Wednesday, August 31, 2016

Budget cuts could wipe out Alaska's college hockey programs; WCHA fights to remain competitive - Jason Gonzalez, Minneapolis Star Tribune

Budget cuts at the University of Alaska could mean the end of the state’s two college hockey programs. The university system recently released a report with three plans to accommodate for a struggling economy with big cuts directed at the two schools’ – Anchorage and Fairbanks – athletic departments. Two of the plans would eliminate both Division 1 hockey programs that compete in the 10-team WCHA. Other options would be to combine the two hockey programs or eliminate one, while keeping the other. Bemidji State and Minnesota State Mankato both compete in the WCHA, which offices out of Edina . The Gophers are scheduled to open the 2016-2017 season in Alaska with stops at Anchorage and Fairbanks. http://www.startribune.com/budget-cuts-could-wipe-out-alaska-s-college-hockey-programs-wcha-fights-to-remain-competitive/391084171/