U. of A. cancels basketball/volleyball seasons – TRU WolfPack reaction.

U. of A. Athletic Director Ian Reade says that cuts to the Campus Alberta Grant, the Alberta governments requirement that universities balance their budgets and reduce expenditures and a reduction in student fees combined for a “worst case scenario.”

Today’s announcement at the U. of A. comes nine days after USPORTS announced there will be no competition in an sports in the first half term from September to December because of COVID-19.

The loss of a fall season in university sports effectively wipes out the entire season for TRU WolfPack men’s and women’s soccer.

But the announcement this morning that one of the major universities in Canada West is cancelling three more of the leagues premier sports, involving six teams, for the entire season, came as a .

“It was a surprise in that I did’nt know that announcement was coming.” says TRU Athletic Director Curtis Atkinson. “When you think University of Alberta you think a lot about their athletic program and the history of success that they’ve had, the tradition of excellance, the championships, they’ve been one of the most successful programs in the country — it really makes you take notice.”

Atkinson says in this environment you kind of have to expect the unexpected, and that everybody is struggling to deal with the realities that the impact that COVID-19 has had and is continuing to have.

U. of A. is the second Alberta university to cancel programs —- several weeks ago the University of Lethbridge mothballed it’s men’s and women’s hockey programs due to financial reasons.

“I think Alberta has had some unique scenarios that we haven’t been faced with in other provinces.” says Atkinson. “With respect to provincial budget cuts, I know that was a big factor.”

As far as any impact the shutdown of basketball and volleyball seasons by Alberta, it was previously announced that revised schedules would only see teams play within their own jurisdiction, meaning the WolfPack will not have any games scheduled against the U. of A. if there is a January to March, 2021 season.

Atkinson says he remains hopeful that with the green light from provincial health authorities there will be a season.

“Our goal and our focus won’t change. It’s very much on preparing our athletes in the fall. That includes our soccer athletes as well. We believe that we will be able to train at a really high level, that they will be able to engage with their coaches and we’re hopeful that at some point they’ll have some exhibition games. And our focus on our other athletes will be to prepare them in the fall to compete in the winter.”

by Earl Seitz

U. of A. cancels basketball/volleyball seasons – TRU WolfPack reaction.

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