Oct. 7—GRAND FORKS — Jasper Weatherby used to write letters to hockey players when he was growing up.
He rarely received responses.
The former UND center has created a modern-day solution. Weatherby has created an app to facilitate communication between fans and UND hockey players — past and present.
The app, which recently launched, is called
OffScript.
It’s currently available on the Apple Store.
There are currently 10 active UND players and 17 former players on OffScript with plans to grow. Each player sets their own prices for responses, which can be either text messages or video messages.
If responses don’t come within 72 hours, the fan will receive an automatic reply and can request a full refund.
“The idea hatched during the COVID bubble back in 2020,” said Weatherby, who currently plays pro hockey in Czechia. “I didn’t feel like there was a real place for fans and athletes to message that was beneficial to both the fan and athlete.”
NCAA rules that allow athletes to profit from their Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) opened the door for this app.
The first 10 UND players on the platform are Americans — Jake Livanavage, E.J. Emery, Will Zellers, David Klee, Cade Littler, Mac Swanson, Anthony Menghini, Cody Croal, Tyler Young and Ian Engel.
Former players include Jacob Bernard-Docker, Riese Gaber, Mark Senden, Ethan Frisch, Gavin Hain, Griffin Ness, Chris Jandric, Judd Caulfield, Nick Jones, Hayden Shaw, Jonny Tychonick, Aaron Dell, Adam Scheel, Weatherby and coaches Brady Ferner, Westin Michaud and Zach Driscoll.
“We’re hoping to get everyone on,” said Weatherby, who acknowledged there are challenges to getting international student-athletes due to NIL restrictions with their visas. “To get 10 guys on right away is great. The university was super helpful in getting this set up.”
Weatherby, who has a degree in business marketing from UND, said he was in contact with UND senior associate athletic director Liz Jarnigan and assistant athletic director for compliance Michelle Svilpe to ensure the app followed the NCAA’s NIL rules.
The app has abuse mitigation blockers in the software, designed to eliminate abusive messages that athletes routinely receive on social media.
“We interviewed over 30 athletes,” Weatherby said. “The biggest thing is they don’t feel comfortable on current social media messaging with fans. Putting in abuse mitigation blockers was super important to us.”
One of Weatherby’s childhood friends, Julian Rogmans, coded the app. Richard Brown and Savanna Ducharm designed it.
OffScript invited some fans to test the software.
“It’s been a long road to get to the point where we could put it out there,” Weatherby said.
