Hockey East is aiming to begin its season in two weeks.
The league tweeted a nearly 2-minute video Friday containing highlights from its men’s and women’s games last season that ended with a black screen, the conference’s logo and the words “coming November 20.”
The UMass ice hockey team, which competes in Hockey East, has been practicing since October in isolated conditions. The seventh-ranked Minutemen last played March 5 to end the 2019-20 regular season. Hockey East canceled its conference tournament a week later.
In the intervening months, UMass lost last year’s leading scorer and Hobey Baker finalist John Leonard, who forgoed his senior season to start his professional career with the San Jose Sharks.
UMass added nine newcomers: three transfers and six freshmen. Sophomore defenseman Matthew Kessel was drafted in the fifth round of last month’s NHL Entry Draft by the St. Louis Blues, but he will return to Amherst.
Hockey East announced its plan to play a conference schedule in July. Only the ECAC hasn’t announced its start date among major conferences. Atlantic Hockey and the Big Ten will begin Nov. 13, the WCHA starts on Nov. 20 and the NCHC begins play Dec. 1.