FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Basketball, Ice Hockey Field Sizes Expanded; Swimming Dates and Location Change.
MANSFIELD, Mass. – Due to the impact of the recent surge in the COVID-19 pandemic, the Northeast-10 Conference announced Friday its revised plans for the upcoming winter championship season in the sports of men's and women's basketball, men's ice hockey and men's and women's swimming & diving.
On Thursday, the NE10 Athletics Council voted to expand the Conference's basketball and ice hockey tournament fields to include all programs. The expansion of the tournaments provide relief for institutions as they continue to manage game postponements and rescheduling as a result of COVID-19 protocols that have affected the entire Conference. Postseason dates and formats for basketball and ice hockey will be announced in the coming weeks.
Additionally, the Council voted to adjust the NE10 Swimming & Diving Championship dates to Thursday, Feb. 17 through Sunday, Feb. 20 to provide additional competitive opportunities for the Conference's swim programs prior to the start of the Conference championship. With the date change, the championship will move to the Hutchinson Natatorium on the campus of Southern Connecticut State University. The Swimming & Diving Championships were originally scheduled at the Sports & Recreation Center at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) from Thursday, Feb. 3 through Sunday, Feb. 6.
"I am appreciative of the continued commitment that our institutions have in prioritizing a safe and positive student-athlete experience this winter," said NE10 Commissioner Julie Ruppert. "Nearly two years into dealing with the COVID_19 pandemic, we continue to be nimble and accommodate changes when they are in the best interest of our student-athletes and our teams. The expansion of the team field sizes provides a championship opportunity for all of our teams at the end of what has proven to be a challenging regular season. The change in dates and venue for our swim championship affords our student-athletes two additional weeks for competition in a season that has certainly seen its share of disruptions."
Plans for the NE10 Indoor Track & Field Championship, currently set for February 24-25 at the Reggie Lewis Center in Boston, will come at a later date.
The NE10 and its 14 member institutions remain committed to prioritizing health and safety in all 24 of the Conference's sponsored sports.
ABOUT THE NE10
The NE10 is an association of 14 diverse institutions serving student-athletes across 24 NCAA Division II sports. Together we build brilliant futures by embracing the journey of every student-athlete.
Each year, 4,500 of those student-athletes compete in conference championships in 24 sports, making the NE10 the largest DII conference in the country in terms of sport sponsorship. Leading the way in the classroom, on the field and within the community, the NE10 is proud of its comprehensive program and the experience it provides student-athletes.
