Alaska-Anchorage defenseman Lee Green has been stripped of his captaincy and will miss an exhibition game and three regular-season games as a result of his involvement in a locker-room fight with teammate Brett Arcand-Kootenay.
The punishment, released by the school on Monday at the completion of an internal investigation, means Green will miss the Oct. 9 exhibition game against Grant MacEwan College — a game being played in his hometown of Soldotna; both games in the Nye Frontier Classic in Anchorage on Oct. 15 and 16; and the first game of a home-and-home series with Alaska-Fairbanks on Oct. 22, also in Anchorage.
Alaska-Anchorage athletics director Steve Cobb said Green, a senior, will also face private sanction from Seawolves coach John Hill.
“This incident has affected the entire UAA family and profoundly affected the lives of two fine young men,” Cobb said in a statement released by the school. “We remain committed to the higher values of athletic competition and have every confidence that coach Hill and his staff will provide the necessary leadership to overcome this incident. We are actively supporting both young men and their families with their current obstacles and difficulties surrounding the situation.”
Green, 22, was suspended indefinitely by the team after being arrested on a second-degree assault charge for allegedly punching Arcand-Kootenay in the team’s locker room on Sept. 12. The dispute reportedly was about Arcand-Kootenay’s attendance at a training run.
Arcand-Kootenay needed surgery to repair his jaw. Green was released into the custody of his parents after spending two days in jail.
Hill and Green also released statements through the school Monday.
Hill said: “My only concern at this point is for the welfare of both Brett and Lee. My wish is that they can both heal physically and emotionally as soon as possible and resume what is most important in their lives — going to class and playing hockey at the University of Alaska-Anchorage.”
Green said: “I’d like to express my extreme remorse for the regrettable situation which has transpired. I feel terrible for what Brett and his family are going through and offer my most sincere apologies. I’d also like to apologize to my teammates, UAA and our fans.”
It was not immediately known who would replace Green as the Seawolves’ captain. He served as the team’s captain last season, when UAA was 14-23-3 but earned the school’s first trip to the WCHA Final Five. He was one of only three Seawolves players to skate in all 40 games.
