On March 3, 1979, the Concordia College hockey team will compete in the national NAIA tournament without their head coach, Al Rice. Rice, who has led the team for 11 years, received a suspension following an incident during a game against Augsburg that ended their season.
The altercation occurred during a match in St. Paul, where Concordia lost 5-1. Rice was ejected after stepping onto the ice to contest the ejection of his leading scorer, Jeff Frider, who was penalized for misconduct. This action not only led to Rice’s suspension but also sidelined Frider and teammate John Villalta, who were both ejected from the game.
Athletic Director Armin Pipho confirmed the decision, stating that the incident did not align with the values of Concordia College or the sport of hockey. “This is an administrative decision involving this office, the president of the college, and the faculty athletic representative,” Pipho explained. Greg Simoneau, an assistant coach, will step in to lead the team during the tournament.
This year’s tournament marks only the second time in the history of Concordia hockey that the team has qualified for a national event, the first being in 1974. Ironically, Concordia’s opening match will be against Augsburg, the team that precipitated the controversy.
The repercussions of the administrative penalty affect Rice solely. Unlike players, who automatically miss a game after being ejected, there is no established rule for coaches. “I’m serving a penalty for my actions,” Rice remarked, declining to comment on his future with the team.
Frider, who faced his first ejection in 100 games, expressed frustration over the officiating. With six minutes remaining in the third period, he confronted the officials after they called a series of penalties against Concordia while overlooking fouls committed against his teammates.
Rice said, “It’s unfortunate that a call like that will deprive two of my seniors from their only shot at playing in a national tournament.” The situation casts a shadow over what should be a momentous occasion for the team, which faces the challenge of competing without their head coach.
As the tournament commences, Concordia will seek to make an impact despite the circumstances. The team’s ability to perform under pressure will be put to the test in the first round, where only the victors will advance.
