The Western Collegiate Hockey Association Men’s League Board of Directors unanimously approved the return of the Alabama Huntsville hockey program to the league following the school’s decision to reinstate its program for the 2020-21 season.

The school had announced in late May that it was discontinuing its program as part of a larger budget reduction brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. Following that announcement, a group of UAH hockey supporters began a campaign to raise $750,000 in seven days to bring the program back. It met the goal and has netted nearly $900,000 as of early June.

“We’re excited and so pleased that Alabama Huntsville hockey will return in 2020-21,” says Bill Robertson, WCHA Men’s League commissioner. “The fundraising effort that has, to date, netted nearly $900,000 is a remarkable accomplishment.”

Had Alabama Huntsville’s program not returned, the WCHA would have needed to add four new programs in order to retain the six teams necessary to remain a viable hockey conference starting in 2021-22. Last year, seven of the conference’s 10 teams announced their intentions to leave the conference and start a new one. The two other teams that remain in the league are Alaska Anchorage  and Alaska Fairbanks.