ORONO, Maine — University of Maine sophomore right wing John Parker, who hasn’t played this year after having foot surgery just before the season, has been dismissed from the squad for a violation of team rules.
Maine head coach Tim Whitehead said Parker was dismissed in November because he was guilty of “several” alcohol-related infractions.
“It’s a shame. We were really looking forward to having him on the team. He had the potential to be an impact player and was coming off a good freshman year,” said Whitehead.
“But this is the right thing to do. Hopefully, he can learn a lesson and get a clean start with another team,” said Whitehead. “He’s a great kid,.” he said of Parker, who had been named a Maine Scholar-Athlete Rising Star.
The Maine coach said Parker will finish out this semester and then join a junior team or look to transfer to another college.
Parker’s ill-fated season never really started.
The day before leaving his home in Green Brook, N.J., to return to Maine for the start of school, he slipped on stairs while carrying a television set and broke his foot.
His foot required surgery, and the earliest he could have returned was February, since he still must undergo several weeks of rehab, according to Whitehead. More likely, he would have sat out the entire season as a medical redshirt and continued to have three years of eligibility.
Parker had three goals and four assists in 33 games last season to lead the team’s rookies, and was a valuable penalty-killer because of his exceptional quickness, tenacity and grit.
Before coming to Maine, Parker captained the Muskegon Lumberjacks of the United States Junior Hockey League and had nine goals and 22 assists. He had previously won a national championship with the Indiana Ice of the USHL.
Maine hockey drops recruit
Defenseman Sam Wolfe, who verbally committed to attend the University of Maine next fall, has been dropped by Whitehead after being charged with fifth-degree theft after allegedly shoplifting $68.89 of merchandise at a shopping mall in Coralville, Iowa, in November.
Wolfe and a Cedar Rapids Roughriders teammate put shirts and hats in their jackets and were was caught on a surveillance camera, according to a report on KCRG.com, which is based in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
Wolfe was eventually traded to the Bismarck Bobcats of the North American Hockey League.
Whitehead said Wolfe called him and apologized, but the coach decided against bringing him in as the result of the shoplifting charge.
A student on their way to becoming a doctor can drink all he or she wants these days-without much fear of penalties from the school.To me- Drinking is drinking- regardless of your “goals” at the university.The rules for be the same for everyone.
the “doctor” doesn’t go on TV and wear a sweater the represents the University in competition. The “Doctor” probably most certainly does not go to school for free either.
Honestly, I wrote that to generate a comment like yours. However, I do believe that all students should be behaving far better than many do at our state’s “Institutions” of higher learning. I’m not sure that a scholarship should dictate one’s behavior. Fair rules and some common sense should decide that.
Yes they all should be charged with underage drinking. Same way a kid who works at Burger King would.
it was not the alcohol, it was what was being done that was “related to” alcohol
Regardless of the offense committed-All students should adhere to University rules. Is it realistic to expect a hockey player to be better behaved than a “real” student who may be designing the bridge you drive over with your family? Why should non athletes receive a free pass for bad behavior? I saw it for years in the dorms I lived in. It can only be worse 40 years later.
When the school is providing you with more then other students, then yes they can hold you to a higher standard.
Student/Athletes all over the country are used by the schools, coaches and fans. Don’t tell me it’s a one way deal-it’s not. These hockey players seem to be a lot more valuable when the program is winning. What did Notre Dame make off the back off their star linebacker this year compared to the $200,000.00 education they”gave” him. Do you think athletes would be better behaved if the other students around them adhered to school rules as well? They don’t party alone do they?
Oh, he won’t make millions in the NFL? Please, yes the universitys make money off him, but they also give him a place to show case his talents to employeers, aka the NFL. Also, its the same with the lab geeks, those that get the universitys money for research. Those that are parting are not represeting the School on a national level are they? No, when you play a sport and represent the school can be held to a higher standard. If they just want to party, then they do not have to play the sport.
yeah, but the Sill-Czuba incident was also called a “series of alcohol-related events”
this new development makes me wonder if this is yet another incident of a university paying some poor rape victim to keep her mouth shut so that the university can save face to make the problem go away.
I am not saying that this is what happened, but since it has happened in the recent past with D1 athletes, I do not know why it cannot happen again.
Sill-Czuba incident?
Tyler Czuba and Zach Sill were dismissed from the team when they were freshmen. They were part of Teddy Purcell’s incoming class. Czuba could flat out fly and Sill was a tenacious HOCKEY PLAYER who had ok skills, but had a heart and a will to win that make Joey Diamond look like Tim Whitehead.
They did some things that were “ok at first” but then there were threats of getting the police involved.
The athletic department wanted to do its best to sweep the problem under the rug.
So as part of an agreement, Blake James and Whitehead dismissed them from the team, gave everyone on the team a complete gag order, and announced that Sill and Czuba were involved in “a series of alcohol-related events”.
I wonder if the shootings in CT this past Friday were “a series of unkind acts”
What do you think happened? You seem to imply sexual assault…
I am not implying that Parker has done any such thing.
I have absolutely no idea what Parker did.
I do, however know that “a series of alcohol-related events” in the past was used to cover up serious felony accusations.
and Whitehead and Abbott made it all just go away…
if the crime were committed, then people should be in jail, if not, then the accuser should face some jail time, or at least a stiff fine.
instead, they swept it under a rug.
maybe this cover up will be the undoing of Maine’s $190,000 a year employee.
So whats your problem Timmy for not coaching the last 5 years. Its a shame that you have helped tar down the house that Shawn built.
So is UMaine the only university that not only can’t win games…….but can’t even keep their players from committing crimes as well???? Remind me again why the State of Maine is supporting this $16 million frat house known as UMaine athletics????
So this being the case, watch both of these guys go on to much better programs, end up in the NHL and make Timmy look even stupider than he already does after this disastrous season…This program is doomed so long as he and the AD are running it.
Athletic prowess isn’t the only characteristic that gets you on a team. You need to be a decent person as well.
You dont watch too many NHL games do ya?
This isn’t the NHL.
Did you actually read the original post Ryan? It clearly stated that they would end up in the NHL…Its ok though, i forgive ya.
BOYCOTT ALL UMAINE SPORTING EVENTS until the school actually takes responsibility to making them competitive. Dont keep giving your money for a terrible product..
you dont change the rules to fit your habits, you follow them or get what everuone else got who came befor you..PERIOD!
I wonder if he retains his scholarship. I hope not.
Here’s my thought… If you’re a cellar dweller that should be a national power, there’s no drinking and certainly no fun. Especially on scholarship. If you want to suck, and have fun, turn in your scholarship money. Otherwise, every second you’re not in class should be focused on getting better and winning.
That must have been some big ole TV…
Maybe if Tax payers stoped funding the UN and sending near trillions to other nations in “aid” every year we could make all colleges free. We need to stop supporting a pointles global social equality agenda and make the USA #1 again.