Leavitt, UW Settle

Former Wisconsin forward Alex Leavitt has tentatively settled out of court with the University, ending a lawsuit that alleged his hockey career was derailed by an off-ice incident with coach Mike Eaves during the 2002-03 season.

Leavitt had filed a $1 million suit against Eaves, former athletic director Pat Richter, and other members of the Wisconsin athletic department.

According to the school’s senior counsel, John Dowling, the settlement was for $55,000, the cost of what would’ve been the last two years of Leavitt’s scholarship.

“The hockey program, the athletic department and the university were prepared to put this behind them,” Dowling said Friday.

Leavitt was in his second season with the Badgers, his first with Eaves, when he claimed the coach physically and verbally abused him during a post-game incident at the team hotel after a road game at North Dakota. The details of the situation came to light later in the season, after Leavitt left the team. Eaves was forced to admit impropriety for his actions, and received an official letter of reprimand from Richter.

The settlement was reached after both sides agreed to mediation earlier this month.

Leavitt, a native of Edmonton, left school to sign with Swift Current of the Western Hockey League. Leavitt had 27 goals and 68 points in 71 games for the Broncos last season.