UW-Madison junior hockey player Ryan MacMurchy has been suspended from the men's hockey team after violating the university's Student-Athlete Discipline Policy during Labor Day weekend.
According to The Associated Press, MacMurchy, a 21-year-old right winger/center, was cited Sunday for misdemeanor battery for his alleged involvement in a fight at the Kollege Klub, 529 N. Lake St.
\Ryan is going to follow the university policy regarding discipline,"" said Troy Ward, UW hockey associate head coach. ""So what that policy states is that he can set an appeal date. So he's moving forward with Mike [Eaves] and myself in regards to appealing the situation that he's in.
""What happened is going to be blown out of a million different proportions,"" Ward continued. ""We feel that based on our experiences that it wasn't as substantial as people think.""
A Madison Police Department spokesperson told The Associated Press that MacMurchy fought with Chris J. Chelios, 30, a former UW-Superior hockey player and cousin of the former Badger and National Hockey League star of the same name. Bouncers at the Kollege Klub removed those involved in the fight when police arrived at 1:30 a.m., but according to the spokesperson, the fight continued outside.
The spokesperson also added that the Badger athlete received lacerations to the back of his head, which required four stitches to close. Chelios was charged with substantial battery and released from the Dane County Jail later on Sunday.
According to Ward, the team's leading scorer plans to appeal his suspension to the UW athletic board as early as next week in order to receive clearance for offseason practices.
Practices for the upcoming hockey season officially begin Oct. 2.
""He is taking care of what he needs to take care of,"" junior forward Adam Burish said. ""He's been in here with us. He's spoken with us and we've had a few team meetings. As of right now it hasn't affected us and it's not going to affect us. We'll continue our workouts and skates.""
This is not MacMurchy's first run-in with the law. According to court records, in April MacMurchy pled no contest to operating his moped while intoxicated following a November 2003 hockey game. His driver's license was revoked for six months.
