NEWHA announces latest return to play update

WINTHROP, Mass. – Due to the continuing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the New England Women's Hockey Alliance will not host regular season or championship play during the 2020-21 academic year. Sacred Heart University and Long Island University remain committed to the student-athlete experience and will continue to play in January and February. 

Last week, the NEWHA membership collectively announced its intent to play a regular season league schedule starting in January, but since that time, the three NEWHA members that compete primarily in the Northeast-10 Conference (Saint Anselm, Saint Michael's, Franklin Pierce) announced plans to withdraw from conference-level play. Post University revealed its plan to withdraw from both winter and spring sports in mid-October. 

Sacred Heart, who started its season this past weekend at Quinnipiac, and LIU remain committed to ensuring the safety of their student-athletes, coaches and support staff members. Both universities will continue to abide by all local, state and NCAA health and safety protocols as it relates to intercollegiate competition.

Comprised of two NCAA Division I institutions and four NCAA Division II members, the NEWHA remains firmly committed to the growth of women's ice hockey. Elected to active NCAA Division I membership prior to the 2019-20 season, the league will welcome Stonehill College as its seventh member during the 2022-23 campaign.