Michael Grant (left) had played two seasons at the University of Lethbridge, while Nik Amundrud (right) had just finished his first. (submitted photo/MPP Photography)

By Mat Barrett

Shut Down in Lethbridge

‘Easy way out’: Amundrud, Grant react to University of Lethbridge shutting down hockey programs

Apr 21, 2020 | 5:00 PM

A total of 52 student-athletes, as well as numerous staff members were affected by the announcement on Monday, April 20 that the University of Lethbridge was shutting down its men’s and women’s hockey programs for good.

Two of those student-athletes have connections to northeast Saskatchewan in Melfort native Nik Amundrud, as well as former Nipawin Hawk Michael Grant.

According to both Amundrud and Grant, the players found out Monday morning via email of the shutdown.

“I think the way that we were told and the fact that there was no, kind of rumors or any sort of heads up coming into it was a little hard,” Amundrud said.

Grant said he woke up to their team group chat being pretty active telling the team to check their emails. He said it was sort of an automated email telling them the programs would be shut down.

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“I couldn’t tell you why they wouldn’t want to involve the coaches and the players earlier on try and fix the problem,” Grant told northeastNOW. “It just kind of felt like the easy way out.”

A release sent out by the university had cited “three successive years of significant reductions to its operating grant,” for the reasoning behind the shutdown. It said the elimination of the programs was one of a number of budget reduction strategies.

Amundrud said the fact they had no idea that this was happening until it was decided hurts even more.

“It’s one thing if they let you know early on in the year,” he said. “At least you can maybe put together a program or find some sponsors or something.”

Amundrud added they felt like there’s almost some unfinished business.

“We kind of just wanted a chance,” he said. “All of us have played hockey for so long now. This is kind of our coming out of junior and supposed to be the best hockey and the best time of our lives and it just kind of gets shut down like that.”

Grant said the decision has hit hard, not only among the staff and players.

“A lot of people take a lot of pride in the program,” he said. “And it’s tough to see it go.”

Being from Lethbridge originally, Grant has been involved with the hockey program at the university for a while, from going to games as a kid, to attending the Pronghorn camps. He said there are also a lot of alumni in the community that are taking it hard as well.

As for what’s next for both players? That’s still to be decided. Both Amundrud and Grant expressed interest in continuing to play hockey elsewhere.

Grant was taking neuroscience at the University of Lethbridge and has two years remaining on his undergraduate degree.

“I talked to my coach here in Lethbridge,” Grant said. “He said he will definitely help the players find a place to play and vouch for us which will be awesome.”

Grant, a forward, had just finished his second season with the Pronghorns playing in a total of 53 regular season, playoff, and University Cup games. He was part of the 2018/2019 team that hosted the University Cup, the USports national championship. Prior to his time at the University of Lethbridge, Grant spent two seasons with the Nipawin Hawks in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) winning an SJHL title in 2018.

Amundrud just finished his first year at the university taking, kinesiology. He also has a girlfriend playing soccer there.

“It’s kind of one of those things that we kind of need to sit down and look over,” Amundrud said. “But now that it’s the middle of April, and most schools have finished with their applications and such. It makes it hard to get into contact with people and see what to do from there.”

Amundrud, a goaltender, took the 2018-2019 school year off, and played senior hockey in Rosetown after a junior career that spanned from Saskatoon and Calgary in the Western Hockey League (WHL) to West Kelowna in the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL). He also played in one game for his hometown Melfort Mustangs (SJHL) in 2013/2014. He said his time in Lethbridge was excellent.

“Honestly I was very surprised with how we were treated and how top notch the school was,” Amundrud said. “Didn’t play a lot in my first year, but the group of guys was amazing.”

Grant echoed that sentiment saying he enjoyed every minute of it. He credited the teams he played for and all of the staff for making it enjoyable to come to the rink every day.

“My heart goes out to everyone in the program that put their blood, sweat, and tears into it. There are so many people behind the scenes, and they’ve just been awesome here,” Grant said. “So it’s tough to see it go, but we’re definitely thankful for the memories.”

The mens team won it’s only national championship in 1994 under Mike Babcock.

The University of Lethbridge also said that they will continue to honour scholarships if the players decide to stick around and finish their degrees.

Prince Albert players also affected

Former P.A. Northern Bears, sisters Abby and Alli Soyko had both just recently committed to play for the Pronghorns starting in the 2020-21 season.

Neither returned messages from paNOW Tuesday.

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mat.barrett@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @matbarrett6