UW returns to rink with season in limbo
MADISON – Wisconsin men's hockey coach Tony Granato has been busy.
There has been the preseason practice schedule to address, with the players set to begin working with the coaches Wednesday.
“It's exciting,” Granato said. “We haven't seen the players as a group for a long time.”
The National Hockey League playoffs, with several UW alums still competing, are in the midst of a successful run despite the COVID-19 pandemic.
“You can turn on the TV and watch four or five NHL games in one day,” Granato said. “There's games going on.”
Nevertheless, no one is certain when or if UW will play this season. The opener is still scheduled for Oct. 3 against visiting Michigan Tech, but Granato, his assistants and the players are waiting to hear from the Big Ten and NCAA on the status of the season.
“We're optimistic we're going to play,” Granato said. “We're preparing to play. Our players have the right mindset of coming in not knowing when our first game is going to be.
“Technically, we're still scheduled to play Oct. 3.
“Is that realistic? Probably not. There is still too much that has to be sorted out. Those games haven't been cancelled yet, but realistically I think there are going to be some decisions made that will again be in the best interests of the student-athletes.
“When those decisions are made we'll be ready to play and hopefully get a full season out of it.”
Men's and women's hockey teams have been sidelined since March 12 when the NCAA announced all winter and spring championships were being shut down because of the pandemic. The UW men's team did not qualify for the NCAA Tournament, but the women's team was 28-5-3 and appeared capable of winning another national title under coach Mark Johnson.
Big Ten officials are working on plans to get football up and running, perhaps as early as Thanksgiving week or the first week of January.
The league announced Aug. 11 it was scrapping its revised 2020 football schedule, but coaches and athletic directors have been working ever since to give their players the best option they can.
“I think we all understand and respect that there are important things being taken care of,” Granato said.
Granato has watched both the NHL and National Basketball Association successfully return to competition. He understands both leagues effectively created a bubble by taking their teams to neutral sites, an iffy option for college hockey.
“There are going to be thousands of people coming onto campuses from all different directions,” he said. “The stress of having that many people coming into your community would be a challenge for any city.”
However, he has been encouraged to see a physical sport like hockey played without any reports of infection.
“You remember hearing that playing a contact sport will never work,” Granato said. “So, I think there have been enough positive things and if we can focus on that and learn from what they are doing well, it might help us get back.”
What happens if the NCAA decides it is safer to delay the start of the hockey season until next year, perhaps the first week of January?
Granato believes teams still could play a 30-game regular season, capped by postseason play that could extend into late April.
“I think our number has to get above 30 and I think that is realistic,” he said. “We can't take weekends off and you might play three or four nights some weeks. And with the academic schedule being (mostly) online, it gives you more flexibility when you can play the games.
“You could play on a Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday.
“They'd still be able to handle the academic load.
“I think you could pull it off. It has been hard to sit on the sidelines and speculate about what might happen. It is frustrating.”