DURHAM, N.H. – Eight University of New Hampshire hockey players have been benched for two games for ignoring their coach’s order to stay away from downtown the night the Red Sox lost their chance to go to the World Series.

Troublemakers among an estimated crowd of 2,500 threw bottles and rocks at police and fired paintball guns Thursday night. There were no serious injuries, but six students and an 18-year-old nonstudent face felony riot charges.

Anticipating trouble, hockey coach Dick Umile told the players to stay away from downtown. Eight of them did not, and UNH announced Tuesday that Umile had benched them for two games. The UNH news bureau said the players did not take part in the disturbance, which was the third at UNH in six months.

The crowd poured into downtown after the Red Sox blew an eighth-inning lead and lost the American League championship to the archrival New York Yankees 6-5 in 11 innings.

“Our student-athletes are role models and are held to a higher standard and their actions are a reflection on UNH athletics, their teams and the university,” Athletic Director Marty Scarano said. “On this particular night some of our student-athletes made poor choices.”

Umile said the hockey program “has a history of service to the campus and the broader community. We would rather continue in that role, than be the audience to those who choose to be disruptive and disrespectful to the community.”

UNH identified the eight as Nathan Martz, Tyler Scott, Matt Hoppe, Tyson Teplitsky, Robie Barker, Andrew Leach, Nark Kolanos, and Brett Hemingway. They will sit out games Friday and Saturday at the Punch Imlach College Hockey Showcase Tournament in Buffalo, N.Y.

The seven people arrested are barred from campus pending hearings. Felony riot is punishable by up to seven years in prison.

UNH officials have vowed to stop downtown disturbances after sporting events. Chairman John Lynch said the trustees support tougher and quicker disciplinary action against those “ruining the environment for the rest of the UNH community.”

“We are dealing with young adults, but adults nonetheless. They must be held responsible for their actions,” he said.