No. 6 DU hockey title quest ends due to virus
David Carle accurately predicted a worst-case scenario Thursday afternoon just before NCAA sports came to a screeching halt.
“It’s a legitimate fear for our seniors that they may have played their last game already,” Carle said.
The University of Denver hockey coach soon learned that his No. 6 Pioneers (219-6) would not play again due to the coronavirus pandemic. Hours later the NCAA made its decision to cancel all remaining winter and spring championships.
“I would rather have it postponed than canceled,” Carle said before the NCAA’s final call. “The hope is that we’re essentially doing a 10-to-14-day quarantine, it seems like as a society, to try and slow the spread. Whatever they decide to do, we’d rather play.”
DU hockey is not the only spring or winter sports program on campus with legitimate title aspirations. The Pioneers’ skiing team was in second place on Thursday at the NCAA championships when the event was called off. Additionally, DU was nationally-ranked in gymnastics and men’s/women’s lacrosse this season. The canceled NCAA indoor track and field championships were scheduled for Friday and Saturday in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The University of Colorado qualified seven individuals. Colorado State sent two participants.
“As everyone has said, it’s in the best interest to heed the experts’ advice,” Carle said. “If canceling things has been what’s going on, helps the general population, slows the spread and eases the tension on our hospital system, then at the end of the day, it’s the right call.”