Union coach Nate Leaman had been hoping that two of his top freshmen, defenseman Lane Caffaro and forward T.J. Fox, would be reinstated to the team after they appealed their school-imposed season-ending suspensions. But that won’t be happening.
Caffaro and Fox recently had their appeals denied by interim school president Dr. James Underwood. No other details were provided by the school. Caffaro and Fox were was suspended Feb. 10 for disciplinary reasons. However, the exact reasons were never specified in a statement released by the school that day.
“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.” Leaman said Tuesday that he can’t comment on the situation. He referred to the school’s statement.
He had stronger comments following Union’s 2-1 win over Brown on Feb. 10. “They are two of the best freshmen in the league,” 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.”
Fox had eight goals and 12 assists in 30 games. His 20 points is tied for seventh best among league freshmen. Caffaro is Union’s top-scoring defenseman with five goals and 11 assists in 32 games. He set a team record this season with 101 penalty minutes, becoming the first Union Division I player to reach triple digits in penalty minutes. Both players are expected to return to the team next season.
Ken Schott covers college hockey for The Daily Gazette in Schenectady, N.Y.
