By @MichaelCaples –
The high school hockey state playoffs were put on hold on March 12 in the hopes that they would be able to finish at a later date.
Today, the Michigan High School Athletic Association announced the cancellation of all winter and spring sport seasons.
The decision comes “in compliance with the Thursday (April 2) “state of disaster” directive by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer closing school buildings and moving education online for the remainder of the school year to help decrease the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus.”
It will be the first year since 1942-43 that the high school state finals did not take place for multiple sports; that cancellation took place because of World War II.
“We are heartbroken to not be able to provide these opportunities for Michigan’s student-athletes, and especially seniors. We continue to hear from dozens asking us to hold out hope. But safety always must come first, and Governor Whitmer is making courageous decisions to safeguard the people of our state,” MHSAA Executive Director Mark Uyl said. “We understand as much as anyone how much school sports mean to athletes and their communities. We had ideas and hopes for finishing Winter and Spring and helping bring some sort of normalcy after this long break. But this is the correct decision, and we will play our part in bringing schools and communities together again when the time is right.
“For now, we cannot state strongly enough that all students, staffs and others follow the guidelines established to slow the spread of this virus – we all must do our part.”
No champions will be crowned, per the MHSAA, but regional and district titles will stand in the record books.