2020–21 Yale Bulldogs men's ice hockey season

As a result of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic the entire college ice hockey season was delayed. Despite the issues, Yale and most of ECAC Hockey were expecting to start playing some time in November. After the team had assembled and began practicing, however, a sizable number of Bulldog players tested positive for coronavirus. On October 16, Yale raised the campus alert status from green to yellow when the 18th member of the men's ice hockey team tested positive.[1] Less than a month later, the Ivy League, Yale's primary conference, announced that it was cancelling all winter sports for 2020–21. Additionally the schools would not be participating in any Spring sports until the end of February.[2] The announcement was not particularly surprising, considering that, unlike other conference, the Ivy League does not rely on revenue generated from its athletic programs.

Because the NCAA had previously announced that all winter sports athletes would retain whatever eligibility they possessed through at least the following year, none of Yale's players would lose a season of play.[3] However, the NCAA also approved a change in its transfer regulations that would allow players to transfer and play immediately rather than having to sit out a season, as the rules previously required.[4] Because of this, players who would have been members of Yale for the 2021 season had a pathway to leave the program and play for another university.

While all Ivy League teams were shut down, the cancellation of Yale's ice hockey season was particularly galling. World Wars, the Great Depression and even their own home rink burning down had never completely hindered the Elis before but, for the first time in 125 years, Yale University would not play an official ice hockey game due to COVID-19.[5]

Player	Position	Nationality	Age	Notes
Niklas Allain	Forward	United States	21	North Branford, CT
Ian Carpentier	Forward	United States	20	Worcester, MA
Reilly Connors	Forward	United States	20	Madison, CT
Ryan Conroy†	Defenseman	Canada	19	Chestermere, AB
Nathan Reid†	Goaltender	United States	20	Madison, WI
Ryan Stevens†	Forward	United States	20	Duxbury, MA
Henry Wagner†	Forward	United States	19	St. Louis, MO

† played junior hockey or equivalent during 2020–21 season.

As of September 1, 2020.[6]

No.	S/P/C	Player	Class	Pos	Height	Weight	DoB	Hometown	Previous team	NHL rights
1		Connor Hopkins	Sophomore	G	6' 1" (1.85 m)	185 lb (84 kg)	2000-03-09	Malden, Massachusetts	West Kelowna (BCHL)	—
2		Jack St. Ivany	Junior	D	6' 3" (1.91 m)	200 lb (91 kg)	1999-07-22	Manhattan Beach, California	Sioux Falls (USHL)	PHI, 112nd overall 2018
3		Michael Young	Sophomore	D	6' 1" (1.85 m)	210 lb (95 kg)	1998-08-21	Medford, Massachusetts	Vernon (BCHL)	—
5		Brian Matthews	Senior	D	6' 0" (1.83 m)	195 lb (88 kg)	1998-04-21	Marshfield, Massachusetts	Omaha (USHL)	—
7		Brandon Tabakin	Sophomore	D	5' 10" (1.78 m)	160 lb (73 kg)	2000-05-21	Woodbury, New York	Sioux Falls (USHL)	—
8		Ryan Conroy	Freshman	D	5' 9" (1.75 m)	175 lb (79 kg)	2001-02-06	Chestermere, Alberta	Spruce Grove (AJHL)	—
9		Henry Wagner	Freshman	F	5' 9" (1.75 m)	170 lb (77 kg)	2001-05-11	St. Louis, Missouri	Drayton Valley (AJHL)	—
10		Reilly Connors	Freshman	F	6' 1" (1.85 m)	190 lb (86 kg)	2000-03-17	Madison, Connecticut	Bonnyville (AJHL)	—
11		Niklas Allain	Freshman	F	6' 2" (1.88 m)	180 lb (82 kg)	1999-09-08	North Branford, Connecticut	Boston Jr. Bruins (NCDC)	—
12		Dante Palecco	Senior	F	5' 11" (1.8 m)	185 lb (84 kg)	1998-04-18	Whippany, New Jersey	Green Bay (USHL)	—
14		Ryan Stevens	Freshman	F	6' 0" (1.83 m)	185 lb (84 kg)	2000-03-04	Duxbury, Massachusetts	South Shore (NCDC)	—
15		Kyle Johnson	Junior	F	5' 11" (1.8 m)	186 lb (84 kg)	1998-06-03	Port Moody, British Columbia	Prince George (BCHL)	—
16		Teddy Wooding	Sophomore	F	6' 0" (1.83 m)	180 lb (82 kg)	1999-12-30	Wrentham, Massachusetts	Vernon (BCHL)	—
17		Kevin O'Neil	Senior	F	5' 11" (1.8 m)	180 lb (82 kg)	1998-02-23	Latham, New York	Madison (USHL)	—
18		Justin Pearson	Junior	F	6' 1" (1.85 m)	185 lb (84 kg)	1998-05-17	Nashua, New Hampshire	Islanders (NCDC)	—
19		Quinton Ong	Sophomore	F	5' 10" (1.78 m)	170 lb (77 kg)	1999-07-23	Saskatoon, Saskatchewan	Canmore (AJHL)	—
20		Curtis Hall	Junior	F	6' 3" (1.91 m)	210 lb (95 kg)	2000-04-26	Chagrin Falls, Ohio	Youngstown (USHL)	BOS, 119th overall 2018
21		Tyler Welsh	Senior	F	5' 10" (1.78 m)	175 lb (79 kg)	1997-03-17	Whistler, British Columbia	Victoria (BCHL)	—
22		Hayden Rowan	Sophomore	F	5' 9" (1.75 m)	175 lb (79 kg)	1999-01-22	Pemberville, Ohio	Trail (BCHL)	—
23		Cole Donhauser	Sophomore	F	5' 11" (1.8 m)	180 lb (82 kg)	1999-12-27	Buffalo, New York	Chilliwack (BCHL)	—
24		Graham Lillibridge	Junior	D	5' 9" (1.75 m)	160 lb (73 kg)	1999-01-29	Geneva, Illinois	Chicago (USHL)	—
25		Phil Kemp (C)	Senior	D	6' 3" (1.91 m)	210 lb (95 kg)	1999-02-12	Greenwich, Connecticut	USNTDP (USHL)	EDM, 208th overall 2017
26		Brett Jewell	Senior	F	6' 2" (1.88 m)	195 lb (88 kg)	1996-11-09	Vernon, British Columbia	Merritt (BCHL)	—
27		Ian Carpentier	Freshman	F	6' 0" (1.83 m)	175 lb (79 kg)	2000-06-22	Worcester, Massachusetts	Boston Jr. Bruins (NCDC)	—
29		Nicholas MacNab	Senior	G	6' 2" (1.88 m)	185 lb (84 kg)	1996-07-15	Indianapolis, Indiana	Des Moines (USHL)	—
47		Nathan Reid	Freshman	G	6' 2" (1.88 m)	195 lb (88 kg)	2000-07-12	Madison, Wisconsin	Sioux Falls (USHL)	—
		Eddie Massaro	Senior	G	6' 0" (1.83 m)	180 lb (82 kg)	1998-06-16	Purchase, New York	Rye Country Day (USHS–NY)	—

Season Cancelled