Game misconduct

Hunter Levengood thinks it’s a harsh punishment for a small infraction. And while it could be debated that it was, in fact, a small misdeed that wound up claiming his hockey season, the extent of the punishment doesn’t seem to be up for the same review.

Levengood is comfortable looking you in the eyes and telling you what happened—the choice he made, the ramifications of it and the how the continuous specter of it affects the team.

Flashback to Dec. 6, a home match against rival Oregon. The American College Hockey Association (ACHA) requires that each team have two goalies on the bench. The precautionary rule seems like a good one but the Vikings, unfortunately, are a goalie down due to players pulling themselves from the roster.

Oregon, naturally, will make them forfeit unless a goalie can be found. Levengood asks a high school hockey player already at the rink to simply dress in the protection of goalie equipment and warm the bench. Problem solved, and the Vikings go on to win, 7-5.
Simple enough, except that somebody on the Oregon sidelines recognizes the faux goalie.

The Ducks go on to file a complaint with the ACHA, the commissioner broods over the situation and hands Levengood a yearlong suspension, coupled with a provision barring any association with the team during that period.

The Vikings head coach Lance Gilbert was also issued a three-game suspension by the ACHA for his complicity in the situation. Levengood does claim, however, the Gilbert wasn’t “really aware of what was going on.”

It seems like a clear-cut situation of breaking the rules and getting caught, but for Levengood it’s more complicated.

“They wouldn’t have complained if we hadn’t won the game that night,” Levengood said, a charge that the Ducks head coach could not be reached to comment on.

There would be more repercussions as the whole team was placed on probation by the Portland State Campus Rec Department and Levengood was stripped of his team president status.

Rec clubs adviser Sami Faile takes the most issue with Levengood ignoring the liability issue with having someone not affiliated with the team possibly participating in the game.

“Hunter’s decision that night voided the ACHA’s insurance policy, which exposed the ACHA and PSU to serious risk. This type of action cannot be ignored by the ACHA, and the ACHA made a decision that brings light to the severity of the situation,” Faile said.

While Levengood understands the department’s reaction to the situation, he is adamant that he would not have allowed the masquerading goalie to play.

Shelving the team has not been easy for Levengood.

He lives with a couple of teammates and attends the games, but only in the capacity of those trapped in the bleachers, forced to imagine how he might have taken that shot had it been his.

He teases his roommates that the team is no good and razzes them when they lose, but even when he is just relating these tales, the edge of the situation can be heard in his voice.

But he does see positive things coming out of his suspension for the team.

“Guys are having to step up and take responsibility and learn how things work,” Levengood said.

A little maturity can’t be a bad thing for a team that doesn’t boast a player above a sophomore level and is only in its second year.

Dan Childs, a member of the team, says that the suspension has in fact brought the team closer together, but also says the team is frustrated that Levengood is the one serving the suspension because he has been such a force in keeping the program running.

Levengood will be able to apply for reinstatement only after 20 games have passed. But with only 27 games on their schedule this season, it looks as if it will be halfway into next season before Levengood gets to don his Vikings jersey again.

For now, he will have to settle for watching the team grow and succeed.