North Dakota coach Dave Hakstol announced Wednesday that Fighting Sioux junior defenseman Matt Greene has been suspended for two games for breaking team rules after being arrested on suspicion of drunken driving in Warroad, Minn.
Hakstol said Greene would miss Friday and Saturday’s home games against Bemidji State, and added that he would have no further comment on the matter to the press.
Earlier, Hakstol had acknowledged that Greene, a native of Grand Ledge, Mich., failed a sobriety test after being stopped by a law enforcement officer while driving in Warroad.
A news source in Warroad said that no charges had been filed pending the outcome of tests on samples taken from Greene, and it could be two to three weeks before results are received.
On Wednesday, UND athletic director Roger Thomas said he supported the team’s disciplinary actions.
“The University and athletic department administration are closely involved with student-athlete welfare issues, and this was handled in a swift and appropriate manner,” Thomas said.
Greene made the following statement to the public and media:
“This past weekend I made an inexcusable mistake. I am willing to accept full responsibility for my actions and the consequences that result because of it. I would like to apologize to my teammates, the University of North Dakota and the community of Grand Forks for my poor judgment concerning this incident.”
Greene, a 6-foot-3, 224-pound defenseman, was a second-round draft pick of the Edmonton Oilers in 2002. He has six assists this season and leads the Sioux in penalties (39) and penalty minutes (78). In 105 career games at UND, he has one goal, 26 assists, 144 penalties and 299 penalty minutes.
