Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Tropp back to USHL

After a few days of deliberation, former Michigan State forward Corey Tropp is heading back to the Sioux Falls Stampede of the United States Hockey League. Tropp spent the past season-and-a-half in E. Lansing where he tallied 28 points (9g, 19a) in 63 games, but was forced to look for other options after last weekend's unfortunate events at Joe Louis Arena.
Tropp played with the Stampede from 2005 to 2007 and was an integral part of the Stampede’s first Anderson Cup and Clark Cup championships. He led the team in scoring with 62 points (26g, 36a) in 54 games during the 2006-07 season and was the league’s leading scorer in the playoffs with 13 points (4g, 9a) in eight games. He was also named MVP of the USHL All-Star Game in Waterloo that season. "We are excited to have Corey back with us, but at the same time saddened it's under these unfortunate circumstances,” said Stampede CEO Gary Weckwerth. “I have reviewed the tape from the game and our staff has had many conversations with Corey, his family and officials at Michigan State about the situation. While Corey apologized for his actions, it's my opinion that he is a victim of other circumstances off the ice that do not reflect on Corey's true character. In his two years with our franchise Corey played the game within the rules and spirit that hockey is. He is a good person who knows he is family with the Stampede. We know what Corey is about and are saddened that the entire situation even took place. We welcome him back. We want hockey to be fun for Corey again.”
Meanwhile per The Ann Arbor News, authorities have determined that Tropp and exiled Andrew Conboy will not be subject to criminal charges for the punch and slash incident with Michigan's Steve Kampfer. They also stated that finality in the situation with Kampfer's father going after Tropp will be coming shortly.
Brown said police determined the actions of Conboy and Tropp during Saturday's game at Yost Ice Arena did not merit criminal charges. She also said police did not have a complainant. After the incident, Bruce Kampfer, father Steve Kampfer, physically confronted Tropp in the Spartans' locker room just before the game ended. Brown said the investigation into that incident will be completed any day and will be turned over to the Washtenaw County Prosecutor's Office for review.