ECAC Hockey announced Monday that Cornell head coach Mike Schafer has been assessed a one-game suspension as the result of his postgame actions after the Cornell at Quinnipiac contest Saturday, Nov. 8, at High Point Solutions Arena.
The league action was taken in accordance with Section VI (Conduct and Ethics) of ECAC Hockey Policies and Procedures.
According to QBSN, Schafer and Quinnipiac coach Rand Pecknold appeared to exchange words in the handshake line and Schafer later told the media that, “You wonder why the guys were pissed at the end at center ice. It’s not the kids. They take the lead from us, so yeah, I contributed to it because I’m pissed off at their coach at the end of the game for being such an a**hole.”
Quinnipiac’s Danny Federico and Cornell’s Joel Lowry each received 10-minute misconducts for their roles in a scrum during the handshake.
The Bobcats won the game 1-0.
Matthew Peca hit Cornell’s Cole Bardreau from behind early in the second period and received a five-minute major and a game misconduct. Bardreau was not injured on the hit and played the rest of the game. That incident was what sparked Schafer’s behavior and he admitted as much in a statement Monday evening.
“I’d like apologize for using profane language in my postgame comments on Saturday evening following our contest against Quinnipiac,” Schafer said in a statement. “My language was unnecessary, and I did not represent Cornell and our hockey program in a first-class manner. Cole Bardreau, who had previously suffered a serious neck injury, was run into the boards from behind in the game. Cole’s status continues to be evaluated, but the hit on Saturday may force him to miss future games. I was angry that there was no recognition of the seriousness of the play and let my emotions get the best of me after the contest. The safety of student-athletes is paramount to me. I have apologized to Quinnipiac head coach Rand Pecknold for my comments.”
“I respect Coach Schafer’s passion and respect for the health of his student-athletes,” added Cornell director of athletics and physical education Andy Noel. “He used inappropriate words to describe how he was understandably upset at the situation. The Cornell Department of Athletics and Physical Education understands ECAC Hockey’s decision to suspend Coach Schafer for this isolated incident.”
Schafer will miss Cornell’s next game Friday, Nov. 14, when the Big Red hosts Clarkson.
