Union College announced in November that it was canceling its men’s and women’s 2020-2021 ice hockey seasons. This announcement followed a similar announcement by ECAC rival Rensselaer and the Ivy League. Citing spiking coronavirus cases nationwide and a desire to protect student safety, Athletic Director Jim McLaughlin ’93 announced the difficult decision. While athletes will not lose a year of eligibility whether or not they enroll, the decision forced several Union Dutchmen to reevaluate their plans and has led to a mass departure from the program.

Following Union College Athletics’ decision to cancel their season, several men’s ice hockey players entered the NCAA transfer portal for the purpose of joining a team that is still playing. Since then, at least five men’s ice hockey players have entered the portal with four confirmed transfers: Jack Adams, senior, to Providence College; Darion Hanson, senior, to the University of Connecticut; Colin Schmidt, sophomore, to the University of Minnesota; and Joseph Campolieto, senior, to Boston University. Additionally, Josh Kosack, a senior, will graduate in the spring and then explore transfer opportunities for a final year of eligibility. The mass departure is a dramatic blow to the Dutchmen’s plans to regain a winning formula when college hockey resumes next season.

The loss of talent is jarring and is unknown what long-term effects it will have on the Dutchmen’s ice hockey program. Jack Adams, a 6’6” Detroit Red Wings draft pick, projected to be the Dutchmen’s top goalscorer this season, will be taking his talents and remaining two years of eligibility to Providence. Adams’ late brother, Mark “Roo” Adams, won a national championship with the Friars in 2015. Darion Hanson will no longer be between the pipes at Messa Rink. The standout goaltender’s departure to UConn is a devastating blow as the 6’3” goaltender allowed only 2.55 goals per game while saving 0.913 percent of shots over his 78 games at Union. It is too early to tell whether the to date departures are the extent of the program’s transfers or more will inevitably hop on board the transfer express.