Tropp leaves Spartans for Buffalo deal

MSU Press Release

Michigan State junior forward Corey Tropp has opted to forego his final season of collegiate eligibility, signing a three-year entry-level contact with the Buffalo Sabres.

Tropp was the Spartans’ top scorer a season ago and is the third underclassman to sign a professional contract this off-season. Terms of his contract were not announced.

“Obviously, we are going to miss a player of Corey’s caliber in the lineup,” noted MSU head coach Rick Comley. “This, though, is the reality of college hockey – good players are leaving school after their sophomore and junior seasons. We wish him the best as he pursues his dream to play professional hockey.”

Tropp is coming off a season where he earned team MVP honors and was named a Second Team All-CCHA performer, notching 42 points (20 goals, 22 assists) in 37 games last season. He spent the season ranked among national leaders in goals, as well as power-play markers (9) and game-winning tallies (5). The winger appeared in 100 career games in Green and White and had a 29-41-70 scoring line.

An alternate captain this season, Tropp was a fifth-round draft pick of the Sabres in the 2007 NHL entry draft.

Tropp joins classmates Jeff Petry (Edmonton Oilers) and Andrew Rowe (Philadelphia Flyers) as early departures from the Spartans. All were among the team’s top four scorers.

Corey Tropp reinstated by Spartans

Compiled by MiCHO Staff

Michigan State hockey coach Rick Comley has announced that sophomore Corey Tropp has been reinstated to the Spartan hockey program, effective immediately. Tropp had been suspended for his role in an on-ice incident in a Jan. 25 game at Michigan and on Jan. 26 was suspended for the remainder of the 2008-09 season.

"I feel Corey deserves to rejoin the team," noted Comley. "When we suspended him, we said that we would discuss his status at the end of the season. Corey paid a considerable price for his actions - actions which were out of character and not representative of how he had carried himself as a student-athlete in our program up to that point. We believe that this was an isolated incident, and it is time for him to get back with the team as we begin our preparations for next season."

"I support Corey's reinstatement," added Director of Athletics Mark Hollis. "We feel strongly that our student-athletes should have respect for the game, respect for their opponent, and a commitment to fair play. While Corey made a mistake, he was held accountable for those actions, and has met Coach Comley's expectations and benchmarks for reinstatement. In my conversations with Corey, I believe he has learned some important life lessons from this unfortunate incident. We have respect for how he navigated this process, and I look forward to seeing him in a Michigan State uniform again.

"Michigan State University provides a positive environment for students to learn and engage in new experiences. Along with this opportunity comes the expectations that individuals will act appropriately and make positive contributions to our campus and community. As we stated at the time, and will continue to reinforce throughout the athletic department, individuals who stray from this responsibility will be held accountable. Corey has paid that price, and it is time for all of us to move forward and support him and the rest of the hockey program as they look to rebound from what has been a difficult season."

Tropp to return to Michigan State

Sioux Falls Stampede Press Release

The Sioux Falls Stampede announced yesterday that forward Corey Tropp has decided to return to Michigan State University and will not play for the Stampede this season.

When Tropp came to Sioux Falls last week, Michigan State officials told him it was within his rights to play for the Stampede. However, after compliance staff at Michigan State and the NCAA discussed the situation, they were unsure if he could retain his college eligibility if he would have played one game with the Stampede. Because Tropp had already enrolled in spring semester, the NCAA said Tropp would become ineligible if he played with any other team, potentially jeopardizing his college eligibility for the rest of his career.

With this new information, Tropp, his family, and family advisor felt it was in the best interest of Corey to return to campus at Michigan State and finish his spring semester. He will then reevaluate his situation at the end of the school year. Tropp's advisors told Stampede officials that Corey's college eligibility is the most important issue at this time.

“Corey informed me tonight that he had a conversation with Michigan State head coach Rick Comley prior to Stampede practice (Monday) and was told he would be reinstated once his suspension is served,” said Stampede CEO Gary Weckwerth. "Corey added that the change in heart came after some of his Michigan State teammates met with Comley and asked them to reconsider Corey's situation. This is the right thing for Corey. We are very happy for him and that he can start putting this incident behind him."

USHL officials had scheduled a hearing to discuss Tropp's pending league suspension for Tuesday morning in Sioux Falls. That meeting has been canceled. Tropp was suspended by Michigan State nine days ago after an on-ice incident occurred against the University of Michigan.