You do realize that is was not just the SUNYAC...ALL of NYS was shut down. We had to play game in Pa until things were lifted after the new year. On top of that, SEVERAL rinks remained closed causing a massive cluster trying to get practice ice, putting ice at a premium cost. On top of that, all the ridiculous COVID protocols (temp checks, tracking, no locker rooms, getting dressed outside in 10 degrees, 10 minute pre-entry, 15 minute post exit, no fans/no parents, no vendors, referee shortage, staff shortage to run rinks, funding to keep rinks open, I can go on). And even after that, you were not getting 18-24 year olds to live in a bubble. If one player tested positive, they would have been shut down. Schools were not willing to spend the $$ to put a team on the ice, just to get shut down. They don't have the budget like big DI schools do. On top of that we still live in a land of lawsuits. Mommy and Daddy would be so happy to go sue happy if their little boy or little girl got sick with COVID by playing hockey (even though we all know 99% of hockey cases never came from "the game" itself). Colleges didn't want to be responsible, exactly why most of them are requiring the vaccine to attend in September which I think will cause a major decline in enrollment.
Yes it sucked, but I can tell you this, as of our current state (being to our own largest youth hockey league meeting in NY, and our statewide league meeting) hockey will be a go all the way around. You will have some schools limiting fan participation on a school by school basis (at least here in NY) but hockey is here. We have begun an almost "normal" return, no masks, locker rooms open, fans in the stands, no temp checks, no more tracing. Though I will say scheduling my tournaments for next season, and paying for summer ice for my team, don't be surprised to see the cost of a game go up $$ to help soften the blow of taking a year off. We are seeing roughly a $25-$40 increase per hour in ice and $200-$300 more per tournament this year. Even USA Hockey is looking to eliminate the "free" hockey (no cost registrations) for the 8U and 6U levels to help increase their pocket books. But the biggest thing will be finding the help to cover games, practices ect. If its anything like it is now, some public rinks might not be able to open. No one wants to work. You should see the embarrassment at Six Flags Darien Lake right now. Half the park is closed because they cant get the help to run the park, but keep handing out that extra $800 a month to not work America. So if the SUNYAC doesn't run full speed ahead this year, I doubt it will have to do with the suit and ties deciding not to (unless we have another scaredemic outbreak). I know several teams are 100% full go for the season.
