Seattle Kraken, donors step in to help reinstate University of Alaska Anchorage’s hockey program

ANCHORAGE, Alaska – Hockey returns to the University of Alaska Anchorage after donors, including the NHL’s newest team, raise over $ 3 million after leaving the program.

“It’s a great day to be a Seawolf,” said UAA Chancellor Sean Parnell on Tuesday as he announced the team would return to the ice for the 2022-23 season. “It’s our day to celebrate the resumption of the program.”

The team will take a year to regroup after losing its coach and players in the past 12 months, the Anchorage Daily News reported.

The Alaska Board of Regents cut the program last year, but said it could be saved if backers raised $ 3 million – or the amount needed to cover operating costs for two years.

The Save Seawolf Hockey fundraising campaign achieved this goal on Monday.

Among the 1,140 donors was the NHL’s Seattle Kraken, who raised approximately $ 150,000 from the team and related individuals to keep the college program alive. The Kraken also launched its own Save the Seawolves campaign.

Kathie Bethard chaired the fundraiser. They raised money by hosting hockey tournaments, hockey camps, golf tournaments, silent auctions, and reaching out to any potential source.

“It wouldn’t have happened if the ice hockey community hadn’t risen and believed we could do it,” said Bethard. “Thanks to everyone who donated from $ 2,000 to $ 250,000.”

Alaska Anchorage doesn’t just have to find players and a coach for the next year; it will also have to find opponents. Both Alaska Anchorage and the University of Alaska Fairbanks were members of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association, which has disbanded.

“There’s still a lot to be done,” said UAA Sports Director Greg Myford.

UAA wasn’t the only one weathering tough times as a program caused by the pandemic. Robert Morris University, just outside of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, shut down its men’s and women’s hockey programs in May, less than two months after the Colonials hosted the NCAA Men’s Frozen Four.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.