Revere hockey to forfeit games due to ineligible player

The Revere High hockey team is forfeiting six wins and two ties because it played 10 games with an ineligible player, athletic director Shaun Hart confirmed Thursday.The Patriots had jumped out to a fast start, going 6-0-1 before falling to Salem/Hamilton-Wenham.Hart said the school found out last Friday that there was an ineligible player on the roster — a senior who was in his fifth year.?Because of a medical issue,” Hart said, “he missed his freshman year.”The athletic director said that as soon as it became aware of the player?s status, the school immediately contacted the MIAA.?We wanted to make sure it was reported properly,” Hart said. “We wanted to be up front about it.”As a result, the school will forfeit eight games, which leaves the Patriots with only one official victory. It also awards an extra point to the Lynn Jets, who tied with the Patriots earlier this season, and a victory to Swampscott, which fell to Revere last month.Lynn, which defeated the Patriots 7-4 a week ago, has one more game against Revere, which will be played at Cronin Rink in Revere next week. Lynn and Revere had been fighting it out for the top spot in the Northeastern Conference/South division. With the added point, the Jets need only two to qualify for the MIAA tournament.Hart said that as soon as the school became aware of the infraction, it filed a waiver request, which was granted immediately. However, the Patriots will be penalized for the number of games they played prior to the player being declared eligible.Hart says the school will appeal.?We?re hoping,” he said, “that because the waiver was accepted immediately, and because by not trying to dodge it once we found out there was something wrong, that we get some help down the line.?I don?t think that will happen,” he said, “but in that event, we?re looking to see if there are other options available.”Hart called the mixup “a paperwork issue,” and admitted the school was in error.Revere High hockey coach Joe Ciccarello said he and his staff told their players that what?s important now is how they react to the situation.?We told them life is 10 percent what happens and 90 percent how you react. In the end, you?re judged by how you react. We?ll just keep playing hard. You have to learn to control what you can control. It?s out of our hands,” he said.