Martin Fillion, UMass-Lowell’s pre-season All-Hockey East goaltender, has been suspended for six games for undisclosed disciplinary reasons, according to an article in The Lowell Sun.
Lowell coach Tim Whitehead confirmed after his team’s exhibition win over Concordia that he had banished Fillion to the stands for disciplinary reasons, but declined to elaborate. When asked if the punishment could extend to the opening night of the regular season, he answered, “It might.”
Since the appearance of the Sun, Lowell officials responded that, “[Writer] Chaz [Scoggins] is speculating,” and declined further comment.
If the article is correct, Fillion will miss the first five games of the season, all against league opponents. The five games would include home-and-home series against UMass-Amherst and Boston College, as well as the opener to a home-and-home against Merrimack.
Fillion was Lowell’s only selection to the All-Hockey East pre-season squad.
Lowell’s other goalies are senior Craig Lindsay, who appeared in seven games last year (4.24 GAA, .866), and sophomore Scott Fankhouser, who returned to the River Hawks from a reportedly exceptional season in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League.
