Wahconah Cancels Hockey for 2020-21 Season

DALTON, Mass. -- Wahconah Regional High School has decided that it will not attempt to hold a high school hockey season this winter due to the potential limitations created by the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

Athletic Director Jared Shannon sent an email Monday evening to members of the hockey community explaining the decision.

 

"The primary factor is the fact that the the MIAA and the MIAA COVID-19 Task Force, in addition to CBRSD and Berkshire County, are encouraging athletic participation to happen within regions or competitive 'bubbles,' " Shannon wrote. "Unfortunately we have very limited options when it comes to high school hockey in Berkshire County. Given the fact that we are not going to be able to play in the Pioneer Valley and that we may not have any opponents in Berkshire County, we felt it prudent to make this decision at this time."

 

Wahconah, which has a cooperative team with Pittsfield and Taconic High Schools, was one of three high school teams in Berkshire County last season, along with coop teams hosted by Drury and Mount Everett. Neither of the other two programs have announced their plans for their athletic programs for 2020-21, and Monday's announcement concerns only the hockey team at Wahconah.

 

Shannon wrote that the district is waiting for guidance from the commonwealth about restrictions for all winter sports and has been hoping to offer an opportunity for players in the program to have some sort of experience, "even if it's to engage in conditioning."

 

Wahconah last winter advanced to the championship game of the Western Massachusetts Division 3A tournament.

 

"Please know that we were very much hoping to continue the excitement and success we saw last year," Shannon said. "Our 2019-20 team was truly fun to watch and we were certainly hoping for that same feeling this year. It is our hope that we will be back on the ice in 2021-22 as we open our new school and are ready to compete for a WMass Championship again."