UA-H Officially Returns to WCHA

WCHA

It’s official – the University of Alabama at Huntsville men’s hockey program will compete in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association this season. The Chargers had been removed from the schedule nearly two weeks ago, when the school announced the program was being cut immediately to save money. A private fund-raising effort to restore the team has since brought in $900,000. Yesterday, the WCHA Men’s Board of Directors unanimously approved the return of the school to the league.

The team’s longer-term future is less clear. The Chargers had already served notice that this season would be their last in the WCHA. The WCHA’s seven Midwestern teams, including Michigan Tech, Northern Michigan and Lake Superior State, will begin play in the revitalized Central Collegiate Hockey Association in the fall of 2021. Huntsville has not been invited to be part of that league, nor has it announced any other potential conference affiliation.

MLB

The bickering between baseball billionaires and millionaires continues. Yesterday, teams owners rejected a proposal from the players for a 114-game regular season, with a straight proration of salaries. The regular season would have run from June 30th through the end of October, with playoffs potentially stretching into December. That would have provided players with about 70 percent of their original salaries. Owners had originally proposed a schedule of around 82 games. Now, the owners say that’s no longer possible, and are threatening to reduce the season to just 50 games, plus playoffs. They want the playoffs done before a potential fall COVID-19 rebound could force cancellation. That would pay players about 30 percent of their original salaries. However, owners say they will not submit a formal counteroffer at this time, leaving the two sides farther apart than ever.

NFL

The Detroit Lions have released an official statement about the death of George Floyd and the subsequent nationwide demonstrations. Maintaining that the team has a responsibility to create positive change, the statement says “Right is right and wrong is wrong. What is happening is not acceptable.” Coach Matt Patricia said the video of Floyd’s death at the hands of Minneapolis police officers left him “disgusted, angry and sad.”

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