UND handles leaked private Instagram chat internally

UND forward Jackson Keane drives the puck past Alaska-Anchorage's Jeremiah Luedtke (27). Nick Nelson / Grand Forks Herald — Freshman UND forward Jackson Keane drives the puck past Alaska-Anchorage's Jeremiah Luedtke (27) during a game earlier this season. Nick Nelson / Grand Forks Herald

By Brad Elliott Schlossman

May 08, 2020 at 5:55 PM

UND says it investigated and handled an incident this week after images from a private group chat on Instagram surfaced online.

The comments in the group chat of Winnipeg-based hockey players, prominently by Washington Capitals forward Brendan Leipsic, were vulgar, misogynistic and demeaning in nature.

Leipsic, whose comments were directed at significant others of hockey players and at two of his Capitals teammates, had his contract terminated Friday.

Leaked imagines showed that UND junior forward Jackson Keane was a member of the group chat, though to a lesser extent than Leipsic and others.

"We investigated an incident that Jackson was a part of, and we’ve have handled the incident internally within our program," UND coach Brad Berry said in a statement.

UND said no further comments will be made.

Keane played in 19 of 35 games last season for the Fighting Hawks, tallying a goal and five points. He has one year of college eligibility remaining.

By Brad Elliott Schlossman

Schlossman has covered college hockey for the Grand Forks Herald since 2005. He has been recognized by the Associated Press Sports Editors as the top beat writer for the Herald's circulation division four times and the North Dakota sportswriter of the year once. He resides in Grand Forks. Reach him at bschlossman@gfherald.com.