COVID Ends Duluth East Hockey Season
In an announcement on their Facebook page, the Duluth East Boys Hockey team said their season was over.
A positive COVID test came on the team just days before the first round of section playoffs. With the amount of time that the team would have to quarantine it would miss the section playoffs. So, the program decided to call off the season. This was a big blow to the team. They weren't a strong pick in the section but did have a chance to score an upset.
Duluth East came off of a 4-1 loss to Hermantown on Monday. They had two games left in the regular-season against Duluth Denfeld and Hibbing/Chisholm. Then it was to prepare for the playoffs.
The 2020-21 season has been a tough one for all the teams, but the timing of this one especially stings. If the season was a wash, the team could give up the season. The team was surging and did have a chance, even though everyone is picking Grand Rapids to represent the section.
Hermantown had a scare and had to quarantine, but it hasn't had any problems of late. This might be what the Minnesota State High School Tourney looks like. There might be some good teams that won't make it to the state finals because of COVID. There are already teams that are good that have a losing record because of COVID.
I can't imagine what it feels like to miss a promising season, or what it feels like to be that player that tested positive and ended the season for your teammates. All I can say is, you have to take the positives from the season.