University Of Maine Hockey Player Arrested

LetsGoDU Note: Charges were dropped in this case

(left) Tanner "Is In Da" House

With "$3 pitchers, $1 well drinks & $1 Natty Light Drafts" who wouldn't have a good time at one of Orono's newest hot spots? Well for one, a University of Maine hockey player who was summoned after an incident over the weekend at 103 Ultra Lounge on charges of unlawful sexual touching and assault.

Freshman Tanner House, 21, of Cochrane, Alberta, Canada, allegedly grabbed a female patron’s breast early Sunday morning at 103 Ultra Lounge, formerly Ushuaia, according to Orono police Capt. Josh Ewing.

In addition to the formal charges, House is expected to receive punishment from the university.

UMaine Athletic Director Blake James, who was out of state Monday, has suspended the player indefinitely until he can review all the facts to determine the appropriate sanctions under the student athlete code of conduct, UMaine spokesman Joe Carr said.

The incident occurred while the female patron was talking to one of the club’s bouncers at around 1:15 a.m. During the conversation, she said House, whom she said she didn’t know, approached her and grabbed her left breast.

The woman said she tried to stop him, but House walked away. The club’s staff reportedly followed House while 103 Ultra Lounge manager Robbie Snow went across the street to where Orono police Sgt. Scott Lajoie was sitting in his police cruiser.

Lajoie caught up with House, who was headed toward the nearby Orchard Trails apartment complex and brought him back to the club. There, House was issued a summons for the two charges. He is scheduled to appear Dec. 13 at 3rd District Court in Bangor.

House’s punishment under the athletic code of conduct at the university would likely be doubled based on recent orders from UM President Robert Kennedy.

The change was made by Kennedy last month after more than a dozen different athletes & three coaches found themselves in trouble with the law since spring of last year. House, a center, has played in all seven of Maine’s hockey games this season and has one goal and one assist.