Coarsair hockey players will not be hitting the ice this winter after the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference announced Nov. 13 that it would cancel all competition for the season.

“We explored countless scenarios to find a safe path forward with the evolving recommendations and policies from the NCAA and the state for our winter sport student-athletes,” said MASCAC Commissioner Angela Baumann. “After consultation with our medical staff and athletic directors, the MASCAC Presidents came to the conclusion there is not a way to ensure the safety of our student-athletes and staff with off campus winter competition, the risks are far too great.”

Out of all of UMass Dartmouth’s winter sports programs, only hockey is in MASCAC.

Athletic Communications Jim Seavey noted that the school’s four other winter sports — men’s & women’s basketball and men’s & women’s indoor track and field — are not affected since they compete in the Little East Conference, which said a decision on its season would be made by Dec. 15.

“Though we share in the disappointment this decision creates, the Department of Athletics and Recreation fully supports the action taken by the MASCAC to [ensure] the continued health, safety and well-being of our student-athletes, coaches and staff,” he said.

Seavey noted that UMass Dartmouth is currently exploring ways to provide its ice hockey student-athletes with practice, conditioning and training opportunities “ in adherence to the NCAA Sports Science Institute's Resocialization guidelines.”

In September, the university saw a minor outbreak among students who had hired rink time to practice ice hockey at Hetland Arena in New Bedford.

An announcement on those opportunities will be made in late December.