Not so fast; UAH hockey is back
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (BVM) — In what was considered a cost-cutting measure due to the financial difficulties brought on by the COVID-19 era, the University of Alabama – Huntsville had to quickly make some changes regarding their athletic programs. This meant cutting both men’s and women’s tennis, and putting the entirety of the university on a hiring freeze. But the most surprising move was cutting the popular men’s hockey program.
The hockey program has been around since 1979, beginning as a club team that won back-to-back-to-back national championships in 1982, 1983 and 1984. Huntsville also boasts a professional hockey team, the Huntsville Havoc, who compete in the Southern Professional Hockey League. The sport of hockey holds a strong presence in the city, which is why alumni and fans came together to make sure the university’s hockey team could remain.
Led by the efforts of three former UAH hockey players — Sheldon Wolitski, Taso Sofikitis, and current NHL goaltender Cal Talbot — a GoFundMe page as well as a t-shirt campaign was set up to fundraise money for the UAH hockey program. The goal necessary to finance the team for the immediate future was $700,000, and that was knocked out of the park.
In just four days, alumni and fans donated a whopping $870,022, far exceeding the original goal. Wolitski and Sofikits donated $125,000 a piece, while Cal Talbot made a donation of an undisclosed amount. Overall, 65% of alumni donated for the cause, totaling $505,000.
The program also had some famous names on their side, from sportscasters to NHL players. Seven-time NHL All-Star and five-time Stanley Cup champion, Mark Recchi, made a donation to the program. SportsCenter talent John Buccigross voiced his support via social media, as well as NHL superstar Patrick Kane.
Through a UAH hockey press release, Wolitski made sure to mention that not only do the key boosters for the program want to raise this money, but they want to remain connected with the program and help them develop a deep-rooted plan for the future.
“We know there is more work ahead, and we are committed to creating a strategic plan to ensure the long-term success of the program.” Wolitski said.
Wolitski and Sofikitis said they will take a look into how the UAB football program was able to resurrect itself in 2016, after they were disbanded in 2015, and use that as a point of reference moving forward.
