Atlantic Hockey announced Thursday that Canisius sophomore forward Matthew Grazen has received an additional seven-game suspension for a checking from behind penalty on Air Force forward George Michalke and subsequent game disqualification incurred on Oct. 25 against Air Force.
Grazen served the automatic one-game suspension for the disqualification on Oct. 28.
“Canisius College strongly disagrees with the supplemental discipline imposed by Atlantic Hockey on Matthew Grazen,” read a Canisius-issued press release. “Following college hockey precedent, a two-game suspension for a checking from behind penalty would have been appropriate for a first-time offender. We were given the chance to appeal and have had our voice heard, however the Atlantic Hockey Executive Committee felt differently. Matthew Grazen is an outstanding student-athlete has been a great representative of Canisius College and we are disappointed in the final outcome.”
Grazen will miss Canisius’ series against Clarkson (Nov. 3-4), games against Robert Morris (Nov. 9), Rochester Institute of Technology (Nov. 10) and Niagara (Nov. 16), as well as the series at Air Force (Feb. 15-16).
Michalke is out for this week’s Air Force home games against Holy Cross because of a head injury, an Air Force spokesman said. There is no word when he will be able to return to action.
