July 10, 2020
Dear PPC members and fellow GWH fans –
First and foremost, thank you for your continued support of the Golden Gopher Women's Hockey program. It is always much appreciated.
As we approach the planned 24th season of competition for the team, the Power Play Club Board of Directors is continuing its off-season work, discussing all the usual topics of club operations, events, and merchandise. That said, the upcoming season will undoubtedly be quite different than past years, and the board is trying to remain as flexible as possible with all the various details. While a preliminary schedule of club events has been planned out for 2020-2021, it is still very much subject to change.
As with many of you, the PPC board is closely following any and all announcements regarding intercollegiate athletics and the impacts caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. This includes yesterday's announcement that Big Ten Conference fall sports – football, volleyball, soccer & cross-country – will be moving to in-conference competition only, which followed Wednesday's announcement from the Ivy League that “it will not be possible for Ivy League teams to participate in intercollegiate athletics competition prior to the end of the fall semester.” The latter is of particular interest due to its impact on the hockey season.
The board is acutely aware that there will also be financial impacts to colleges and universities, and their respective athletics departments, as event schedules are scaled back and spectator attendance is limited. As an example, Stanford University announced the discontinuation of 11 varsity sports programs, effective at the end of the 2020-2021 academic year in an attempt to maintain their fiscal stability. Closer to home, GWH head coach Brad Frost indicated at the May club board meeting that fiscal pressures are mounting within the U. of M. Athletics Department, requiring modifications to their operating budgets. Given all of this, your financial assistance will be more critical than ever to support the program and the young women who comprise the team and exemplify the term "student-athlete" through their academic performances and community service off the ice. More details on how you can help will be shared in the upcoming weeks as we approach the traditional start of the season.
Given the uncertainty of the competitive schedule and fan attendance policies, the PPC Board of Directors approved a motion at its July meeting to switch the club's annual Silent Auction to an online format for 2020-2021. Many associated details will need to be worked out over the upcoming months, and will be announced as they are finalized.
As has been noted previously, the board has several openings, and operating with less than the full slate of directors puts additional pressure on those currently serving. We again put out a call for volunteers to help fill those openings, and you can contact PPC president Bill Johnson at president@powerplayclub.org if you are interested or have any questions. The board's next meeting will be held via online video conference on Wednesday, August 12 at 7 p.m.
Updates will continue to be sent through our Penalty Box Post or Two-Minute Minor newsletters, or special letters such as this, as announcements warrant.
Thanks, and GO GOPHERS!!
Dave Malerich
PPC vice president & communications chair