University of Alabama Huntsville saves their hockey team.

[Neutral Corner]

Reminiscent of the UAB fans fighting to bring back football. This still has to be blessed by the UA System trustees, but since they don't have to pay for it that's a formality.

Talbot, alumni keep hockey at University of Alabama in Huntsville

$17 million pledged to support ice hockey at UAH, program aims for ‘long-term’ future

 

[Scout]

I thought it was spring pond practice being cancelled.

 

[UPChip]

I'm pretty skeptical. UAH has soldiered on for a while, but the money that is being ponied up is not enough to build a rink, and their location makes their travel costs brutal. The last time they lost their conference affiliation put them on death's door and they lost it again because the mostly-D2 membership of the WCHA blew up the league and re-formed it as the CCHA mostly to keep the travel footprint within the Great Lakes. This might be enough of a financial commitment to convince the other ADs to let them in the door, but I doubt it, especially given what the coronavirus has done to their budgets.

If you're stumbling upon this and thinking, hockey in Huntsville, Alabama? How preposterous! It's actually not. UAH has been a thing (albeit not a particularly good one) in college hockey for 20-30 years in one way shape or another, but the current climate of college athletics does not look kindly upon outliers, and UAH most definitely is one.

 

[Neutral Corner]

I can't disagree. They have been good at points in the past, but the lack of conference affiliation that allows for reasonable travel cost is just killing them. The BoT will let them have it for as long as they can pay for it, basically. I don't think it's truly viable without an angel.

I don't throw rocks because I lost my team. I understand what they're trying to do and wish them all the luck in the world.

 

[UPChip]

I can't disagree. They have been good at points in the past, but the lack of conference affiliation that allows for reasonable travel cost is just killing them. The BoT will let them have it for as long as they can pay for it, basically. I don't think it's truly viable without an angel.

I don't throw rocks because I lost my team. I understand what they're trying to do and wish them all the luck in the world.

If you don't mind the quasi-outing, what team was that? I grew up watching Northern Michigan and helped cover Michigan Tech (which just released an incredible new sweater for their COVID-ruined 100th Anniversary season) and am still in the finest of college hockey markets, so it's kind of my jam.

 

[SixToe]

UAH began as a club team in 1979. They've had more ups and downs than the Scream Machine at Six Flags. I don't see this being much more than a dream and wish them well, but without a solid conference affiliation this is the last gasp.

 

[Neutral Corner]

If you don't mind the quasi-outing, what team was that? I grew up watching Northern Michigan and helped cover Michigan Tech (which just released an incredible new sweater for their COVID-ruined 100th Anniversary season) and am still in the finest of college hockey markets, so it's kind of my jam.

It is far, the length of I-10 far, from unknown that I am the board UAB fan. I was speaking of the knifing of my football team.