7 suspended Falcons are not expected to play

10/29/2004

BOWLING GREEN - The seven suspended Bowling Green State University hockey players probably will not play in this weekend's two-game home series with Lake Superior State.

The seven players - Ryan Barnett, Steve Brudzewski, Bryan Dobek, Mike Falk, Don Morrison, Brett Pilkington and Alex Rogosheske - were suspended Tuesday for their roles in a racially insensitive incident that was captured in a photograph.

The photo, taken in April, 2003, shows eight males, five of whom were identified as members of this year's team. One BG player is shown, face down and naked, with a profanity and racial slurs written on his body in colored marker. The Blade received a copy of the photo earlier this week.

When the suspensions were announced Tuesday, the players' availability for the weekend series with the Lakers had not been determined. Bowling Green assistant SID Kris Kamann said yesterday the players are expected to remain suspended for both games of the weekend series.

BG's department of student judicial affairs also is investigating the incident but has not announced its findings.

The seven suspensions leave the Falcons with only 20 players on the active roster. Three of those players are goalies, meaning BG is one skater short of the 18 allowed to dress for a game.

BG's games against Lake Superior will start at 7:05 p.m. tonight and 2:35 p.m. tomorrow.

- John Wagner