The University of Vermont announced Thursday that it has placed its Division I men's hockey team on probation for a year, while suspending both of its co-captains and two of three alternate captains for five games after an alleged hazing incident.
According to UVM Athletics, allegations of a "prohibited initiation activity focused on first-year team members" first surfaced on Sept. 24. According to the school, its Campus Security Authority turned over their information to campus police to investigate.
Here's more from the athletics department release on the incident:
According to Police Services, first-year team members were asked to temporarily turn over their cell phones on the morning of Sept. 24 for the initiation activity. Later in the afternoon, the team members arrived at an off-campus residence occupied by some of the upper-class players. The initiation activity consisted of first-year team members drinking beer and liquor, and they were expected to be dressed in their boxer shorts while they consumed the alcoholic beverages.
"This is something that I take very seriously," said Director of Athletics Jeff Schulman. "Hazing is dangerous, it's against university policy and it won't be tolerated in this Athletic Department. We're fortunate that this incident did not result in any injuries, but these activities always have the potential to endanger the safety and well-being of our students."
According to the school, Police Services and the county's state's attorney's office determined that the players' behavior did not require criminal prosecution and that there would be no civil citations issued. Additionally, there were no injuries or hospitalizations reported. The activity does, however, violate UVM Athletics rules, hence the sanctions.
As noted, the team is on probation for the next year with any further misconduct resulting in more discipline including the cancellation of games.
Additionally, all players will be required to participate in educational programing on hazing and a "restorative justice session" to help the players better understand how this behavior impacts others. The team will also be required to engage in 15 hours of community service on top of service they normally would participate in.
The team will also be without co-captains Brendan Bradley and Mario Puskarich, as well as alternates Chris Muscoby and Anthony Petruzzelli for the next five games. A third alternate captain, Travis Blanleil, was not suspended as he was not at the party according to Jack Korte of NBC5 in Burlington.
"As disappointing as this situation is, I want this to be a valuable learning experience for this team," men's hockey coach Kevin Sneddon said in a statement. "I fully support the sanctions and the university's response and I also support the players on the men's hockey team. Our program has a strong educational component. I will help our players learn from their mistakes and move forward."
This is actually the second time the University of Vermont has been embroiled in a hazing incident involving their men's hockey team. The school's president cancelled the remainder of its 1999-2000 men's hockey season after it was discovered that players lied to university officials during an investigation into alleged hazing violations amid a lawsuit brought by a former player.
According to UVM's press release, individual student athletes involved remain subject to review under the university's student conduct process and could face additionally punishment.
The Catamounts are slated to play the front end of a home-and-home series Friday night at Clarkson University.
