Ohio State then-junior forward Kamil Sadlocha (11) prepares to take a shot during the Ohio State game against Wisconsin on Feb.5. Ohio State won 6-2. Credit: Katie Good | Asst. Photo Editor
Senior forward Kamil Sadlocha has returned to the Ohio State men’s ice hockey team but will not play Friday and Saturday against Michigan State, head coach Steve Rohlik said Wednesday.
Sadlocha’s return comes after he was accused Nov. 21 of using multiple racial slurs by Spartans senior forward Jagger Joshua during a game in East Lansing in November. Ohio State athletics director Gene Smith apologized to Joshua in a statement Nov. 22, and Sadlocha returned home and didn’t further participate in practice or competition.
Rohlik said Sadlocha has returned to practice and said multiple factors went into the decision for Sadlocha to not play this weekend.
Smith said in a November statement the Ohio State men’s ice hockey program would meet with him “to discuss our values” and complete education on racial sensitivity, diversity, equity, inclusion and “the use of respectful dialog.”
“I really think it’s an educational piece for all of us, not just in the game of hockey, but in life and everything we do,” Rohlik said. “I think that, to me, is the most positive thing that we got to do moving forward.”
The Big Ten investigated the incident after the game, and Joshua said Nov. 22 he felt “unhappy with the Big Ten’s refusal to move forward with additional discipline,” according to Maddy Warren of The State News. In a November statement, the Big Ten said it could not impose any further disciplinary action due to a lack of evidence but supported the decision to penalize Ohio State for misconduct when the incident happened.
The Buckeyes are coming off a 20-day break in their schedule, and Friday’s game will be the first time the teams will play one another since the incident.
According to Sam Sklar, Michigan State head coach Adam Nightingale said he “hasn’t sensed any sort of anxiety from Joshua” before this weekend’s series, and supported Ohio State’s course of action.
“I think everyone makes mistakes. I don’t think it should be the end of anyone,” Nightingale told The State News. “I have faith in Ohio State and their ability to help people change and I think that’s at the end of the day what we’re here as college coaches. The biggest thing is we are trying to impact and some people make mistakes and it’s about…
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at "ice hockey" – Google News…