Update – 4:00 p.m.
ATTENDANCE POLICY: ESSENTIAL STAFF AND APPROVED FAMILY ATTENDANCE ONLY. NO PUBLIC ALLOWED.
BEVERLY, Mass. — The Endicott men’s ice hockey team (22-5-0) will host Plymouth State University (15-9-3) in the first round of the NCAA Division III Men’s Ice Hockey Tournament on Saturday, March 14 at 4 PM. Here’s a preview of Saturday’s matchup, which will be broadcast online here: https://portal.stretchinternet.com/ecgulls/
FIVE THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW
- Endicott enters this weekend’s contest ranked No. 7 overall in the latest USCHO.com Poll.
- Plymouth State captured its second straight Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) Championship and fourth overall with a 6-2 win over UMass Dartmouth on March 7.
- Among all NCAA Division III programs, the Panthers are nationally ranked No. 18 in scoring offense (3.74 G/GM), No. 42 in scoring defense (2.96 G/GM), No. 25 in scoring margin (0.78), No. 6 in penalty minutes (11.1 PIM/G), No. 18 on the power play (24-104, 23.1%), No. 43 on the penalty kill (81-99, 81.8%), and No. 32 in combined special teams (105-203, 51.7%).
- Meanwhile, the Gulls are nationally ranked No. 13 in scoring offense (4.00 G/GM), No. 4 in scoring defense (1.74 G/GM), No. 6 in scoring margin (2.26), No. 3 in penalty minutes (20.0 PIM/G), No. 23 on the power play (31-142, 21.8%), No. 14 on the penalty kill (128-148, 86.5%), and No. 11 in combined special teams (159-290, 54.8%).
- Endicott is 2-1-0 all-time against Plymouth State. Games in the series include: 1/8/17 (W, 5-1, Beverly, Mass.), 10/27/17 (L, 3-2, Beverly, Mass.), 12/6/18 (W, 8-2, Plymouth, N.H., Panthers were nationally ranked No. 13 in the country).
BEVERLY – The rapidly changing circumstances surrounding COVID-19 requires extraordinary changes to our typical schedule as we remain focused on the health and welfare of our student-athletes, staff, and the entire Endicott community. We are in constant contact with our local health authorities and are following all CDC and NCAA guidelines regarding this fluid situation. While we have no diagnosed cases of COVID-19 at Endicott or within the City of Beverly, at this time, it is vital that we, as a community, are proactive regarding these unprecedented times. The aim of our discussions has been to move as quickly and thoughtfully as possible. In the coming days, we are asking for your understanding and consideration as we continue to evaluate our next steps. A more complete and comprehensive message from Endicott President Dr. Steven R. DiSalvo can be viewed here, which outlines steps that the College is taking as of March 12th, 2020 at 9:30 AM.
Public health authorities advise that practicing “social distancing” is the best way to slow the spread of infection and prevent the challenges of providing care for many people being infected at once. We, therefore, looked for opportunities to eliminate, as much as possible, the need to congregate. We also sought to minimize the risk that COVID-19 would be introduced to our campus from the outside.
We encourage all Endicott community members to practice standard precautions regarding hand hygiene, good cough and sneeze etiquette, and to take precautions against COVID-19.
Any student-athletes who have underlying health issues, who may be immuno-compromised or those that are not comfortable continuing participation should communicate with their coaches to discuss travel home without penalty.
Therefore, we are taking the following measures, effective immediately:
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Endicott Women’s Ice Hockey will travel to Middlebury, Vermont to compete in the Quarterfinal Round of the NCAA Tournament on Saturday, March 14th, as scheduled.
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Endicott Men’s Ice Hockey will host Plymouth State University in the First Round of the NCAA Tournament on Saturday, March 14th, as scheduled. (Essential staff and approved family attendance only. No public allowed.)
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Club sports will be suspended until further notice.
- Intramurals and recreation events/classes have been canceled through April 6th.
Facilities
Post Sport Science & Fitness Center
- Post Center and Athletic Facilities are closed to the public and open to approved personnel only. Extra steps are being taken to further disinfect public spaces and locker rooms.
Raymond J. Bourque Arena
- Bourque Arena will only be open to previously contracted groups with limitations and restrictions.
Spring Break
We will be continuing to evaluate the landscape and will be making decisions regarding future travel and competitions, but at this time the following restrictions are in place:
The following events have been canceled:
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Softball Spring Training Trip to Clermont, Florida (March 14th-March 21st)
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Baseball Spring Training Trip to Lexington, South Carolina (March 13th-March 22nd)
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Men’s Tennis Spring Training Trip to Maryland and Pennsylvania (March 16th-March 17th)
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Men’s Lacrosse Spring Training Trip to Clermont, Florida (March 13th-March 18th)
- Women’s Rugby NEC7C’s Home Tournament (March 14th)
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Men’s Volleyball Trip to Western New York (March 18th-March 21st)
Residence and Dining Hall
Endicott student-athletes with trips canceled will be staying in their respective residence halls along with access to dining services.
Spectators
At this time, all athletic events are closed to the public. Essential staff and approved family attendance only. Tailgating at these events is highly discouraged. All visiting teams are asked to travel with student-athletes and essential personnel only.
Non-traditional season
All Endicott out-of-season, non-traditional practices, and competitions are postponed at this time.
Strength & Conditioning
We are still evaluating strength & conditioning sessions for those student-athletes who are competing over spring break.
Club Sports
Club sports will be suspended until further notice.
Intramurals & Recreation
Intramurals and recreation events/classes have been canceled through April 6th.
Next Steps
While this is not an easy decision to make, we feel that it is being made in the best interest of our student-athletes and our entire Endicott community. We are aware of the impact of these decisions. However, our top priority is the health and welfare of the entire Endicott community, and to minimize the risk of exposure to COVID-19. We are taking these actions now, as disruptive as they might be, to lessen the risk of facing greater challenges and consequences in the future. We appreciate your patience and understanding as we navigate these challenging circumstances.
Please know that we continue to work with College administration to review, update, and communicate plans. This is an extremely fluid situation and all guidelines are subject to change with little notice.
For more information, please view Endicott’s COVID-19 website.
For CDC guidance for institutions of higher education, please click here.
Family, friends, and fans of Endicott and visiting institutions are encouraged to watch games online. For the most up-to-date athletics information, please visit www.ecgulls.com.
