Hamilton leaves Elis, plans to return in 2000

JULIA TIERNAN/YH Star forward Jeff Hamilton, SM '00, has decided to leave the team and return in the fall of 2000.

Men's hockey captain Jeff Hamilton, SM '00, has left the squad for the remainder of the 1999-2000 season and will withdraw from Yale College next semester, according to an anonymous team member. Hamilton, a Hobey Baker Award finalist last year, only appeared in one game this season.

The star forward will, however, return to the ice for the 2000 season. Hamilton plans to redshirt this year and will be eligible to play again next season, the source said. By withdrawing at this point in the season, he will preserve his fourth and final year of eligibility under NCAA regulations. "I knew that the decision had to be made today [Thurs., Dec 2]," Steve Conn, Director of Sports Publicity and the hockey team's media contact, said, "or else he could not retain his eligibility." It is not known at this time what Hamilton will do next semester, though the source said that Hamilton is looking to continue playing.

Four other team members, including Cory Shea, BR '00, whom the anonymous team member said would replace Hamilton as team captain, refused to comment on the situation, stating that Coach Tim Taylor had instructed his team not to talk to the media about the situation now. Taylor did not answer repeated calls to his home and office.

Shea has the leadership ability to replace Hamilton as captain. He has one goal and two assists this season and has appeared in all of the team's 10 games.

Hamilton was suspended by the NCAA for the first five games of the season because his participation in a charity game last year violated NCAA rules. In his first game back from his suspension, against Dartmouth, he left early with a pulled abdominal muscle. It is not known yet whether the injury's severity was the determining factor in Hamilton's decision.

According to Taylor, Hamilton is "the best offensive forward ever at Yale." [Herald, 10/29/99]. Last year, he recorded 48 points on 20 goals and 28 assists, and in 1997 he was the highest-scoring sophomore in the nation with 28 goals. He needs 30 goals to tie Yale's all-time career mark.

The team has struggled to a 4-4-2 record this season without Hamilton in the lineup. The Elis have missed his goal-scoring prowess, notching only one goal in a loss to Princeton and no goals in a loss to lightly regarded Air Force.

But the squad may miss Hamilton's leadership and on-ice presence the most. "We've had strong captains in the past, but he's always been a leader on the ice," Joe Dart, BR '01, said [Herald, 10/29/99].

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