Saponari was told by Parker that he was being dismissed for breaking a team drinking rule, and then showing up late to the subsequent team bike ride, which was punishment for breaking the team rules.
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“Over a period of time, there have been cumulative instances in which ... Vinny Saponari [has] displayed conduct unbecoming of a Boston University hockey player,” Parker said in the press release.
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[On May 3rd], The Daily Free Press reported that ... Vinny Saponari ... would receive [a] suspension for [his] involvement in a drinking incident less than 48 hours before a Hockey East playoff game against the University of Maine.
When asked about the drinking incident, Saponari declined to comment further on the matter, but did confirm that he had been out drinking on a night that he was not allowed to be.
“There was a drinking rule that was broken earlier during the year, and then I was late to a bike ride, and that was pretty much it really,” Saponari said.
The move comes after a disappointing 18-17-3 season for the Terriers. Parker often cited the team’s poor focus and drive as reasons for the unsatisfactory year.
“Yeah, definitely,” Saponari said when asked if he felt he’d been made an example of. “I guess what better example to your team that you’re serious than to kick off a player who’s played a lot of games.
“To me, do I think it’s justified? No. I love this team, and I wasn’t ready to leave. I made a mistake or two since I’ve been here, but I didn’t feel like I was a bad thing for the team, or any kind of bad influence. To me, it’s unjust, to [Parker], maybe not.”
Recently, a video of Saponari and teammate Corey Trivino, who was suspended from the squad for an undisclosed number of games to open the 2010-11 season, began circulating on the Internet. The video, titled, “Party like a puckstar,” features Trivino and Saponari remaking the Shop Boyz’ “Party Like a Rock Star,” but with re-written, inappropriate lyrics.
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“We talked about me being more responsible as a leader and being more committed to the team,” Saponari said. “I agreed that I needed to be and wanted to be, and that was about the gist of it.”
Saponari is still unsure about his hockey future, but said he was considering redshirting through next season and playing at another university.
