The UAA athletic director on Thursday said the Seawolves consider Alabama Huntsville a “partner” in preserving the Western Collegiate Hockey Association, even though Huntsville this week submitted a letter of withdrawal to league officials.
UAA, UAF and Huntsville were blindsided this summer when seven of the WCHA’s 10 teams announced they intended to leave the league and start their own “elite” conference.
UAA athletic director Greg Myford said the three schools still have a common purpose — maintaining the WCHA’s status as “a vibrant Division I hockey conference.” The WCHA is the oldest conference in college hockey and boasts the team currently ranked No. 1 in the nation — Minnesota State, which is hosting the Seawolves in a two-game series this week.
“Having participated in some recent calls about options for the WCHA beyond the 2020-21 season, UAA's understanding is that we are joined by both UAH and UAF in wanting to remain as partners in the league and seeing what can be accomplished in identifying and welcoming other hockey programs to join us in the WCHA for the 2021-22 season and remaining a vibrant Division I hockey conference," Myford said in a prepared statement.
Seven schools — Minnesota State, Michigan Tech, Lake Superior State, Northern Michigan, Bemidji State, Ferris State and Bowling Green — in June announced their intention to leave the WCHA at the end of the 2020-21 season.
More recently, Huntsville submitted its letter of withdrawal to leave at the same time, a move a school spokesperson described as “procedural,” according the website Tech Hockey Guide.
Todd Bell, the WCHA’s manager of communications, said earlier this week that Huntsville “remains involved in on-going discussions with UAA and UAF regarding all options for continuing the WCHA beyond the 2020-21 season.”
This is the 68th season of play in the WCHA, the oldest Division I conference in college hockey. It’s one of six Division I conferences in the nation.