Gwoz to Huntsville?

This would be a bold move by the UAH administration, but it would also be a step in the right direction. After all the UAH hockey program has been through in the past couple of years, it would be nice to see them land a top notch coach like George Gwozdecky.

USCHO.COM -- According to WHNT in Alabama, ousted Denver coach George Gwozdecky is a candidate for the vacant Alabama-Huntsville head coaching position and spent Wednesday afternoon on campus.

Reportedly, Gwozdecky was seen walking into Spragins Hall with UAH athletics director E.J. Brophy.

It is unclear if Gwozdecky has actually interviewed, but the TV station did say that “it seems like Gwozdecky is on the short list as a replacement.”

College Hockey Inc. will ask the NCAA about a UAH exemption

Image via WikipediaI was wondering if something like this would happen in the future? UAH has had a tough time scheduling games in Huntsville, Alabama so this would be a good way from teams to add a couple more games to their schedule much like the Alaska Exemption.

Joe Paisley, USCHO ---- College Hockey Inc. will ask the NCAA next month to add a temporary travel exemption for Alabama-Huntsville in hopes of helping the struggling independent team schedule more home games.

The NCAA’s travel exemption, which allows schools to travel for games in Alaska and Hawaii and not have them count toward their season limit — 34 regular-season contests in Division I hockey — would need to be passed soon. Many hockey programs are close to finalizing next season’s schedule if the administrators haven’t already.

College Hockey Inc. executive director Paul Kelly said the organization, which promotes the college game, would ask for the exemption to last two to three years during its regularly scheduled meeting with top NCAA officials.

s/t to Joe Paisley who recently was laid off from this job the Colorado Springs Gazette, he can now be found at Paisley Hockey...Joe is one of the best in the business and I wish him the best.

Related articles

• Save - UAH Hockey (mvn.com)
• Save UAH Hockey - a program on the "brink" (mvn.com)
• Effort to Save UAH underway... (mvn.com)

Alabama Lawmaker Leading Last-Ditch Effort To Save UAH Hockey

Image via WikipediaIt would appear that there is still a glimmer of hope to save the UAH Hockey program. Some wealthy donors, whose names have not been revealed, have said they will donate 1.5 Million to keep the UAH hockey program running. That is a lot of money and I think you could support a Division I hockey program with that kind of a donation. [Link to the video]

HUNTSVILLE, AL— Details of the plan have yet to be revealed, but Williams said it involves a group of wealthy hockey supporters who would fund the team's yearly budget of $1.5 million. But even if enough money was raised, there's no guarantee that a decision which dropped the program from varsity status could be reversed.

The death blow for Charger hockey appeared to come last week, when officials announced that UAH would no longer field a varsity team. University of Alabama System Chancellor Dr. Malcolm Portera cited lack of finances as the main reason behind eliminating hockey, which will be relegated to club level status starting next year.

Rep. Williams is an avid hockey fan, and said he has also been discussing the matter with Governor Robert Bentley's office. A meeting between the two is scheduled for later in the week.

UA-Huntsville Athletic Director E.J. Brophy said he had been contacted about the last-ditch effort, but said financial committments would have to be made in a matter of days if varsity hockey were to stay alive.

"I am aware that there are some people who want to help, and quite frankly we appreciate that sentiment," said Brophy. "If there is a benefactor, a heavy hitter, a benevolent angel that wants to write a monster check, that needs to happen very, very quickly."

The UA-Huntsville Athletic Department said for now they were moving forward with plans to convert hockey into a club level sport starting next year.

Related articles

• Effort to Save UAH underway... (mvn.com)
• Save UAH Hockey - a program on the "brink" (mvn.com)
• Save - UAH Hockey (mvn.com)
• Alabama-Huntsville Dropping Men's Ice Hockey as NCAA Sport (bleacherreport.com)
• With the UAH hockey program threatened, their fans and students try to save it again (prohockeytalk.nbcsports.com)
• You: Future of the University of Alabama-Huntsville Hockey Program in Question (bleacherreport.com)
• What Conference Should Alabama Huntsville Join? (stupidhockey.typepad.com)
• RW77′s Take on Conference Realignment Part 2 (mvn.com)
• Best Of The SB Nation Network: October 24, 2011 (sbnation.com)

UAH students vote to keep hockey at Division I level

Image via WikipediaHere is the latest information regarding the UAH hockey program. Nice to see the student getting behind their hockey program which is in dire straights and needs a conference to play in. It's time for the WCHA to step up and accept the Chargers. 

HUNTSVILLE, Alabama -- The student government association at the University of Alabama in Huntsville voiced its support of the school's beleaguered hockey program.

The SGA announced in a press release today that it voted to keep the Chargers hockey program at the NCAA Division I level rather than scale back to club level or abolish the program altogether.

The UAH hockey program is under close scrutiny from Dr. Malcolm Portera, chancellor of the University of Alabama System. Portera is considering scaling back the hockey program to a club team to save on expenses. Portera said maintaining hockey at the Division I level would cost the school about $1.5 million annually.