Chris Fournier, who would have been Alaska-Anchorage’s leading returning scorer, has had his scholarship revoked and will not be back with the Seawolves this fall, according to the Anchorage Daily News.
Fournier lost his academic eligibility last spring, but could’ve made it up had he taken summer classes. Fournier decided not to take the courses, but didn’t inform the coaches of his decision until recently, according to the Daily News.
Fournier, 22, an Anchorage native, said he plans to turn pro.
“I just felt it was time to move on to the next level, so that’s what I’m going to do,” Fournier told the paper.
Word got around after the school pulled his name from the roster on the team’s web site.
“We wish him the very best in his future endeavors,” said UAA coach John Hill to the Daily News.
Fournier was originally a transfer from North Dakota, where he played one season. After sitting out a year, he played last season as a sophomore for UAA, scoring 14 goals with a team-high 18 assists. He’s the second junior-to-be to announce his decision not to return, following linemate Curtis Glencross, who signed with Anaheim of the NHL.
“Was I a big fan of school? No. But they made a decision easy because they were going to revoke my scholarship, which seems kind of funny when you’re their second-leading scorer,” Fournier said to the paper.
But the school said that revoking the scholarship is common practice for his circumstances, and that it could’ve been reinstated if the summer course work was completed.
“I think we did everything to aid Chris in his academics — tutors were readily available,” said Hill to the Daily News.
“I gladly support our academic mission.”
The Seawolves advanced to the WCHA’s Final Five for the first time ever last season, but have been hit hard by losses up front.
The paper also noted that UAA is expected to get junior defenseman Matt Hanson back in the fold. He similarly became academically ineligible midway through last season, but, according to Hill, has completed the necessary summer coursework to return.
