East Haven Hockey Forfeits 14 Games Over Ineligible Player: Report

EAST HAVEN, CT — The East Haven co-op hockey team has forfeited 14 games after it was found to have used an ineligible player for the majority of the season, according to GameTimeCT.

GameTimeCT reports East Haven self-reported the incident and kept the player out of its past three games after becoming aware of the situation.

The CIAC cleared East Haven of any wrongdoing in its ruling, but dropped the team’s record from 18-1 to 4-15 based on the games the ineligible player participated in, according to GameTimeCT.

East Haven Mayor Joseph Carfora and State Representative Joe Zullo issued a joint statement Wednesday in response to the CIAC’s decision with both emphasizing the “detrimental impact of the decision on the students and the broader community,” according to a news release.

"We are deeply disappointed in the CIAC's decision regarding the EH co-op Hockey team," Carfora said. "The decision, while acknowledging the innocence of administrators, coaches, and staff, disproportionately affects the entire team. It retroactively alters games rightfully participated in and won, impacting young individuals who were acting in accordance with the rules and gaining valuable experiences along the way.”

Carfora and Zullo acknowledged the importance of rules in “maintaining fairness and integrity in sports but argued that there are instances where the application of a rule, despite being well-intentioned, can lead to unintended and disparate consequences,” the news release states.

“We respect the authority vested in the CIAC, but we firmly believe that this case merits reconsideration," Zullo said. "The uniqueness of the circumstances cannot be overlooked, and we advocate for a review of the decision to rectify what we perceive as an unfair outcome.”

In the joint statement, Carfora and Zullo highlighted the “commendable actions of the EHHS administration in self-reporting the situation promptly upon its discovery, and they stressed the impact of the decision on innocent participants.”

"Mayor Carfora and I submit this statement in support of the administrators, coaches, and athletes of the EH co-op hockey team,” Zullo said. “We trust that the CIAC's commitment to fairness and sportsmanship will guide them in reassessing this decision and preserving the integrity of the sporting experience for all involved.”

The East Haven community “urges the CIAC to review the decision and consider the unique circumstances surrounding the EH co-op Hockey team, ensuring that the principles of fairness and sportsmanship are upheld for the benefit of all student-athletes and coaches,” according to the news release.

Read the full letter, addressed to CIAC Executive Glenn Lungarini, below:

Dear Mr. Lungarini:

We write to you with urgency regarding the recent decision concerning the East Haven High School Co-op Hockey team. As leaders who deeply appreciate the significance of rules and their enforcement, we acknowledge the critical role they play in maintaining fairness and integrity in sports. However, we believe there are instances where the application of a rule, despite being well-intentioned, leads to unintended and disparate consequences. The decision regarding the EH co-op Hockey team is one such instance that warrants a thorough reevaluation.

EH co-op was undeniably in the midst of a remarkable season, generating enthusiasm not only among its coaches and players but also resonating positively with the student bodies at East Haven, Old Lyme, Valley Regional, East Hampton and Sheehan high schools, respectively. Team sports extend beyond mere competition; they encapsulate education, commitment, cherished memories, and the fostering of relationships among young individuals striving for a common goal.

The unique CIAC co-op model allows for the building of bridges between communities, making this decision's impact even more significant.

In the words of the CIAC Board of Control, the determination of an ineligible player on the EH Co-op was duly acknowledged, with no fault attributed to any EHHS administrator, coach, or staff. It is commendable that the school took swift action by self-reporting the situation upon its discovery.

However, we must express our deep concern over the repercussions of this decision on innocent participants.

Your decision acknowledges the innocence of administrators, coaches, and staff, yet the outcome disproportionately affects the entire team. Games rightfully participated in and won are retroactively altered, impacting young individuals who, by all accounts, were acting in accordance with the rules, coached diligently, and worked cohesively towards shared objectives, gaining invaluable life lessons along the way.

The mission of the CIAC emphasizes “a commitment to ensuring quality experiences that reflect high ethical standards, fairness, equity, and sportsmanship for all student-athletes and coaches.”

We respectfully argue that the current situation deviates from these principles, and the application of this particular rule has resulted in an unjust outcome.

While we respect the authority vested in the CIAC and the challenging decisions it faces daily, we firmly believe that this case merits reconsideration. The uniqueness of the circumstances cannot be overlooked, and we advocate for a review of the decision to rectify what we perceive as an unfair outcome.

In light of the aforementioned, we submit this letter in support of the formal appeal advanced by the administrators, coaches, and athletes of the EH Co-op. We trust that your commitment to fairness and sportsmanship will guide you in reassessing this decision and preserving the integrity of the sporting experience for all involved.

Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter.

Read the full GameTimeCT story here.