KSU’s club hockey team, which has arguably been more popular with students than the varsity athletic teams, will not hit the ice in 2013.
According to a statement attributed to KSU’s vice president for Student Success, Jerome Ratchford, the Department of Sports and Recreation has suspended the team for violating the Club Sports Program’s code of conduct.
“Effective immediately, no Ice Hockey club activities such as tournaments, games, practices, or recruiting will be allowed during the 2013-14 academic year.”
In a report from Jim Davis at HockeyYall.com, the suspension of the team was “in response
to an incident or incidents involving team members and the use of alcohol during the Owls’ trip to the DIII National Tournament last March in Springfield, Mo.”
Along with the team’s suspension, the three-man coaching staff has been banned from participating in club sports at the school.
After multiple players and former players turned down statement requests, the Kennesaw State University Ice Hockey Facebook page released a statement on Thursday, Sept. 5, saying, “While the team
tried, on numerous occasions, to change the outcome of the situation, it appears now that there will be no budging.”
“We understand the heartbreak this leaves our
thousands of fans, friends,
and family out there. We are committed to bringing back your team for the 2014-2015 season and look forward to showing the University what this program means to you and for us.”
An earlier report by Davis, which was published on Aug. 5, said the club’s director of operations, Bill Morrison, thought the allegations against the players were “blown out of proportion.”
KSU’s Club Sports Athletic Director, Laura St. Onge, declined to comment on the matter.
KSU’s club hockey team finished last season with a 24-4-0-2 record as a Division
III member of the American Collegiate Hockey Association.
