Michigan was to play defending national champion Minnesota Duluth on Friday afternoon.
The Michigan hockey team has been forced to withdraw from the NCAA Tournament, receiving the news just hours before its scheduled game against 2019 national champion Minnesota Duluth on Friday afternoon. Michigan had multiple positive COVID-19 tests. “I’m devastated for these players. These student-athletes have done a wonderful job all year of making sacrifices to get to this point of the year,” head coach Mel Pearson said in a statement. “It’s unfortunate. I don’t completely understand the final decision but I have to respect it. “They’ve given so much and to get this opportunity taken away from them, it’s hard to swallow. I know it’s just a game, but it’s extremely important to these young men. It’s two years in a row now we’ve been denied an opportunity to compete in the national championship. It has quite sunk in yet.” The decision was made by the NCAA Division I Men’s Ice Hockey Committee and the NCAA Medical Advisory Group. The NCAA said local health authorities were consulted, as well. Michigan said there were positive tests within the program’s Tier I testing group. The NCAA said because of “privacy issues,” no further details can be provided. Michigan (15-10-1), ranked eighth and seeded second, was to place Minnesota Duluth (14-10-2), ranked ninth and seeded third, were to play at 4 p.
