By Bailey Putnam, news correspondent
Head Coach Jim Madigan was suspended for the final two games of the regular season, including Saturday’s Senior Night against Boston University (BU). Madigan was not allowed at his usual post atop the Northeastern bench, but rather on the opposite side of the ice in the press box.
Hockey East commissioner Joe Bertagna handed Madigan the suspension for “unsportsmanlike behavior directed at officials following games at the University of Maine on Saturday, Feb. 21 and at TD Garden in Boston on Feb. 23,” according to a Hockey East press release.
Madigan was visibly upset after the Huskies’ overtime loss to BU in the Beanpot finals. The Terriers won the game 51 seconds into overtime after a controversial hooking call sent Husky sophomore defenseman Matt Benning to the penalty box nine seconds into the extra period.
“We live in a democratic society and we criticize the president of the United States on CNN and FOX, but we can’t criticize officials,” Madigan said at a press conference following the Beanpot. “We’re censored. We can’t say anything against the leagues or the officials. The referee made a call; we didn’t agree with it. BU won the game on the power play.”
This is not the first time Assistant Coach Jerry Keefe has had to take over coaching responsibilities this season. Madigan was sidelined for the opening game in October due to a suspension following comments he made about officials in last year’s Hockey East quarterfinals against the University of New Hampshire.
In last season’s incident, Madigan criticized referees in a post-game press conference after they called an NU goal off that would have tied the game in the third period of the quarterfinals last March. The Huskies went on to lose that game, ending their season.
Athletic Director Peter Roby condemned Madigan’s actions, describing them as “not consistent with the expectations we have for our department.”
“We hold all members of our department to a high standard,” Roby said to Northeastern University Athletics. “We expect our representatives to treat others with respect and to conduct themselves in an appropriate manner both on and off the field of competition.”
The News reached out to the men’s hockey team, which refused an interview or comment.
Madigan will resume his head-coaching duties when his team takes on Merrimack in a best-of-three opening series of the Hockey East playoffs this weekend at home.
Photo by Brian Bae
