Nick Roberto helped Boston University make the NCAA Finals in 2014-2015, though Buffalo’s Jack Eichel was the star of the team.
Nick Roberto of Wakefield, Massachusetts — a Boston University hockey player — was suspended by the school for the first 18 hockey matches of the 2015-2016 season. For the past couple of months, speculated ranged about the sort of misconduct Mr. Roberto might have engaged in to receive such a harsh suspension. When asked by journalists about the situation, school officials only would say “federal privacy laws prevent us from discussing his status.”
On Monday, the school announced Nick Roberto had been removed from the Boston University team permanently. School officials announced why he had been suspended all this time. It seems all this time that Nick Robert was under investigation for possible gambling violations. He is alleged to have gambled while playing on the school’s hockey team, which is a violation of NCAA rules. The investigation might turn up more instances of players who gambled while playing.
NCAA Rules against Gambling of Any Kind
The National Collegiate Athletic Association has a strict ban on players gambling on “fantasy sports leagues, sports pools, and March Madness brackets”. The NCAA has a wide range of penalties, ranging from a 1-game suspension to a full ban from interscholastic competitions. Such a ban often includes permanent ineligibility at the college level of sports.
The Boston Globe has investigated, but has not been able to determine how much money Nick Roberto gambled. Also, the Globe learned that several other Boston University hockey players also gambled, but they had left the school before BU launched its investigation into the activity. One might assume they were seniors who left college over the summer, though no one at Boston University has indicated that to be the case.
Officials Heard Rumors Months Ago
In a statement to the public, Boston University said that officials heard rumors several months ago that a student-athlete might have wagered while on scholarship at the school. Since such gaming is an NCAA violation, Boston University’s administration launched an immediate investigation into the matter.
The statement said, “Although the rumors did not involve gambling on either college or professional hockey games, we nonetheless immediately conducted a thorough investigation and turned the results over to the appropriate authorities at the NCAA. Based on that investigation, the NCAA made its own findings and took remedial action, and we would refer you to that organization for further information.”
Boston University’s Storied Hockey History
Boston University has a long and storied hockey tradition. With a team which has played every year since 1918, BU’s men’s hockey team holds 5 national championships and has appeared in the Frozen Four twenty-five separate times. Four BU Terriers were on the 1980 U.S. Men’s Hockey Team, which pulled off the “Miracle on Ice”. Those members were instrumental in the miraculous defeat of the Soviet Union’s seemingly unbeatable squad, including Olympic team captain Mike Eruzione, goalie Jim Craig, right winger Dave Silk, and defenseman Jack O’Callahan.
Unfortunately, the school’s more recent hockey history has been lurid. In 2012, two of the school’s hockey players were accused of sexual assault in a story which caused major controversy in the media and on campus. Charges eventually were dropped on one of the players, while the other (Corey Trevino) pleaded guilty to one count of trespassing and two counts of battery.
Jack Eichel and Revival
The team’s longtime coach and school’s athletic director were forced out. The team reloaded quickly. Led by star freshman Jack Eichel, the Terriers won the Hockey East title and the Beanpot Tournament, two of the most prestigious accomplishments in the NCAA hockey. They made it to the NCAA Championship Game, eventually losing 4-3 to Providence.
Nick Roberto was a sophomore member of that runner-up squad, though his production had declined from his freshman season. Jack Eichel left the school after being selected 2nd overall in the NHL Summer Draft. At 19, he now leads the Buffalo Sabres of the National Hockey League.
The Unknown Offenses Might Remain Unknown
Readers should understand that the hard line taken by Boston University was mandated by NCAA rules, and that stance does not mean Nick Roberto was involved in match-fixing. BU officials were emphatic that their investigation showed no signs Roberto had bet on college hockey or BU games, or that he had any connection to match-fixers.
It is likely the gambling which took place was dorm room poker sessions, and rumors of these poker nights eventually leaked out to school officials. If so, such an investigation would have to be launched. If the investigation found the rumors to be true, Nick Roberto might well lose his scholarship. The length of the investigation might indicate that a more serious offense could have occurred, but federal laws make it difficult for school officials to confirm or deny any supposition.
