After the University of Maine men’s and women’s basketball teams announced Tuesday afternoon they wouldn’t be playing this upcoming weekend in a tip off tournament at Mohegan Sun in Connecticut, news came down later in the afternoon that all winter sports teams that includes both basketball teams and men’s and women’s ice hockey will now pause all activity until at least December 8.
President Joan Ferrini-Mundy, after consulting with other campus leaders, decided to make that decision based off positive COVID-19 tests and close contact among players, coaches, and staff in the varsity athletic programs. Practices and other organized activities will be modified over the next two weeks. All basketball games involving the Black Bears between November 25-December 8 have been canceled and will not be made up, while the hockey contests can be flexed back in by Hockey East at a later date. The University will re-evaluate the situation on December 8. All testing protocols will continue however during the pause.
Ferrini-Mundy said in a statement, “We love to see our Black Bears compete, but the health of our student athletes, coaches, staff and communities comes first. We are responding to test results and contact tracing to prevent the further spread of infection within Athletics, throughout the university community and beyond. Athletic Director Ken Ralph added, “While this interruption will be difficult on our teams, it is in keeping with our premise that the health and safety of our community is the priority. We will do all we can to positively engage our students in the safest way possible. We are grateful for the support we have received and our teams look forward to returning to competition when it is deemed safe to do so.”
