On Wednesday, the Michigan High School Hockey Coaches’ Association (MHSHCA) met with the Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) to develop plans for a potential return to play date of Jan. 16th. The following will apply for the 2020-21 season, should the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) lift its restrictions on indoor gatherings, set to expire on Jan. 15th. 

• Practices can start on Jan. 16th, if MDHHS approval is given. First game would be allowed on Friday, Jan. 22nd, if practice is allowed to continue on Jan. 16th.
• A team would be allowed two games per day on a non-school day twice during the season. In those two weeks, a school could play up to four games in a week (on three dates). A tie or a shootout is the only way to end the game in the two games per day scenario.
• Regular-season games may be played until the last day of the MHSAA Finals in hockey, even after a team is eliminated from the MHSAA postseason (March 27th).
• The MHSAA hockey tournament (Regionals, Quarterfinals, Semifinals and Finals) would be played in a two-week period (this is the ‘old format’ used prior to the 2019-20 season) instead of the three-week period used in the 2019-20 season. Regionals would be played March 15-20, Quarterfinals played on March 23 and 24. Semifinals on March 25 and 26, with Finals on March 27th.
• MHSAA Hockey Semifinal and Finals would be held at USA Hockey Arena in Plymouth.
• Michigan Power Rankings (MPR) will be used during the 2020-21 hockey season. All regular-season games played through March 6th, would be used to determine the MPR. To be in consideration for one of the top two seeds in the MHSAA Regionals, a minimum of eight regular-season games must be played.

• The contest limit of 25 games is not changed. This is a local decision as long as a team does not exceed the weekly or season maximums. Schools, teams or leagues can determine to play fewer than 25 games.

Coaches with any questions regarding the details of this plan, or requiring further explanation, can contact MHSHCA president Mark Vellucci.