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We’ve posted these on eBay:

• Alabama Crimson Tide – Nick Saban Signed Ball Cap (White) – Benefits UAH Hockey Program – Starting bid $75
• Alabama Crimson Tide – Nick Saban Signed Ball Cap (Crimson) – Benefits UAH Hockey Program – Starting bid $75
• Alabama Crimson Tide – Nick Saban Signed Football – Benefits UAH Hockey Program – Starting bid $250

We hope you’ll bid these up. All proceeds will go to the 2012 UAH Hockey Fundraising Campaign.

Dear Alum and Friends,
As the hockey season comes to an end for the UAH Chargers this month, a new beginning, a NEW ERA of Charger Hockey will be born! Publicly things have been quiet, but behind the scenes a lot of work has gone into a major fundraising campaign, tickets and packages to be sold to local companies and much more. Under the leadership of new UAHuntsville President Dr. Robert Altenkirch, UAH Hockey has not only been saved, it is being reconstructed and set up to be successful for the long-term.

Here are a few updates that the group consisting of Ralph Drensek, Bob Ludwig, Joey Ceci, Doug Martinson and Nathan Bowen would like to share with you since the University made the commitment to keep UAH Hockey at the NCAA DI level:

1. The University is committing a minimum of $650,000 to support the program. This is outstanding. It is comparable to institutions in a conference being considered, and it exceeds the average institutional support among D-I hockey programs. We need to do our part to contribute substantially to filling out the financial support for hockey to sustain it at least the median D-I hockey budget of $1,5000,000.
2. Dr. Altenkirch is putting University resources to work to support this initiative, with several high ranking University folks involved in the campaign.
3. Dr. Altenkirch is personally making calls and meeting with individuals and companies in search for the necessary financial support.
4. A committee is being organized with UAHuntsville representatives and members of the Alumni and Friends group in an effort to work together to raise funds and awareness on how the program will move forward.
5. As most of you know, a “Hockey Specific” online giving portal has been set up for you to execute your pledge. Please visit http://www.uah.edu/2012hockeycampaign/ to give.
6. An account has been set up with full transparency of funds, with all going directly to support the hockey program.

As we all know a key component and variable to long term program success is gaining entrance into a conference. There are some key milestones coming up. Potential conferences are watching us closely to see if we have the financial support from alumni, friends, the community and businesses. We need you to go online before March 1st and fulfill your commitment and pledge. Payment options are available and if you did not pledge, please visit and do what you can. For those who have pledged and fulfilled your commitment, we sincerely thank you.

The University’s firm financial commitment is a great first step to establish a budget that supports a competitive Division 1 hockey program. UAH’s $650,000 annual commitment represents 43% of the median budget for D I hockey programs as noted above, and we need your help, along with ticket sales and corporate support, to raise the additional funds that will make us attractive to a conference and allow us to compete at a high level. Our group is working closely with Dr. Altenkirch, Dr. Brophy, and other University officials to make this dream a reality. Our collaborative efforts have been successful thus far, but we need your help to generate the additional funds to achieve our goal. The University has stepped up and made the necessary commitments and more to keep NCAA DI hockey alive, now it is time for all of us to step up and do our part, live up to the financial commitments that we made and support the program moving forward. This is critical and the time is now to give us the best chance to advance the program into a conference.

Sincerely,

Ralph Drensek, Bob Ludwig, Doug Martinson, Jared Ross and Nathan Bowen
Proudly representing Alumni and Friends of Charger Hockey

Whether you give $10 or $10,000, the players will truly appreciate your support. $10 from you is $10 we didn’t have on the campaign yesterday. If you care at all about this program, send in some money in amounts large, medium, or small.

Please note that these are replica jerseys. Game-worns may be procured from the hockey office at the end of the season.

During those weekends in Huntsville and spending time with Nathan and his coaches (many of whom were UAH graduates) we as a family grew very fond of the Charger graduates, the Charger team that opened up their locker room for tours, and the Charger coaches.

8 years later my son has graduated from high school and was accepted to UAH. However, his dream was to play D1 hockey for the Chargers. So he decided to delay his admission and to go to Dallas, Texas and play junior hockey this season in the WSHL to get bigger, stronger, and faster with the hopes of making the Charger team in 2012 or 2013.

Without Charger Hockey, UAH loses it’s luster. Although academically it is an outstanding institution, there are many outstanding institutions that offer D-I or D-III hockey—not club.

After all the good experiences and friends we have made through the years, we are saddened that Charger Hockey will most likely not be a part of his D-I dream.

Sincerely,

George Sauers
Orlando, Florida
Father of Gregory Sauers
Original Player and 7 committed years to Thunder Tier 1 Hockey founded in
Huntsville, AL.

Chris is a little different. He grew up here and he didn’t just watch hockey, he played here in Huntsville for 8 years. No one in his family played hockey, they were all (surprise!) football players, so we don’t know where he picked hockey up, but he started when he was 8. His uncle, Ricky Bates, had been friends with Dave Slifka and while Dave was playing for UAH he was Chris’ hockey teacher. He did one on one classes with Chris for an hour or two a few days a week at the Ice Plex. We still have pictures of Chris and Dave together, he signed EVERYTHING for Chris’ family, hockey pucks, sticks, he gave Chris his jersey. This was all before Dave’s brief stint in the CHL. On his little hockey cards that HAHA had made for the kids back then Chris always put Dave as his favorite player. Chris played for Grissom in the first two years that Grissom had a hockey program (13 and 12 years ago for his freshman and sophomore years of high school) before he left Grissom in 11th grade. I think Dave made Chris the hockey player he was, and hockey made him the man he is today, and today he’s a strong, hard-working, brave kind of guy that will just grit his teeth and work through physical pain or other adversity for what he believes is his duty. Also, he’s not as up front about saying it, but Chris cares a lot about the team too. He wants to see them succeed, because while you hear the term “hockey culture” a lot, I think most folks forget that it really IS a culture and UAH was part of that culture in Huntsville too, and while he didn’t reach that level himself, they were all part of the same thing in a way.

I sent you a picture of our buddy Alec serving over in Korea. He kinda caught hockey fever from us. He had never seen hockey before until we took him to a game last year. It’s great teaching someone else about hockey, sharing your love for something like that. He loves UAH hockey so much now that he wanted to participate in the rally, so he sent that picture. Being on your page completely made his day, he said he didn’t know he would get all the attention he did and he really appreciated the nice things folks were saying to him. He just wanted to be a part of the movement to save the team.

The team gives us something to think about, something to support, saving the team gives us something to strive for. It makes us part of something special. Hockey is Huntsville’s special thing, and the team represents Huntsville in front of the rest of this country and I think they do a pretty good job of it. I don’t really know how else to put into words what the team means to us, I know what I’ve put here is really our stories of our relationship with the team, not really what it MEANS for us, but I just wanted you to see that there’s a lot of love there.

I’m sorry this is so long, when we joined Blue Line Club I tried to say some of this in an e-mail to Chris Luongo, but I was really too shy to say all of this. Thank you so much for taking the time out to listen to us and helping to make us part of something really great.

With a lot of love for the team, their staff, and the Save UAH Hockey fellas,
Alyson Buck (and on behalf of Chris Bertagnolli and Alec Kachel)

Dear Governor Bentley:

This morning, I read a newspaper article that discussed the efforts by State Rep. Phil Williams and potential investors to save the University of Alabama at Huntsville NCAA Division 1 Men’s Ice Hockey program. As a parent of one of the players, I am very pleased to see State Rep. Williams move forward the effort to save the hockey program. I also read that you and State Rep. Williams plan to meet later this week and I hope that you will be onboard as we all work very hard to save the hockey program. My son is a proud member of the Chargers hockey team and he made a four year commitment to the university to be the best student athlete possible. Both he and I expected that the university would follow through on its commitment to provide a place for him to play his four years of Division 1 hockey and to earn his degree. We are hopeful that the university officials will reverse their decision to allow this to happen for all 23 young men who play on this team.

Governor Bentley, this is a great opportunity for you to meet with players, coaches, parents, local and state politicians and university officials to help save what is a very proud tradition in Huntsville. As you are likely aware, there is a great deal of support to see this program continue on for many years to come. Thank you for taking time to read my email.

Kindest regards,

Lisa Hagen

Portera is believed to be making the move solely based upon financial numbers, but SaveUAHHockey.com has learned that solutions to those concerns were brought before Portera and dismissed.

More information will be posted as it becomes available.

###PRESS RELEASE###

Community Group Forms to Save UAH Hockey

Group has secured over $500,000 to support program but Chancellor Portera must hear support from the community

Huntsville, AL (September 8, 2011) – Local business leaders and several UAHuntsville Alumni today announced a grassroots effort to save NCAA Division I Hockey at the University. According to recent reports UA Chancellor and UAHuntsville Acting President Mack Portera is considering abandoning NCAA Division I hockey at UAHuntsville. Since word of those plans spread supporters of the program have secured over $500,000 in pledges to support the program and offset any financial losses to the University over the next three years.

“Hockey at UAHuntsville is a part of our community and we need to save it.” Said Doug Martinson, a local attorney and former school board member. “It is Huntsville’s only Division I sports team and brings national recognition not only to the University but to the community as well. We need Dr. Portera to work with us to keep this program at the NCAA Division I level. Going to club level hockey is not an option and will only kill the program and provide no real benefit to the community.”

Several groups of community leaders have met with Chancellor Portera to express their support for NCAA Division I Hockey at UAHuntsville and have asked that the community be consulted in this decision and have pledged to do what it takes to ensure the success of the program. Both the Madison County Commission and the Huntsville City Council have passed resolutions calling on the Administration to work with the community to save hockey at the NCAA Division I level.

“We have reached out to our alumni and friends in the community and have asked them for much needed financial support.” Said Nathan Bowen, a UAHuntsville Hockey alum that now runs the Thunder AAA Hockey Club “All we are asking for is a chance to work with the school, reduce the financial burden on the University and put a long-term plan in place that will allow this program to continue to put the city of Huntsville, the University and our Student/Athletes consistently on a National stage. In a few short weeks we have raised over $500,000 in pledges to support the team and have organized campus and community drives to sell more tickets and raise excitement about NCAA DI college hockey in Huntsville. The outpouring of support shows that hockey at UAHuntsville is important not only to the alum, but to the Huntsville community as a whole.”

Despite several requests from the community Chancellor Portera has not yet disclosed what must be done to save the program or provided a fundraising target required that would keep the program at the NCAA Division I level. Several community efforts are now underway to show support for the program and to persuade the Administration to give the community a chance to save this program.

“We are calling on the community to join our efforts and get involved.” Said Geof Morris, founder of SaveUAHhockey.com. “Go online and sign our petition at Saveuahhockey.com, join our Facebook page, buy a season ticket or just come out to a game. The only way we can be successful is to show Chancellor Portera that we support this program and we are not going to let him take it away from our community.”

The University of Alabama in Huntsville ice hockey team took to the ice for the first time in 1979 to the rock anthem “Sweet Home Alabama” and finished out the season with an impressive 21-1 record. A grass roots effort from the beginning, the UAH hockey program has its roots firmly planted in the melting pot that is Huntsville, Alabama, with multiple National Club Championships, Two NCAA Division II Championships, and made two appearances at the NCAA Division I Tournament losing both times by only one goal. Huntsville, Alabama is the Hockey Capital of the South!

It was a good press conference. The only player alumnus on the dais was Nathan Bowen (2000), so this group can’t be dismissed as a bunch of former players miffed that their beloved team could be going away. These were leaders of the Huntsville community: doctors, lawyers, engineers, businessmen, and professors. We had Huntsville natives and transplants. All of them love UAH hockey, and it very clearly showed.

I sat in the back to just get a sense of the room, and by the time the conference started, the players who were meeting on their own for conditioning drills had filed in to sit around me. There was a lot of nervous body language at the start, but by the end I could tell that they felt more confident about the program’s future. I know we did. Like many Charger fans, I know that there are a lot of people that love this hockey program as much as I do. It’s easy to know that, but it’s quite another to feel and believe it. I do after this morning, and they guys seemed to get that as well.

If you haven’t yet—and you’re slacking, because 2,350+ had signed as of the time of this writing—go sign our petition to let Mack Portera know that we want UAH hockey to stick around. Many of you have asked about giving, and we’re working to provide you a place to give. We’ll post about that as soon as we have it.

Save UAH Hockey!

Community Group Forms to Save UAH Hockey

WHO: UAH Alumni and Community Leaders

WHAT: Community Leaders will announce grassroots efforts and call on community to get involved to save NCAA Division I Hockey at UAHuntsville. Leaders will ask all UAH alumni and hockey fans to show support for the program and to help persuade the Administration to give the community a chance to save the only NCAA Division 1 Hockey program in the south.

WHEN: 10:00am, Thursday, September 8, 2011

WHERE: Huntsville Municipal IcePlex, 3185 Leeman Ferry Road, SW

For further info: Jennifer Gordon, 256-536-3833

I’ll be there and will have more information tomorrow.

The University of Alabama-Huntsville is nationally known for two things. One is a disturbed psychopath who in a fit of insanity decimated one of your academic departments. The other is your Division I ice hockey team. I’ve been told that your institution is somewhat competent in sciences but most of the world will either know this nor care unless they’re specifically interested in your scientific competency. Bottom line, to the most of the country your institution is unknown and people do not care. Interesting, isn’t it?

Athletics is advertisement. Athletics is involvement. Athletics is community. Fair? Absolutely not! True to academic purism? Not even slightly. True? Absolutely. Investment in athletics at an institutional level brings in people who are willing to advertise on your behalf. They are willing to say your praises. Direct students to your institution. Direct business to the same. More importantly, its a commitment to your community which always operates in a synergy with each other. What you see as a large cost can also be seen as outreach if done correct. What I see from this is that you haven’t invested properly in your opportunity. Your hockey team is leverage and an opportunity. Instead of it being an anchor why not try to see it as an asset. Sure, you may not understand it, but does that not mean you are failing to appreciate your institutional assets?

I am a proud alumni of a school in a similar situation. The University of Massachusetts-Lowell may not carry the same level of science plaudits as UAH but it certainly tries. We’re a engineering-focused liberal arts school in a semi-urban setting. We’ve also been (twice) under the threat of losing our institution defining hockey program. Thankfully we were taken off the brink… but admittedly it did take a former congressman to take the institutional reigns to change things around. Nevertheless, things at Lowell are changing and the lever wouldn’t have been there without the hockey team. Without the hockey team we wouldn’t have the opportunity for institutional progress to make UMass-Lowell the second best public school in Massachusetts (and dare I say the best public school in Massachusetts).

I will also relate that my graduate school would not be what it is today without athletics. The state of Connecticut made two very large commitments to the University of Connecticut by way of large financial institutional upgrades. I know that UAH isn’t UConn and UAH sits in the shadow of UAT, Auburn, and UAB. Nevertheless, with UConn the only reason they got those funds in the first place is because their successful basketball program made people start to give a damn about the institution.

Dropping ice hockey is a myopic endeavor as it fails to even consider what you can be. Generally, with many institutions large cash infusions help out a lot… but another thing that can spur things along is attention to smaller details and basic “tender loving care”.

In the end, writing your institutional failure into stone is your choice. Maybe somebody will give you a medal for your failure. I can’t imagine a situation where you are in fact doing the school and the community a service. When you lose a hockey program you do more than improve your balance sheet. You lose a community, you lose what makes you different, and you lose a small army which sing your praise.

This is your choice.

– Patrick Joyce, B.S. UMass-Lowell 2004, PhD UConn 2009.

We’re at 1,200 signatures and counting. Patrick’s words voice the strong feelings that those who love UAH Hockey have. Sign the petition and ask your friends to do so—it just takes a couple of minutes.

Want your voice heard in an editorial? Email me at g@saveuahhockey.com. Please keep it under 500 words, respectful, and opinionated.