MAAC announces scheduling model
in the creation process, including the MAAC Council of Presidents, MAAC Committee on Athletic Administration (COAA), MAAC staff and the MAAC Basketball Working Group. Their hard work made this possible. We are ready and committed to providing a safe playing environment for our student-athletes as we navigate the evolving landscape and possible disruptions to the schedule caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Hearst Connecticut Media reached out to the Northeast Conference, which includes Central Connecticut State and Sacred Heart, about the NEC announcing a similar plan and received an email stating, “NEC administrators are still discussing basketball plans. We will put out an announcement when the plans are finalized over the next two weeks.”
EDMONTON, Alberta — Nikolai Khabibulin wakes up in Yekaterinburg to watch NHL playoff highlights and beams with pride at the saves made by so many Russian goaltenders.
For the first time, there are three Russian starting goaltenders in the conference finals and two will face off in the final. Sixteen years after Khabibulin became the first Russian goalie to win the Stanley Cup, Anton Khudobin of the Dallas Stars, Andrei Vasilevskiy of the Tampa Bay Lightning and Semyon Varlamov of the New York Islanders are following his lead and showcasing the country’s strength between the pipes throughout multiple generations.
“It’s actually quite interesting to experience this because it has never happened before,” Khabibulin said. “I would’ve never thought this would happen, but it is happening.”
From Hall of Famer Vladislav Tretiak in the Red Army days to Khabibulin and Evgeni Nabokov last generation and guys now like Vasilevskiy, Varlamov and Florida’s Sergei Bobrovsky, Russia’s hockey history is full of strong goaltending. After a several-year gap caused by the downfall of the Soviet Union, the nation is again producing some of the best in the world with young prospects Igor Shesterkin, Ilya Sorokin, Ilya Samsonov and 2020 drafteligible Yaroslav Askarov making up the next wave of stars.
“It’s crazy now we have all those goalies because before that was our problem, but now we have so many great goalies,” Washington Capitals winger Ilya Kovalchuk said. “It says that hockey system is growing in Russia. The goaltenders who’s retired, they help the system to grow those young kids as good players. It’s great to see that many guys come to the NHL like Vasilevskiy, Varlamov and all those guys, Bobrovsky. They’re all dominating.