Yale refutes eligibility questions about Cahill

By Chip Malafronte Register Staff cmalafronte@nhregister.com

An Internet report questioning the eligibility of a seniorforward on the Yale men's hockey team raised concerns about whetherthe top-ranked Bulldogs might be in hot water with the NCAA.

The website "Hockeybuzz.com" alleged Chris Cahill played on ateam with professionals last winter in France, which would make himineligible for NCAA competition and result in Yale possiblyforfeiting all games in which he participated. Cahill, currently theteam's fifth-leading scorer with nine goals and nine assists, wasnot enrolled at Yale last year.

Yale issued a statement on Monday refuting the report.

"Yale University Athletics Director Tom Beckett confirms thatevery standard pertaining to the collegiate eligibility of ChrisCahill has been met to the satisfaction of the Yale and Ivy Leaguecompliance staffs. Chris Cahill remains eligible to compete in allYale hockey games."

Academic issues forced Cahill to take a year off from Yalefollowing his junior season in 2008-09. Intending to return thisyear and play hockey for the Bulldogs, he played in 18 games forReims, a club team in the French Hockey Federation.

Beckett told the Register that Yale coach Keith Allain workedwith the Ivy League and Yale's NCAA compliance officers to ensureCahill would retain his college eligibility.

Some players received living expenses necessary for participationon the team, which is permitted in NCAA bylaws. But Yale has writtenverification from team officials that no players drew a salary.

"It was approved prior to Chris being involved with the team. Itwasn't after the fact," Beckett said. "Chris's family was veryconcerned about doing what was right. This is a process that tookmonths."

Beckett said he has no concerns that the NCAA will launch aninvestigation.

"The burden of proof, every standard, all of those issues havebeen met; the Ivy office signed off on it at the very beginning,"Beckett said.

Concerns over Cahill's eligibility began as an anonymous letter,which was recently issued to coaches and athletic directors aroundthe ECAC Hockey league urging those administrators to look into theCahill matter. According to sources, one school made a formalinquiry Friday. Yale held Cahill out of the lineup for its game atDartmouth to allow the matter to be resolved.

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The situation was cleared Saturday, and Cahill was back in thelineup that night at Harvard. He scored a goal in the Bulldogs'victory.

STILL NO. 1

Yale remained No. 1 in both national polls released Monday,extending its stay at the top to six straight weeks. Its nine-gamewin streak is the longest in the country, though North Dakota isunbeaten over its last nine games (8-0-1).

DRAFT RANKINGS

The NHL Central Scouting Bureau released its midterm rankings forthe June NHL draft. Among those on the list are former FairfieldPrep standout Colin Sullivan, a defenseman at Avon Old Farms, andMatt Killian, a defenseman at the Delbarton School in New Jersey.Both are projected third-round picks and scheduled to enroll at Yalethis fall.

Rob O'Gara, a defenseman at Milton (Mass.) Academy, and CharlesOrzetti, a forward for New Jersey of the Eastern Junior HockeyLeague, are scheduled to join Yale in 2012. Both are projected forthe fourth round.

West Haven's Mike Pereira, a freshman forward at UMass, is aprojected fifth-round pick.