Atlantic University Sport announced supplementary discipline this afternoon stemming from the Feb. 2 incident which occurred during a men’s hockey game between the StFX X-Men and Acadia Axemen.
AUS men’s hockey sport chair David MacLean handed down his decision Tuesday afternoon after completing his review.
Supplementary discipline has been assigned as follows:
- TJ Fergus (Acadia Axemen student-athlete): 3 additional games = 5 total games
- Loch Morrison (Acadia Axemen student-athlete): 5 additional games = 7 total games
- Rodney Southam (Acadia Axemen student-athlete): 5 additional games = 7 total games
- Kris MacDonald (Acadia Axemen assistant coach): 2 total games (served)
- Darren Burns (Acadia Axemen head coach): 8 additional games = 10 total games
- Mark Tremaine (StFX X-Men student-athlete): 2 additional games = 4 total games
- Aaron Hoyles (StFX X-Men student-athlete): 2 additional games = 7 total games
- Dave Stewart (StFX X-Men assistant coach): 1 game total (served)
- Brad Peddle (StFX X-Men head coach): 8 additional games = 10 total games
The above supplementary suspensions take effect immediately and will carry over into the 2019-20 regular season, if necessary.
“These suspensions are significant, coming at a time of year where most sanctions will be served during the playoffs,” said AUS men’s hockey chair David MacLean. “A lot of really fine young people made serious judgement mistakes. I know they will learn from it and move on to bigger and better things. I want to thank everyone for their full cooperation.”
“The AUS supports the decisions made by the men’s hockey sport chair,” said executive director Phil Currie. “His review was thorough and included consultation with affected players, officials, former and current university coaches, athletic directors and sport administrators.”
“We are satisfied with this outcome and commend the work put in by our sport chair in a short amount of time. We have learned many things over the last 10 days. We now have the ability to strengthen our policies and to grow as an organization.”
“As we look ahead to this postseason, our focus as a conference will be to ensure that student-athlete safety and respect for others are top priority.”
Acadia University Statement on Today’s AUS Decision
The decisions issued by Atlantic University Sport today complete the official review of the incidents that took place at the Acadia-StFX hockey game on February 2, 2019. Acadia University has said from day one, and has reiterated over the past week, that we will respect and adhere to the AUS process, and we have continued to do that. We are reviewing the sanctions announced by AUS today, and we are also focusing on preparing for the playoffs that commence tomorrow evening.
This has been a very difficult time for everyone concerned, made considerably worse by the inaccurate statement issued on February 4th that resulted in unfair public commentary in mainstream and social media. An inexcusable word was used, one that was admitted to immediately after the game. Unsolicited, we shared that information with the appropriate individuals. The insinuations made on February 4th around the context and use of the word, made the subsequent number of days incredibly difficult for many individuals and families associated with the headlines that followed. We are pleased that portions of those statements were confirmed as being unfounded, and that it has also been re-affirmed that violence is not a solution to issues occurring on and off the ice.
“Acadia University, the Axemen hockey team, and a 22-year old student-athlete took immediate responsibility through the proper channels for what was said. We have 11 teams, and over 300 student-athletes, and our response with this situation is consistent with our values as an institution and athletic program,” says Kevin Dickie, Acadia’s Executive Director of Athletics. “Our student-athlete and all of those associated from Acadia Athletics, regret and continue to be very apologetic for what was said and how it affected another student-athlete and his family.”
Both schools are almost perennially national Top 10 programs and compete in arguably the top hockey conference in the country. Acadia will avoid any further comments at this time on the rulings.
