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UAF aka the Alaska Nanooks have opted out for the 2020-21 season....
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fairbanks hockey puck
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Updated: Nanooks cancel hockey, basketball seasons
Julie Stricker, jstricker@newsminer.com
Dec 11, 2020 Updated 2 hrs ago
UPDATED 6:30 p.m.: As the COVID-19 pandemic worsens, the University of Alaska Fairbanks has decided that its basketball and hockey teams will not compete in what's remaining of their conferences' postponed and abbreviated seasons, according to University of Alaska Fairbanks Chancellor Dan White.
Last month, the Western Collegiate Hockey Association in which the Alaska Nanooks hockey team competes, asked teams whether they wanted to opt in or opt out of the season. The University of Alaska Anchorage opted out, but UAF said it would wait to see if it would be safe for athletes to compete. They made the same decision with the Great Northwest Athletics Conference, in which the Nanooks basketball team competes.
"What that meant was we wanted to reserve the right to play and we wanted to play," White said. "Unfortunately, the pandemic has not gotten better; it's gotten worse," noting that athletics events around the country have been postponed or canceled.
Another concern, he said, was what would happen if an athlete contracted COVID-19 while playing in the Lower 48. It would be challenging to get the student back to campus or their home because they would not be able get on an airplane.
Today is the last day of finals, White said, and the administration wanted to make the decision now so students could plan where they would be over the holidays.
UAF athletics director Keith Champagne said right now the safety risk is too high for team sports.
"We've tried to work diligently and meticulously and methodically to get to the point where we can have competition in hockey and basketball," Champagne said. "Given what is going on locally, regionally in our state and around the state, around the world, with this public health crisis and this global pandemic, we needed to opt out."
The decision was greeted with disappointment and surprise by some athletes and coaches, including Alaska Nanooks hockey coach Erik Largen.
"As coaches we were blindsided by the choice and we hope they will reconsider for the mental health and well being of our student athletes who have worked tirelessly to follow the school's mitigation policies since the first day of school," Largen said. "Our administration made a rash decision to take away the opportunity to play hockey for our student athletes. They cited health and safety but did not consult with our medical staff on the decision."
Largen said the players have started a petition at https://bit.ly/3n6GVvr to try to get the season reinstated. He noted that teams have been traveling with no problems so far and athletes are tested three times a week during competition.
He asks that people who support continuing hockey competition to voice their concerns to Chancellor White.
Champagne acknowledged the strong reactions to the decision.
"Some understand, some want to compete," Champagne said. "Coaches and athletes, world-class athletes, they live in the moment. They want to compete and they figure it's something they could do. But sometimes, many times, as administrators. we have to look at what's in the best interests of student-athletes in the short term and coaches in the long term. And that's what we're doing here."
With the loss of the Alaska Nanooks, the WCHA has been reduced to eight teams.
“We realize this was a challenging and tough decision,” WCHA Men’s League Commissioner Bill Robertson said. “We respect Chancellor Dan White and Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs and Athletics Keith Champagne’s wishes to opt out of the 2020-21 WCHA Men’s League season. All of us at the WCHA wish UAF nothing but success in the future with their hockey program.”
As far as UAF's other sports, which include rifle, swimming, skiing and volleyball, White said they would look at the risks and make decisions on a case-by-case basis, but they are hoping they will be able to complete their seasons. The volleyball team is not scheduled to begin its season until March.
White said an offer had been made for the hockey team to base out of Marquette, Michigan, for the remainder of the season. He also said other teams had told him they didn't want their athletes flying into Fairbanks and asked that the Nanooks play both its home and away schedules Outside. He declined.
"If it's not safe enough in their mind for them to travel here, I think it puts our students at additional risk to have to travel to their locations for our home games and their home games," he said. However, White said it was decided that it would keep the athletes away from their classes too much, as well as incurring additional health risks.
While student-athletes will not be competing, their scholarships will remain in place so that they can continue their studies. Under NCAA rules established during the pandemic, student-athletes’ eligibility will be extended by a year so they are still able to compete for a full four years.
In the meantime, White said UAF will be looking ahead to next year.
"It's our hope and expectation that next fall we'll be back to playing regular," he said.
Contact staff writer Julie Stricker at 459-7532.
Julie Stricker, jstricker@newsminer.com
Dec 11, 2020 Updated 2 hrs ago
UPDATED 6:30 p.m.: As the COVID-19 pandemic worsens, the University of Alaska Fairbanks has decided that its basketball and hockey teams will not compete in what's remaining of their conferences' postponed and abbreviated seasons, according to University of Alaska Fairbanks Chancellor Dan White.
Last month, the Western Collegiate Hockey Association in which the Alaska Nanooks hockey team competes, asked teams whether they wanted to opt in or opt out of the season. The University of Alaska Anchorage opted out, but UAF said it would wait to see if it would be safe for athletes to compete. They made the same decision with the Great Northwest Athletics Conference, in which the Nanooks basketball team competes.
"What that meant was we wanted to reserve the right to play and we wanted to play," White said. "Unfortunately, the pandemic has not gotten better; it's gotten worse," noting that athletics events around the country have been postponed or canceled.
Another concern, he said, was what would happen if an athlete contracted COVID-19 while playing in the Lower 48. It would be challenging to get the student back to campus or their home because they would not be able get on an airplane.
Today is the last day of finals, White said, and the administration wanted to make the decision now so students could plan where they would be over the holidays.
UAF athletics director Keith Champagne said right now the safety risk is too high for team sports.
"We've tried to work diligently and meticulously and methodically to get to the point where we can have competition in hockey and basketball," Champagne said. "Given what is going on locally, regionally in our state and around the state, around the world, with this public health crisis and this global pandemic, we needed to opt out."
The decision was greeted with disappointment and surprise by some athletes and coaches, including Alaska Nanooks hockey coach Erik Largen.
"As coaches we were blindsided by the choice and we hope they will reconsider for the mental health and well being of our student athletes who have worked tirelessly to follow the school's mitigation policies since the first day of school," Largen said. "Our administration made a rash decision to take away the opportunity to play hockey for our student athletes. They cited health and safety but did not consult with our medical staff on the decision."
Largen said the players have started a petition at https://bit.ly/3n6GVvr to try to get the season reinstated. He noted that teams have been traveling with no problems so far and athletes are tested three times a week during competition.
He asks that people who support continuing hockey competition to voice their concerns to Chancellor White.
Champagne acknowledged the strong reactions to the decision.
"Some understand, some want to compete," Champagne said. "Coaches and athletes, world-class athletes, they live in the moment. They want to compete and they figure it's something they could do. But sometimes, many times, as administrators. we have to look at what's in the best interests of student-athletes in the short term and coaches in the long term. And that's what we're doing here."
With the loss of the Alaska Nanooks, the WCHA has been reduced to eight teams.
“We realize this was a challenging and tough decision,” WCHA Men’s League Commissioner Bill Robertson said. “We respect Chancellor Dan White and Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs and Athletics Keith Champagne’s wishes to opt out of the 2020-21 WCHA Men’s League season. All of us at the WCHA wish UAF nothing but success in the future with their hockey program.”
As far as UAF's other sports, which include rifle, swimming, skiing and volleyball, White said they would look at the risks and make decisions on a case-by-case basis, but they are hoping they will be able to complete their seasons. The volleyball team is not scheduled to begin its season until March.
White said an offer had been made for the hockey team to base out of Marquette, Michigan, for the remainder of the season. He also said other teams had told him they didn't want their athletes flying into Fairbanks and asked that the Nanooks play both its home and away schedules Outside. He declined.
"If it's not safe enough in their mind for them to travel here, I think it puts our students at additional risk to have to travel to their locations for our home games and their home games," he said. However, White said it was decided that it would keep the athletes away from their classes too much, as well as incurring additional health risks.
While student-athletes will not be competing, their scholarships will remain in place so that they can continue their studies. Under NCAA rules established during the pandemic, student-athletes’ eligibility will be extended by a year so they are still able to compete for a full four years.
In the meantime, White said UAF will be looking ahead to next year.
"It's our hope and expectation that next fall we'll be back to playing regular," he said.
Contact staff writer Julie Stricker at 459-7532.
fairbanks hockey puck
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Mike McMahon
@MikeMcMahonCHN
The Alaska administration should be ashamed of themselves. Specifically, for making this decision as late as they have. To put it bluntly, it screws the players. This is NOT on Erik Largen, who wants to play. This is on the Alaska administration.
@MikeMcMahonCHN
The Alaska administration should be ashamed of themselves. Specifically, for making this decision as late as they have. To put it bluntly, it screws the players. This is NOT on Erik Largen, who wants to play. This is on the Alaska administration.
fairbanks hockey puck
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Erik Largen
@ErikLargen
Disappointed by this decision without consultation from coaches, players and trainers. We have mitigation plans in place. We want to play! Let us compete!
@Buccigross
@chnews
@USCHO
@ErikLargen
Disappointed by this decision without consultation from coaches, players and trainers. We have mitigation plans in place. We want to play! Let us compete!
@Buccigross
@chnews
@USCHO
fairbanks hockey puck
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and change.org has a petition to Save Nanook Hockey started by senior winger #9 Justin Young
fairbanks hockey puck
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17mErik Largen@ErikLargen·
My frustration of not exploring alternative options should not be confused with lack of support for our administration. I simply believe we may be able to play by exploring innovative solutions. We are the northern most University, innovation is what we do daily. #nanooknation
My frustration of not exploring alternative options should not be confused with lack of support for our administration. I simply believe we may be able to play by exploring innovative solutions. We are the northern most University, innovation is what we do daily. #nanooknation
fairbanks hockey puck
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Erik Largen isn’t ready to call off this season, but the administration is holding firm. After Friday’s announcement from University of Alaska Fairbanks Chancellor Dan White and Keith Champagne that they were canceling the hockey and basketball programs this season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Largen immediately started an online petition (bit.ly/3n6GVvr) for fans to show support. As of Saturday afternoon, more than 2,000 fans had signed it.
“Right now we’re just looking for different solutions and some innovative ways to find a place to play,” he said. He also reached out to Forrest Karr, athletic director at fellow Western Collegiate Hockey Association affiliate Northern Michigan University, which has offered to host the Nanooks in Michigan for the season, in much the same way the Ice Dogs have played out of Minnesota. Karr previously served as director of athletics and campus recreation at UAF. Largen said he calculated the costs of playing a typical season, which would include travel to and from Fairbanks, against what it would cost to embed the Nanooks in a pod in Michigan for a few weeks. Relocating the team to Michigan would cost about the same, or less, he said. “I think there’s a solution to be able to find a way to play,” Largen said. “From our perspective, we’re hoping the administration sees that and sees the commitment from our guys. I think they’ll see that we can do this safely and effectively, and not hurt some of our older student-athletes by not playing and continue the path forward with our hockey program.”
However, Champagne said the decision to cancel the season is final. “We’re not going to reverse the decision, or pivot and go in another direction,” he said Saturday afternoon. He said he doesn’t support the option of moving operations to Northern Michigan, in part because it would require students to be away from campus for nearly two months. He also notes that the Michigan, Minnesota and Ohio areas where the Nanooks would be playing hockey are less safe than Fairbanks, with 15,000 deaths in the past week and acute shortages of ICU and hospital beds. “I don’t want to gamble with young people’s physical health,” Champagne said. “When it comes to this virus, this coronavirus, and young people, we really don’t know what we’re dealing with.” He acknowledges that coaches and athletes want to play, but “as an administrator, as someone who’s been put here to oversee the athletic program and as someone with the responsibility to and for our young student-athletes, our athletic personnel and coaches, I just can’t put them in that kind of situation. “I’ve always said I never want to be in front of a parent to tell them something has happened to their child and I didn’t take precautions to make sure it didn’t happen,” he said.
The bottom line, Champagne said, is that he made the recommendations to White and UA President Pat Pitney to cancel the seasons and they accepted his recommendation. “I’m learning that when people don’t like a decision, they try to marshal their resources, marshal their stakeholders and say ‘can we change this,’ but this is not a decision I want to change. … I accept full responsibility and accountability for this decision.” Contact staff writer Julie Stricker at 459-7532.
*******[url]https://external-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/safe_image.php?d=AQDsW7e9z3La7bQl&w=500&h=333&url= https%3A%2F%2Fassets.change.org%2Fphotos%2F3%2Ftz% 2Frv%2FhmTZRvHgHhczolK-1600x900-noPad.jpg%3F1607738437&_nc_cb=1&_nc_hash=AQBPDoQqN Bxeyw52********[/URL]
Sign the Petition
change.org
“Right now we’re just looking for different solutions and some innovative ways to find a place to play,” he said. He also reached out to Forrest Karr, athletic director at fellow Western Collegiate Hockey Association affiliate Northern Michigan University, which has offered to host the Nanooks in Michigan for the season, in much the same way the Ice Dogs have played out of Minnesota. Karr previously served as director of athletics and campus recreation at UAF. Largen said he calculated the costs of playing a typical season, which would include travel to and from Fairbanks, against what it would cost to embed the Nanooks in a pod in Michigan for a few weeks. Relocating the team to Michigan would cost about the same, or less, he said. “I think there’s a solution to be able to find a way to play,” Largen said. “From our perspective, we’re hoping the administration sees that and sees the commitment from our guys. I think they’ll see that we can do this safely and effectively, and not hurt some of our older student-athletes by not playing and continue the path forward with our hockey program.”
However, Champagne said the decision to cancel the season is final. “We’re not going to reverse the decision, or pivot and go in another direction,” he said Saturday afternoon. He said he doesn’t support the option of moving operations to Northern Michigan, in part because it would require students to be away from campus for nearly two months. He also notes that the Michigan, Minnesota and Ohio areas where the Nanooks would be playing hockey are less safe than Fairbanks, with 15,000 deaths in the past week and acute shortages of ICU and hospital beds. “I don’t want to gamble with young people’s physical health,” Champagne said. “When it comes to this virus, this coronavirus, and young people, we really don’t know what we’re dealing with.” He acknowledges that coaches and athletes want to play, but “as an administrator, as someone who’s been put here to oversee the athletic program and as someone with the responsibility to and for our young student-athletes, our athletic personnel and coaches, I just can’t put them in that kind of situation. “I’ve always said I never want to be in front of a parent to tell them something has happened to their child and I didn’t take precautions to make sure it didn’t happen,” he said.
The bottom line, Champagne said, is that he made the recommendations to White and UA President Pat Pitney to cancel the seasons and they accepted his recommendation. “I’m learning that when people don’t like a decision, they try to marshal their resources, marshal their stakeholders and say ‘can we change this,’ but this is not a decision I want to change. … I accept full responsibility and accountability for this decision.” Contact staff writer Julie Stricker at 459-7532.
*******[url]https://external-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/safe_image.php?d=AQDsW7e9z3La7bQl&w=500&h=333&url= https%3A%2F%2Fassets.change.org%2Fphotos%2F3%2Ftz% 2Frv%2FhmTZRvHgHhczolK-1600x900-noPad.jpg%3F1607738437&_nc_cb=1&_nc_hash=AQBPDoQqN Bxeyw52********[/URL]
Sign the Petition
change.org
Alaska Hockey
Registered User
Mike McMahon
@MikeMcMahonCHN
The Alaska administration should be ashamed of themselves. Specifically, for making this decision as late as they have. To put it bluntly, it screws the players. This is NOT on Erik Largen, who wants to play. This is on the Alaska administration.
Dear Mike Sorry to inform you that you don't have responsibility of the heath and welfare of all the students athletes and staff at UA_
Also to inform you but Covid 19 could needlessly lead to life changing ailments maybe life long or even death.
I guess you make a living writing scraps of crap about hockey and this season has the making to be no season.
So instead of yapping about a smart decision maybe chirp up the D 3 Allstars and their "fill in Buddy"s" coming to the "Year Early" C C- H L. and every game they win make it into headlines.
maybe even start a move to make them eligible for post season play in the C C- H L .
PS wear a mask and wash your hands.
fairbanks hockey puck
Registered User
UAF is still waiting to see if things get better for swimming, rifle and cross country ski..Those sports could still go and are still on hold and not officially canceled yet...
fairbanks hockey puck
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The petition has been taken down/closed. Preparing now for next season...