BOWLING GREEN — Former Bowling Green State University hockey standout Austen Swankler claimed he was a victim of hazing within the Falcons’ program, four days after three players on the team were suspended and head coach Ty Eigner was placed on paid administrative leave for alleged hazing at an off-campus event involving student athletes on the team.
In a series of tweets from his personal account on X — formerly known as Twitter — Swankler expressed his thoughts on the situation. The Central Collegiate Hockey Association preseason player of the year, who on Monday entered the transfer portal the same day BGSU announced the suspension, reiterated what he told The Blade in a phone interview earlier this week that he left due to cultural issues in the program and his values.
To clear the air I don’t want my name to be put through the mud. I never stole anything and sold anything of the teams. So any comment on social media or going around the hockey world is a lie. I left due to cultural issues here and my values.
— Austen Swankler (@austenswankler) September 22, 2023
“I entered the portal due to incidents here at BGSU where I was a victim,” Swankler said in one post.
In another post, Swankler said “I came out about everything that happened to stop future incidents from occurring. Hazing is a serious issue especially to this school. So before you saying I’m dragging the school through the mud know the facts. I know the facts because I was a victim.”
Swankler totaled 19 goals and 25 assists during the 2022-23 season — his sophomore year — in being named first-team all-CCHA and a Hobey Baker Memorial Award nominee. He had eight goals and 18 assists as a freshman.
First Published September 23, 2023, 2:44 a.m.
