Two of Union’s top freshmen players had their season ended suddenly on Friday.
The school suspended defenseman Lane Caffaro and forward T.J. Fox for the remainder of the season for disciplinary reasons. A statement issued by the school prior to the Dutchmen’s game against Brown said, “Under federal privacy laws, the college is not permitted to discuss the circumstances that led to the suspensions. The students will continue to attend classes.”
The statement also said that Caffaro and Fox may appeal the suspension. They are expected to do just that some time next week.
The pair will miss the final three weekends of the regular season, and the ECACHL tournament. Caffaro and Fox attended the game. Both players wouldn’t comment on the matter.
Fox entered Friday tied for the team lead in scoring with eight goals and 12 assists. His 20 points is tied for fourth-best among league freshman. Fox is second on the team with four power-play goals.
Caffaro is Union’s top-scoring defenseman with five goals and 11 assists. His 16 points are fifth on the team. He is tied for sixth in scoring among ECACHL defensemen, and eighth in freshman scoring.
“They are two of the best freshman in the league,” Union coach Nate Leaman said. “They put up the numbers to prove it…They are two of the best citizens also. I expect both of them to be captains of this program down the line.
“They have their coach’s full support.”
Last Friday against Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Caffaro set a team record when he collected his 101st penalty minute of the season. That broke the team record of 99 minutes, set by Alex Todd in 1997-98.
“It wasn’t actually a goal at the beginning of the season,” said Caffaro after scoring the game-tying goal last Saturday against RPI. “It’s nice to have.”
Ken Schott covers college hockey for The Daily Gazette in Schenectady, N.Y.
