "However, it is beneficial that this difficult decision was able to be made in a timely manner, as it allows our student-athletes the opportunity to make informed decisions on how they proceed with their education for the Spring 2021 semester. We will continue to do all we can to keep our student-athletes and campus community safe, and hope for a safe return to our ice rinks, courts and fields soon."
 
The full statement from the NEWHL can be found on the conference website.
 
SUNY Morrisville's curricula are enriched with applied learning and pave the way for opportunity at both the Morrisville and Norwich campuses. An action-oriented, interactive learning lab, the college is a national leader in technology and has been lauded for its exemplary, innovative and effective community service programs.
 
The college was ranked among the Best Regional Colleges in the North by U.S. News and World Report Best Colleges 2020 issue and was among the top 10 performers for social mobility, and was also recognized in the Top Public Schools, Regional Colleges North in the 2020 Best Colleges rankings. For more information about SUNY Morrisville, visit www.morrisville.edu.