{"id":423,"date":"2009-01-26T22:22:04","date_gmt":"2009-01-27T03:22:04","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.uscho.com\/blogs\/from_the_press_box\/toddmilewski\/20090126\/the-teams-and-leagues-speak.html"},"modified":"2009-01-26T22:22:04","modified_gmt":"2009-01-27T03:22:04","slug":"the-teams-and-leagues-speak","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wwwproxy.uscho.com\/2009\/01\/26\/the-teams-and-leagues-speak\/","title":{"rendered":"The teams (and leagues) speak"},"content":{"rendered":"
Two teams. Two news releases.<\/p>\n
Two leagues. Two notes of support.<\/p>\n
Two different messages. That about sums up what we got today in the wake of incidents last Saturday night in the CCHA and the WCHA.<\/p>\n
First, the more severe one. Michigan State has suspended Corey Tropp and Andrew Conboy for the rest of the season after Conboy delivered a clothesline to the head of Michigan’s Steve Kampfer<\/a> and Tropp took a slash at Kampfer’s head on the ice. It was a vicious attack, and the penalty seems to fit the crime.<\/p>\n In Michigan State’s news release, coach Rick Comley said:<\/p>\n “What happened near the end of the game this weekend is not the way in which we want our hockey program represented. We cannot condone their actions. We felt that we had to send a strong message that this behavior will not be tolerated.<\/p>\n “However, one thing needs to be clear — this was an incident that was an emotional, split-second action, for which these players are being punished. I do not want this to be portrayed that this was anything pre-meditated, or that any single player was ‘targeted.’ Their reaction, while inappropriate, was a split-second response that I know that they wish they could have back.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n The CCHA followed up with a release of its own, saying it supports the decision to suspend the players.<\/p>\n Over in the WCHA, Denver reacted to the unusual event of coach George Gwozdecky’s ejection and subsequent on-ice parade<\/a> last Saturday with a note of disapproval<\/a>. Senior associate athletic director Ron Grahame said:<\/p>\n “We have discussed the incident with George, and he understands that his behavior was unacceptable. George’s actions were very much out of character. We respect the integrity of not only the University of Denver, but the Western Collegiate Hockey Association as well.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n