Jeff Tory has been penalized one season of athletic eligibility for his participation on the University of Maine hockey team earlier this season.

Tory, a freshman defenseman from Coquitlam, British Columbia, played in one exhibition game and three regular-season contests for the Black Bears in October and November, before his eligibility was questioned by a WCHA school and brought to the attention of the Hockey East Association.

The University of Maine investigated and reported its findings on the matter to the NCAA, which determined that Tory was a Proposition 48 student, one who did not meet Division I initial academic eligibility requirements. Thus, he was declared ineligible for competition.

The NCAA’s decision on the Tory situation was announced Monday by UMaine Director of Athletics Mike Ploszek. Word came nearly two months after the university submitted its report on Tory and Coach Shawn Walsh’s handling of the case, which led to a five-game, university-imposed suspension of Walsh in December.

In related news, Hockey East athletic directors officially accepted Maine’s forfeiture of the three Providence games in which Tory played on Oct. 22-23 and Nov. 6. The directors also voted via a conference call to award the six points from those 1-0 forfeit victories to Providence College.

Tory, who as a Prop 48 student would have been allowed three seasons of competition starting in 1994-95, will now be limited to two seasons beginning next fall. In the meantime, he is ineligible for the rest of the 1993-94 season.

Under NCAA bylaw 14.2.4.1, Tory has forfeited a season of competition. That statute reads, “any competition (including a scrimmage with outside competition) regardless of time, during a season in an intercollegiate sport shall be counted as a (full) season of competition in that sport.”

Ploszek explained that the NCAA’s ruling was made based upon the information submitted to the NCAA by the university and previous eligibility cases involving similar situations.

“The NCAA reviewed our report of all the circumstances surrounding Jeff Tory’s ineligibility and then responded with today’s ruling,” Ploszek said. “Based on my communication with the NCAA, I anticipate no further action. As far as we’re concerned, this brings the whole episode to conclusion.”

However, NCAA Assistant Executive Director David Berst, who declined to discuss details of the case when contacted Monday, appeared to leave the door open for possible further developments.

“I guess it remains pending at this point,” Berst said. “It hasn’t been ended formally at this point and we’re in communication with the institution. We probably wouldn’t say anything publicly until the matter is concluded.”

Ploszek expressed surprise at Berst’s comments, but said he wouldn’t read anything into it.

Walsh, who took considerable heat from the university and sat out three weeks for failing to discuss key details of Tory’s academic records with administrators, expressed regret and relief at hearing the NCAA decision.

“It’s consistent. It’s a black and white decision within the NCAA rules,” said Walsh, who had already apologized to his team. “I lost the games and it saddens me to have cost our team. There’s been a healthy penalty paid on a lot of counts for my decisions and I’ve got to live with it, but it’s over.”

Walsh said he plans to make sure Tory achieves his academic goals and gets a good hockey experience.

“I’m committed to him getting his degree,” Walsh said. “I told him this year when we recruited him that I wanted him to get his degree and I’ll do it no matter what it takes.”

Tory did not return telephone messages left at his dormitory room Monday night.

Ploszek said it took the Hockey East directors about a half-hour to decide what to do as a result of the Maine forfeits. Providence was awarded the six points by a unanimous vote.

The forfeits create substantial changes in the league standings. Maine and Providence switch positions, with Mike McShane’s Friars moving from sixth to third and the Bears falling from third to sixth.

Maine, which has been anticipating the forfeits, is now five points behind fourth-place Northeastern and two points in back of No. 5 New Hampshire.

“At least we got a ruling and we can put this thing behind us,” Walsh said. “We knew this was coming. We’ve expected it. We’re just going to worry about trying to grow from this.”

HOCKEY EAST STANDINGS (through Feb. 6)

W L T Pts GF GA Boston U. 13 4 0 26 88 54 Mass.-Lowell 9 4 4 22 61 51 Providence 9 6 1 19 54 69 Northeastern 7 6 4 18 73 69 N.Hampshire 7 9 1 15 67 71 Maine* 6 9 1 13 64 54 Boston Coll. 4 10 3 11 62 78 Merrimack 4 11 2 10 57 80

OVERALL RECORDS: Boston U. 19-6-0, Mass.-Lowell 16-6-5, Providence 14-10-2, Northeastern 15-6-4, New Hampshire 16-10-1, Maine* 11-14-1, Boston College 10-12-3, Merrimack 12-14-2, x-Massachusetts 17-8-0.

*-record includes 3 forfeits to Providence

x-affiliate member