What started as a rumor months ago has been confirmed by the school itself — the North Dakota women's hockey program will be terminated due to budget constraints, the school announced Wednesday. The school announced the men’s & women’s swimming & diving programs will also be terminated — "effective at the end of the 2016-17 academic year as part of the University’s ongoing budget restructuring efforts."
The announcement to terminate these three sports comes just one year after the "discontinuance of its men’s baseball and golf programs in the prior fiscal year."
For all the tweets about UND getting cut. No they do not know because they are still on the ice preparing for the upcoming season pic.twitter.com/TLEsYtnao1
— Gracen Hirschy (@ghirschy06) March 29, 2017
It's a tough pill to swallow for a UND women's hockey program that just three years ago featured eight Olympians and next year was projected to have 10 Olympians. It's an even bigger shock because, according to the Tweet posted here from UND player Gracen Hirschey, the players were out practicing (and there was even a committed high school recruit in attendance) while buzz surrounding the decision played out on Twitter. Unfortunately, the players were practicing for a season that won't happen.
The UND program is relatively young — it was established prior to the 2002-03 season, and after failing to crack the top six of the WCHA in it's first six years of conference play, has finished no worse than fourth in the past six years. The Fighting Hawks have two WCHA Tournament championship appearances and two NCAA Tournament appearances in the past five seasons.
According to the school's release, UND Athletics Director Brian Faison spoke to the affected student athletes, coaches and staff on Wednesday to let them know their sports had been terminated. According to the release, "UND will honor all athletics scholarships for discontinued sports at their present equivalencies for returning student-athletes. Specific details have been provided to the student-athletes regarding their future aid."
“This was a difficult decision. It’s a sad day when opportunities for student-athletes are reduced,” Faison said in the release. “The University is going through campus-wide, state-mandated budget cuts. As a part of the University, we need to do what is in the long-term, best interests of the University, as well as the best interests of the athletics department.”
As you'd guess, the Twitter reaction to the announcement was immediate and pointed:
What could be the last press release on the North Dakota women’s hockey page. Absolutely stunning that a program of this caliber is cut. pic.twitter.com/XWNLriIez9
— Arthur Bailin (@arthurbailin) March 29, 2017
Glad to see @UNDsports leaks publicly they are cutting a team before informing the players and staff. #classymove
— Monique Lamoureux-M (@moniquelam7) March 29, 2017
Has any sport, on any campus, anywhere been cut after sending 8 athletes to the last Olympics?
— Brad E. Schlossman (@SchlossmanGF) March 29, 2017
Riddle me this: 9 girls are currently at the World Championship representing their country that are UND alumni and current players
— Gracen Hirschy (@ghirschy06) March 29, 2017
An absolute shame that this beautiful facility will only be utilized half as much as it could be next season. So much for a "hockey school" pic.twitter.com/Kel4Rc3kGI
— Lexie Shaw (@lexie_shaw) March 29, 2017
