Showing posts with label Bad Boyz. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bad Boyz. Show all posts

Thursday, May 26, 2016

What the Heck Is Going on at Baylor?


This article will make your head swim and your blood boil. When I read this article, I think of the win at all costs mentality, right?
Dan Wolken, USA Today – The school announced Thursday it has suspended coach Art Briles with intent to terminate him after eight seasons.

In addition, school president Ken Starr has been removed as president and will transitions into role of chancellor; he remains a professor at the Baylor law school. Dr. David Garland has been named interim university president. Athletic director Ian McCaw has been sanctioned and placed on probation.

A report from Pepper Hamilton, an outside law firm hired by Baylor last fall, found the school "failed to take appropriate action to respond to reports of sexual assault and dating violence reportedly committed by football players. The choices made by football staff and athletics leadership, in some instances, posed a risk to campus safety and the integrity of the University."
Not only is it unacceptable, but there's no excuse for covering up sexual assaults. I would think it's criminal behavior, too. I would also agree, that sexual assaults and dating violence creates an unhealthy academic environment. Would you want your kid going to Baylor University?

Also, being a member of a team means you're supposed remain eligible to play that sport. Is it that hard to follow the rules that other students have to live by? I would say no. Committing egregious sexual offenses should make that player ineligible to play a collegiate sport.

Here the text that coach Art Briles sent his players.

 

Sunday, November 01, 2015

Bad Boyz: 3 Griz Football Players Arrested for Felony Burglary Charges

Oops. I guess we're going to have to bring back the Bad Boyz segment. Three University of Montana Griz football players could be headed to the crowbar hotel after being arrest for felony burglary charges.

Dillon Katoa, missoulian.com - Five people, including three University of Montana Griz football players, were arrested on felony burglary charges following an incident that occurred early Sunday morning.

Kendrick Van Ackeren, Joseph Counts and John Schmaing, as well as Courtney Reep and Maclain Tomlinson, were all booked into the Missoula County jail early Sunday. Missoula Police Sgt. Collin Rose said an investigation into the alleged burglary incident is still ongoing. A 9-1-1 call about the incident, which took place at a residence on the 200 block of Pattee Canyon Drive, came in at 2:51 a.m. Sunday. Rose said at this point, police have no evidence of violence or injuries from the incident.

All five individuals were held on $50,000 bail. Reep and Counts have been released after posting bail.
Do you see a pattern here? This sounds like an out of control football programs.
Van Ackeren is the third Griz starting linebacker to be arrested this season. Herbert Gamboa received a six-month deferred sentence after he pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of disorderly conduct in August after instigating a fight at a house party. Gamboa was suspended for the team's first home game. Jeremiah Kose had been arrested the same week for failing to appear in court on three misdemeanor traffic violations.

Monday, September 08, 2014

NESN: UNH Goalie Casey DeSmith Arrested, Suspended After Alleged Domestic Dispute

This happened last week. Casey DeSmith was expected to be the starting goaltender for the UNH Wildcats this season. That leaves incoming freshman goalie Adam Clarke as a potential starter.
Zach Cox, NESN -- University of New Hampshire goaltender Casey DeSmith has been suspended indefinitely after being arrested Sunday in connection with an alleged domestic dispute.

DeSmith was arrested and charged with domestic assault and resisting arrest after police were called to a house near the school’s Durham campus early Sunday morning, according to the Durham Police Department.

A female victim was “thrown to the ground, jumped on top of and was repeatedly punched and spat upon,” Durham Deputy Police Chief Renee Kelly told The New Hampshire. Kelly added that DeSmith, 23, “appeared intoxicated” when police arrived and reportedly resisted arrest after being taken to Wentworth-Douglass Hospital. The police also found “physical evidence” on the victim’s body, Kelly said.

Tuesday, September 02, 2014

Memo: College Kids Drink, 25 UMD Football Players Cited for Underage Drinking

For those that want to tar the two UND hockey players that were cited for underage drinking, maybe we should cut them some slack. Believe it or not, this is also an issue at other schools around the country. Even in scenic Duluth, Minnesota, college kids, including athletes were cited for underage drinking.
DULUTH, Minn. - About 25 University of Minnesota-Duluth football players were among 50 people cited for underage drinking at a party in Duluth’s East Hillside late Sunday.

Police were called to a large party at a house in the University of Minnesota Duluth area shortly before midnight Sunday, said Duluth Police Sgt. Jayme Carlson. Fifty people were cited for underage drinking, and the renter was cited for hosting the party where underage drinking occurred. All were cooperative with police, he said.

Bulldogs Coach Curt Wiese confirmed Monday evening that many — about 25 — of those cited were UMD football players.

“We did have quite a few of our players at a party last night,” Wiese said. “I’m extremely disappointed in their decision. We hold our players to a lot higher standard than these guys displayed last night.”

Monday, September 01, 2014

UND Hockey: Two Freshmen Cited for Underaged Drinking

The more things change, the more they stay the same. According to the Grand Forks Herald, two incoming freshmen forward Trevor Olson and backup goaltender Cameron Johnson were cited on August 23, 2014, for Possession/Consumption Of Alcohol By Person Under 21 years of age. That charge is a "B" Misdemeanor.

Checking the court records, both players will be making their initial court on September 10, 2014.  You can use this link to search for court records.

Wednesday, July 02, 2014

Claude Giroux busted for grabbing cops buttocks



Ruh, roh! Claude Giroux was arrested for grabbing the buttocks of an Ottawa police officer. This is a story made for the tabloid news. Also, alcohol was a factor.
Danielle Bell,Ottawa Sun -- Philadelphia Flyers star Claude Giroux has been released from jail after being arrested for allegedly grabbing the buttocks of a police officer.

Sources say Giroux was arrested for repeatedly grabbing the male police officer's butt during an incident at a downtown Ottawa bar. Alcohol is believed to have been involved.

A witness and sources say the incident occurred at The Great Canadian Cabin in the Byward Market club district.

Wednesday, September 04, 2013

Minot State Football: Former Football Player Charged with Attempted Murder

I hope they throw the book at this guy and he rots in jail for the next 20-years. I also must take issue with buffoonish, senseless comments like this from a clueless Bison Fan no doubt. These comments were posted on Sioux Sports. “Kinda extreme to charge that kid with attempted murder. It sure as heck was wrong to knock out the cop.....but it isn't attempted murder.” Unnamed Bison Fan Really! So you think it's extreme to charge a perpetrator with Attempted Murder because he was slamming Officer Schmidt's head into a post... Yeah, how dare they advocate protecting their law enforcement personal from Minot! Again, I really hope that the Ward Co District Attorney throws the book at this guy. It’s one thing to rig an election or drink underage, this is a felonious assault.
MINOT, N.D. (AP) — A former Minot State University football player charged with attempted murder and assault following a scuffle with police beat an already unconscious officer's head against a post, according to court documents.

Jesse Ili, 21, beat two officers who responded to a report of suspected drug use in a parked vehicle off campus in Minot on Friday. He has since been kicked off the Minot State team.

Police say in court documents that the 6-foot-tall, 220-pound Ili overpowered Officer Brandon Schmidt while Schmidt was trying to arrest him, and that Officer Erik Laudenschlager saw Ili slamming Schmidt's head into a post while Schmidt "appeared to be limp and unconscious," according to the Minot Daily News.

Ward County State's Attorney Rozanna Larson asked that bond be set at $250,000. Hagar set Ili's bond at $200,000. He could face up to 20 years in prison if convicted of attempted murder.

"Anybody who attacks police officers, almost kills one, is a danger to society," Larson said.
Have we become that callous of a nation that we don’t care when a Police Officer is assaulted by a violent thug? Some football fans from some fan bases might excuse behavior like this, but this is anti-social behavior. So no! The punishment does fit the crime.
Enhanced by Zemanta

Monday, September 02, 2013

Gophers Freshman Gabe Guertler arrested for DUI on a Moped

Minnesota Golden Gophers women's ice hockey
Minnesota Golden Gophers women's ice hockey (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
The Minnesota Gophers hockey team is going to have to ban Mopeds for their athletes. You can bet, that Gopher head coach Don Lucia didn’t want to deal with this issue to start the season. Our friends to the south, at the NDSU, in the football program, could learn a lesson from the Gophers Hockey program on how to deal with off of the field issues.
Jason Gonzalez, Star TribuneHennepin County public records show that [Gabe] Guertler was arrested early Saturday morning by the University of Minnesota Police Department and charged with drunken driving. He was released later that morning. He is scheduled to make a court appearance on Oct. 11.

He faces up to 90 days in jail and a $1,000 fine.

A university representative confirmed that Guertler was driving a moped when he was pulled over.

No other details about the incident were immediately available. University police said more details should be available after the holiday weekend


For those that were asking for a link, here’s the links to this story...

Western College Hockey: Minnesota Freshman Gabe Guertler Suspended Following DWI Arrest

CBS Minnesota: Gopher Hockey Player Suspended After DWI

Arrest Nation: University of Minnesota Forward Gabe Guertler Arrested

The College Daily: Freshman University of Minnesota Hockey Player Arrested For DWI

USCHO: Minnesota Suspends Guertler indefinitely: incoming freshman faces DWI charge

Bring me the news: Lucia suspends incoming freshman Guertler indefinitely
Enhanced by Zemanta

Friday, August 16, 2013

Nebraska-Omaha Hockey: Hodge, White dismissed from UNO hockey team

Yikes, the Wheels of Justice do not grind slowly in Omaha. Nebraska-Omaha has dismissed one of their top players after an ugly incident earlier in the month at a downtown bar in Omaha, Nebraska. The school has also dismissed an incoming freshman defenseman and suspended former Red River and Central hockey player Alex Simonson
Daniel James Murphy, World-Herald --- The latest fallout from an alleged fight involving members of the University of Nebraska at Omaha hockey team leaves two players dismissed from the team and one player under suspension.

Matt White, 25, Alex Simonson, 23, and Preston Hodge, 21, were each ticketed Aug. 3 on suspicion of disorderly conduct, a misdemeanor.

On Friday, Athletic Director Trev Alberts announced in a press release that Hodge, a 5-foot-11, 200-pound freshman defenseman, and White, a 5-foot-10, 187-pound senior and Mav co-captain, had been dismissed from the team.

Alberts said Simonson, who played in 18 of UNO's 39 games last season, is under investigation by the university.
This is a huge loss for the Mavericks, White scored (47g-52a—99pts) was in the top ten for scoring in the WCHA last season.


Enhanced by Zemanta

Tuesday, June 11, 2013

NDSU Travis Beck suspended from Bison Football team after Felonious assault outside Fargo Bar

Ruh-roh! This isn’t going to end well for the NDSU Football team. This incident is going to be hard for NDSU to spin in a favorable way. This isn’t a minor in consumption or a voter fraud charge.

NDSU Linebacker Travis Beck (Munich, ND) the 2012 NCAA FCS Championship Game Most Valuable Players has been suspended indefinitely after being charged with felony aggravated assault. It will be interesting to see if Beck is on the team when the Bison take the field against Kansas State, in Manhattan, Kansas on August 30, 2013.
Jeff Kolpack, INFORUM – A standout North Dakota State University football player was charged Monday with felony aggravated assault, accused of beating a man unconscious in a downtown Fargo street after the bars let out early Sunday.

Travis Beck, 21, is accused of striking 24-year-old Matthew Aanenson several times, knocking him unconscious in the 600 block of NP Avenue, according to a Fargo police report.

Fargo police Deputy Chief Pat Claus said Aanenson was taken by ambulance to Sanford Medical Center with unknown injuries to his head. A Sanford spokesperson said Aanenson was not a patient there as of Monday afternoon.

Beck faces a Class C felony charge of aggravated assault, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison and $5,000 in fines. He also faces a misdemeanor charge of resisting arrest.

Beck was suspended from the team pending further information, head coach Craig Bohl said in a Monday written statement:

“Due to the serious nature of the charge of violence, Travis Beck will go through the university judicial process as a student, and as an athlete will be suspended indefinitely from team activities pending further information. Bison football has a zero tolerance for acts of violence.”
So, do you think Beck is kicked off the Bison football team? Is this something that media will let die? Since Beck is a top defensive player for the Bison, will Coach Bohl put winning in front of ethics and what’s right?.

Friday, October 05, 2012

DU suspends two players

Low and behold this morning we find out that a little karma has finally swung the other direction. I was under the impression that only certain teams and programs have issues and players that get suspended – it appears that another WCHA program has suspended two players for a total of eight games. Funny, in checking my favorite DU fan blog there is nary a word of these suspensions. I am sure we’re going to see a bad boyz post on this matter soon though?
Michael Chambers; Denver Post --- University of Denver hockey players Larkin Jacobson and Juho Olkinuora have been suspended for four games for violating team rules, Pioneers coach George Gwozdecky said. The suspensions stem from separate incidents and will include Saturday's exhibition game against the University of British Columbia at the Pepsi Center.

Jacobson played in 22 of 43 games last season as a fourth-line forward. He did not produce a point. Olkinuora was outstanding in goal, leading the team in starts (19), minutes played (1,236), goals-against average (.924) and shutouts (two).

oth players will continue to practice with the team. Both are sophomores.

Depth is not a concern at goalie, with senior Adam Murray and junior Sam Brittain.
I am wondering if we will see some fan retract their statements or finally grab some perspective that from time-to-time college athletes get into trouble and pay for their transgressions via suspension. No one college sports program is immune from this.

Thursday, January 06, 2011

A couple of things


This is the shot that everyone is talking about; Sioux Falls Stampede defenseman Andrew Prochnoas shots the puck "so hard" and it breaks when it hits the pipe... I like the question so if half of the puck went into the net does it count? I have never seen something like that before.

The Saint Cloud Times has "finally" released a story telling us saying that Tony Mosey has been kicked off the SCSU Huskies... Really? You're kidding right? Never saw that one coming. Say it isn't so? As one SCSU fan said in the article comments section, "How come I find out more about SCSU hockey from competitors blog than the beat writer???" I have to agree, that was something I said this week as well, what is the SCSU hockey team hiding? There's not a lot of transparency there... Not sure what the SCSU Husky hockey is trying to hide? I think the SCSU hockey team looks worse for trying to keep all of this quite instead just coming out and saying, 'hey our players screwed up.' I just think it makes the SCSU hockey team looks worse by trying to be all mum on it.
ScTimes.com ---- St. Cloud State men’s hockey player Tony Mosey has been dismissed from the team for a violation of team rules, Huskies head coach Bob Motzko. said.

Mosey, a senior forward from Prior Lake, played his last game for the Huskies on Dec. 29 against Cornell at the Florida College Classic in Estero, Fla. He was not in the lineup on Dec. 30 when the team played Miami (Ohio) in the tournament.

“Any time that you’re in a situation where you’re going to lose one of your players and teammates, it’s very difficult,” Motzko said. “We’ve crossed the midway point of our season, and we want to build on what we accomplished in Florida.

“We wish Tony the best. We’re going to help him in any way we can toward graduation.”

Motzko declined to state what rule was violated.

Wednesday, May 26, 2010

University of Minnesota Duluth hockey recruit faces assault charges

I don't know but it seems like there have been a lot of conduct related issues this summer with the College hockey players. Impressive, takes a big man to rough up your girl friend. It will be interesting to see if Sandy pulls the plug on this clown or not.
Duluth News Tribune--- A 2010-11 University of Minnesota Duluth freshman hockey recruit was arrested early Tuesday on domestic assault charges after allegedly attacking his girlfriend in her College of St. Scholastica dorm room.

Christopher Michael Stafne, 20, of Duluth is charged with fifth-degree domestic assault. He was arrested and booked in the St. Louis County Jail about 2 a.m. Tuesday. He was later released pending his next court appearance, scheduled for June 15.

A court order also was filed Tuesday prohibiting Stafne from having contact with his alleged victim. Stafne returned a reporter’s phone call Tuesday but declined to comment on the charge against him.

According to police reports:

Stafne’s girlfriend told police he has an anger problem. She didn’t want to talk to him Monday night and she turned off her cell phone. She said she was trying to sleep when Stafne showed up at her dorm room. The woman said Stafne was upset with her because he thought she was cheating on him, and his suspicions led him to wanting to see her cell phone.

She said he took the cell phone from her and when she tried to take it back, he pushed her down and she fell between the bed and the dresser.

The woman said that Stafne then went into the bathroom with her cell phone and tried to close the door. She tried to open the door but he pushed her and slammed the door, hitting her with the door. A roommate of the woman said Stafne also was verbally abusive to his girlfriend.

The victim sustained a bruise on her forearm, a scrape with redness on her neck and marks on her back, allegedly as a result of the assault.

BallHype: hype it up!

Friday, May 09, 2008

Nate Hagemo trial date set.


In the on going sad saga of Nate Hagemo things only see to get worse for this young man, if he doesn't plead guilty he will be going to trial in September. While the Gophers are one of our hated rivals I would never wish these kind of problems on anyone. I only hope that Nate gets things right for himself and seeks help. I am pulling for him.





Trial set for troubled former U hockey standout
By PAUL WALSH, Star Tribune

One-time Minnesota hockey phenom Nate Hagemo, whose fast track to the NHL crumbled with a career-ending injury, goes on trial Monday for one of three criminal incidents in a four-month stretch in Minneapolis.

In the meantime, felony drug possession charges loom over Hagemo, 22, involving the discovery of suspected heroin in his car early this year, and police say he ran a red light in another incident last November that seriously injured a bicyclist.

Barring a last-minute plea, Hagemo, of Edina, will be tried from the incident in September, when he allegedly drove his pickup truck into a parked car on Lyndale Avenue in south Minneapolis, appeared to be under the influence of alcohol or drugs and fought paramedics as they tried to put him on a gurney.

He was charged with refusing a sobriety test (a gross misdemeanor), and careless driving and disorderly conduct (misdemeanors).

According to the criminal complaint:

Police at scene said Hagemo "had bloodshot and watery eyes, and appeared unsteady in walking." Paramedics also told police that he had track marks on his arms, possibly from using needles. Medical staff at the hospital where Hagemo was taken said he had taken heroin three days ago. On advice of counsel, he refused blood and urine tests.

A search of Hagemo's vehicle uncovered a drug kit that included a rubber hose, cotton swabs and an alcohol wipe.

(Read the rest of the story here)

Thursday, January 03, 2008

Links to the Oshie and Radja incident

I figured that I would put something that is positive on here before we get to the more negative story. Folks, lets also not lose perspective, while Oshie screwed up it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure this one out. T.J. Oshie is a great hockey player and I am sure that T.J. and his Fighting Sioux team mates will stay out of trouble the rest of the hockey season. Listening to coach Dave Hakstol the other night on the Fighting Sioux coaches show; lets just say that the Coach was less than happy with the play in the third period Saturday night but also unhappy about what transpired this past weekend after the Saturday night game. Myself, I would not want to be the next person that makes an knuckle headed move like getting arrested.

Links to the Story

Here are some of the links to this story, it seems that T.J. might gotten off a little easier than the UNH player Radja, who also seems to have a history of disciplinary problems.

DURHAM – The University of New Hampshire hockey team will be without leading goal scorer Mike Radja for its two games this weekend, after coach Dick Umile suspended him following his arrest early Sunday in Grand Forks, N.D.

Radja, who had two goals and three assists in UNH's 7-4 win over North Dakota Saturday night – one that salvaged a weekend split – was arrested hours later for disorderly conduct, along with a North Dakota player. He leads the Wildcats with 10 goals.

Umile said Radja, a senior, told him later Sunday of his arrest, which followed a fight between the two players in an elevator on campus.

"That's all I needed to hear and that's enough for me to do what I did," Umile said on Wednesday. "Right now (the suspension) is for at least this weekend."

Radja's suspension will be indefinite; I wonder if the local media will make anything of this little tid bit?
DURHAM - Mike Radja, the University of New Hampshire hockey team's leading goal scorer and one of its assistant captains, has been indefinitely suspended by Coach Dick Umile following his arrest for disorderly conduct early Sunday morning in Grand Forks, N.D.

Just hours after the most productive game of his career - a two-goal, five-point effort in a 7-4 Wildcat win over the University of North Dakota - Radja and Sioux forward TJ Oshie were both arrested by the Grand Forks police. The arrests were made at 2:28 a.m., at a building that lists law offices and accountants among its occupants, but the police would provide no additional details because the case has yet to go to court.

A spokesperson for Grand Forks Municipal Court said an appearance date has been set for Jan. 16. In the meantime, Radja will miss UNH's two games this weekend before Umile reevaluates the situation for the future. Oshie has been handed a one-game suspension by UND.


Naturally, the leftist rag the Red Star and Sickle had to chime in with their own article on this story. Don't get me wrong this is a news story when one of their top rivals top players gets into trouble. I suppose they probably welcome this story because it does take some of the focus off their troubled program that seems to be in disarray themselves.

UND's T.J. Oshie, pride of Warroad hockey, suspended after arrest
West Virginia surprises Oklahoma in Fiesta Bowl
One of the top Minnesota high school hockey players to come out of the state in recent years is in trouble with the law again.

T.J. Oshie, who led Warroad to state titles in 2003 and 2005 and is a first-round draft pick of the St. Louis Blues, has been suspended for the University of North Dakota's next game after being arrested early Sunday, the school announced Wednesday.

According to the Grand Forks Herald, Oshie was arrested for disorderly conduct at 2:28 a.m. Sunday in Grand Forks. A Grand Forks County jailer said Oshie listed the same address as his home, the newspaper said.


Even ESPNU had a piece on this subject:

GRAND FORKS, N.D. -- The University of North Dakota has suspended the leading scorer on its men's hockey team after he was arrested over the weekend for disorderly conduct.

Junior forward T.J. Oshie, of Warroad, Minn., will miss Friday's game at St. Cloud State for violating team rules, head coach Dave Hakstol announced Wednesday.

"Right now, it's a one-game suspension," Hakstol said. "I can't get into the whole situation ... I'm disappointed right now.

" Obviously, this will be a public issue," Hakstol said.

Oshie was arrested at 2:28 a.m. on Sunday, Grand Forks police said. The Sioux, ranked No. 8 in the nation, wrapped up a two-game series with visiting New Hampshire on Saturday night. Michael Radja, a New Hampshire player, also was arrested for disorderly conduct, police said.

Radja, the leading scorer for No. 7 New Hampshire, will be suspended for at least two games, coach Dick Umile said.

No details were released by UND.

It's the second time Oshie has been arrested since joining UND. He and former Sioux teammate Jonathan Toews, now with the Chicago Blackhawks, pleaded guilty last year to being minors in a bar. Both were placed on probation and ordered to perform community service.

Oshie, a 6-foot, 192-pound forward leads the Sioux with nine goals. He's tied with two other players for the team lead in points with 16.

The Sioux (9-7-1, 6-6 Western Collegiate Hockey Association) will conclude a two-game series with the Huskies on Saturday.

In the end this story will blow over and be a bad memory, lets just hope that Oshie and the guys don't have anymore eruptions the rest of the way from here.

Wednesday, January 02, 2008

Oshie suspended for one game.

I heard about this story through the rumor mill this moring but this is the first official announcement that I have actually read of this incident. I would imagine that Mike McFeely down in Fargo is going to have a field day with this incident and we are probably going to see more silly articles about how UND is a program out of control and that the UND hockey players are a bunch of criminals. I am sure we will hear how that Hakstol didn't punish T.J. Oshie enough and let him off easy. I think that a one game suspension is more than enough. Lets just hope that Oshie can come back strong and score some goals on Saturday night.
UND forward T.J. Oshie has been suspended for one game following an arrest early Sunday morning.

According to a Grand Forks police report, Oshie was arrested for disorderly conduct at 2:28 a.m. Sunday at 100 N. 3rd Street in Grand Forks.

New Hampshire senior forward Mike Radja also was arrested for the same offense at the same address. Radja, 22, had five points in New Hampshire's 7-4 win over UND on Saturday night.

UND announced the suspension Wednesday afternoon, saying that Oshie, 21, would miss Friday's game against St. Cloud State for violating team rules. No further details were given in the release.

Oshie, a junior from Warroad, Minn., is the team's leading scorer nine goals and seven assists for 16 points in 17 games.

He also was arrested last January for being a minor in a bar. Oshie entered a guilty plea on that charge and was sentenced to one year of unsupervised probation and ordered to pay about $225 in fines and fees.

Sunday, July 22, 2007

Blais McDonald to stay coach at Lowell




This article was written by Adam Wodon on college hockey news. While I have a great amount of respect for Adam Wodon I must take issue with some of the things that are written in this article.

Lowell Exercises its 'Right'

by Adam Wodon/Managing Editor

I had originally written this article to suggest that the firing of Massachusetts-Lowell coach Blaise MacDonald would be entirely justified.

Soon thereafter, however, Lowell officials, and University of Massachusetts chancellor Marty Meehan, decided to reinstate MacDonald. This followed a suspension after he was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol, failed multiple field sobriety tests, and two Breathalyzer tests found MacDonald at almost three times the legal limit.


Either way Lowell went, it could receive criticism or praise.

The original thought was that a DUI offense, while bad, is a pardon-able offense. But as new facts came to light, things looked grim for MacDonald. Police found four beers and a bottle of Absolut vodka in his car. His car looked like it had hit a tree or bush. And more.


First off: I am not going to say that I am a fan of drunk driving because I am not, drunk drivers kill 1,000's of innocent people every year on America's highways, however, what does this have to do with the offense. The offense was drunk driving; (OUI, DUI etc), the least of McDonald's worries is an open bottle in his vehicle, or the brand of the alchol that he drank. Regardless, if threshold of drunk driving is a BAC of .08 or .10; that fact is that offender committed a crime regardless if he drank wine, vodka, beer or whiskey. The fact of this incident was not the contents of the car (open bottles) but the BAC of the driver of that vehicle was too high.


Article Continued: However, it's easy to sit here from a distance, in cold detachment, and suggest that MacDonald should be fired. It's another thing to be his friend for 18 years, and see MacDonald lead a program that has had nary a discipline problem, and has the highest cumulative grade point average of any men's program at the school. That's the issue Lowell AD Dana Skinner faced, and he chose to keep MacDonald.

Thirteen years ago, Michigan made a similar choice when it retained Red Berenson, even though the now-legendary college coach was stopped for DUI and public urination. It certainly can't be said that Michigan is a renegade program by any stretch.

Coaches like to talk about "learning moments" and if handled right, they can turn their own embarrassing episodes into them.

Lowell had an even tougher decision, considering MacDonald's won-loss record at the school is not nearly as sparkling as Berenson's, even at the time, before Berenson had won his two national titles.

Unfairly or not, when you factor in what in many people's eyes has been an underachieving record at Lowell, MacDonald's dismissal seemed even more justified. MacDonald has been known as fun to be around, a glib interview, fiery — in other words, everything his predecessor, Tim Whitehead, was not known for. But that hasn't translated into any more success than Whitehead, who has gone on to prove himself at Maine.

But that only makes this decision by Lowell more palatable. After all, it didn't retain a cretin because he wins — like basketball's Bob Huggins.

So if Lowell believes it can live with MacDonald as its coach, and actually get positives from it, then it's their prerogative to make that decision.

Of course, this couldn't have come at a worse time, the program already embroiled in controversy and fighting for its very existence throughout the spring. Then, just as the program gets a reprieve, and it's announced that all 375 Club seat packages had been sold (meeting a goal), the DUI happens.

So MacDonald has a recruiting mess on his hands, partially, now, of his own making. Perhaps, in a perverse way, that will be his penance.


To quote the Caveman from the Geico comerical. WHAT? I honestly don't know what the point of this article is? The University made a decision to keep a hockey coach that in my mind is a good guy that made a bad mistake. It happens people. I am sure most of us know someone that got a driving under the influence charge. Lets give Blaise McDonald the benefit of the doubt, McDonald has apologized for his mistake and we should move on and let his action speak for himself. I doubt that this incident is going to affect Lowell's recruiting as much as the chance that the hockey team folding because of state budgetary constraints, that in my opinion would be more detrimental recruiting than a one time incident.

Honestly, I think that we can be assured that if this happened again McDonald would be out on his ear in a New York Minute. Lastly, comparing this incident to Red Berernson's incident 13 years ago, what does that incident have to do with this incident? Each are separate incidents that have no bearing on the other. If anything Red's incident was worse, public urination (basically you have a offense of drunken disorderly conduct and a DWI). Besides, on the recruiting front; Michigan is a big ten school with a winning history and 9 national titles making it a much easier sell than University of Massachusetts's Lowell is a state school in Massachusetts that is a middle of the road hockey team that doesn't even make the NCAA tourney on a regular basis. In fact your comparing apples to oranges. I could see why maybe Blais McDonald's record isn't as good as Red's.

Face it we are human being make and we move on. Some mistakes are worse than others, I would be willing to bet that McDonald isn't going to be the last one to make this mistake. I would also be willing to bet that there have been 150 OUI/DUI/DWI's in Lowell, MA since this incident and none have probably gotten the press this one incident has.

Tuesday, July 03, 2007

U Mass Lowell Coach Suspened for DUI arrest

Found this story on-line today, interesting to say the least. I would hope that the University doesn't fire McDonald for a DUI. Hopefully UMass Lowell will give him an opportunity to make things right. This isn't good either for a program that is barely hanging on and we shouldn't down play the seriousness of this incident.

Click Me


LOWELL -- UMass Lowell head hockey coach Blaise MacDonald was suspended indefinitely yesterday as the result of his Friday arrest on drunken-driving charges.

MacDonald's blood-alcohol level was more than three times the legal limit of .08 percent when he was found sleeping in the driver's seat of his Toyota Land Cruiser at 8:58 p.m. in Chelmsford, according to police. The vehicle was blocking the entrance to the Woodland Square Condominiums at 262 Littleton Road.

The 43-year-old coach's suspension interrupts a high point for the nationally known Division I hockey program. After staving off the threat of losing its hockey team this year, the university recently sold out 350 premium club season tickets in a campaign to boost enthusiasm for the team.

Although his suspension is effective immediately, MacDonald, who lives in Westford, will still receive an internal university disciplinary hearing.

responsibility to encourage lawful and healthy behavior among all members of the campus community," UMass Lowell spokeswoman Patti McCafferty said in a written statement. "As role models, coaches must behave responsibly and set the appropriate example for our students."

Chelmsford police spotted MacDonald's vehicle after another driver reported it crossing over the oncoming lane of traffic several times on Littleton Road. The motorist also reported seeing MacDonald turning around near the trailer park at 270 Littleton Road.

According to police, MacDonald's speech was slurred and he had difficulty standing up. His eyes were red and glassy and his breath smelled of alcohol.

There was also fresh damage to the front bumper of his vehicle, which police said looked like it had been struck by a small tree or shrub. Police also found four beers and a 750 milliliter bottle of Absolut vodka inside the vehicle.

At the Chelmsford police station, MacDonald was given two Breathalyzer tests. He blew .23 percent on the first and .25 percent on the second, according to police. The legal limit is .08.

MacDonald was held overnight and released early Saturday evening on personal recognizance, said Chelmsford Police Chief Kevin Murphy. He was arraigned yesterday morning in Lowell District Court.

A native of Billerica, MacDonald was named the fifth coach of the UMass Lowell hockey team on April 6, 2001. He came to Lowell from Niagara University in New York, where he was a head hockey coach for five years. MacDonald earned $167,209 from UMass Lowell in 2006.

Messages left on MacDonald's cell phone, at his home and office were not returned yesterday.

Marty Meehan, who was on campus yesterday visiting with faculty and students in his first official day on the job as UMass Lowell chancellor, declined comment beyond the university's statement.

But MacDonald's suspension makes it likely UMass Lowell will need to find a new head hockey coach, at least in the interim, before the start of next season.

This is the second time this year a prominent Lowell coach has been suspended due to a drunken-driving arrest.

Lowell High School baseball coach Dan Graham, 31, was arrested on March 17 and charged with operating under the influence of alcohol on the Lowell Connector, just two days after replacing longtime coach George Cunha.

After his arrest, Superintendent of Schools Karla Brooks Baehr suspended Graham without pay for the remainder of the season. He is expected to return to coaching next year.


Life is about choices and mistakes, this is not a good choice for a role model to make. It's obvious that McDonald has screwed up in this case. I would hope that the University give McDonald one more chance.

Sunday, July 01, 2007

Charges against Fighting Sioux player Dropped...

Bina's Charges Dismissed

GRAND FORKS, N.D. — A judge has dismissed misdemeanor charges against North Dakota's Robbie Bina. Bina was accused of "aiding the escape" of two teammates who were being held in a police car.

The judge ruled that the players — Jonathan Toews and T.J. Oshie — were not attempting to escape, but just talking to Bina, 24.

The incident took place at a bar in Grand Forks on Jan. 28. Oshie and Toews were cited for being minors in a bar, a charge to which they later pleaded guilty.

Bina pleaded not guilty of trying to escape custody. He could have faced up to 30 days in jail and a one-thousand-dollar fine.

Oshie and Toews were placed on probation and ordered to perform community service.


Rush To Judgement?

Just to refresh everyone's memory one Fargo Forum sports writer posted the following article below lambasting David Hakstol and UND in its dealing with the Judy's Bar incident earlier this year. To so called media pundets and certain hand wringing fans around the league were demanding that Hakstol punish the three players involved in the incident. I does appear in this case that UND Fighting Sioux head coach David Hakstol made the right decision. Funny how things work out eh? That darn Hakstol always seems to come out looking smarter all of the time doesn't he? While some were over reacting, Coach Hakstol showed calm and restraint. But of course this is all water under the bridge now. We really can't fault the media for doing their job and reporting an incident involving a Fighting Sioux hockey player. Agian just to refresh everyone's memory. For your viewing pleasure read away:

Discipline U
As per my column in Friday's Forum, what do you all think of University of North Dakota hockey coach Dave Hakstol's fumbling of the Taverngate situation?

To refresh: Three Sioux players -- T.J. Oshie, Jonathan Toews and Robbie Bina -- were cited Jan. 28 by Grand Forks police. Oshie and Toews were charged with being minors in a bar. Bina was hit with a more serious charge of escaping custody for opening the door of a cop car.

They are minor charges. Nobody is saying Oshie and Toews murdered anybody. Bina's charge seems to stem from youthful stupidity (and perhaps a sense of entitlement from being a Sioux hockey player in Grand Forks). Hey, if you were ever a college student, you've probably been there.
But unless something changes before tonight's WCHA game against Minnesota State Mankato, it appears Hakstol is not going to discipline the players in any meaningful way. Maybe he'll surprise everybody with a suspension or two, but it sure doesn't look that way.

How does Hakstol get away with it? He's had three players who were publicly cited for breaking the law and there is no penalty, other than the lame-o "internal handling" of the situation?

The answer, I guess, is simple enough: This is UND hockey and this is Grand Forks, where UND hockey rules.

Whaddya think, folks? Do you agree with me that a one-game suspension for Toews and Oshie and a two-game suspension for Bina is warranted? There has to be some price to pay, doesn't there?

Fire away.


I wonder if any kind of a retraction. I would probably bet that there will not be one coming anytime soon from Forum sports writer Mike McFeely? Also, don't expect to see one on his blog. McFeely isn't the only one that had a good time with this incident, there were other.