One name was conspicuously absent from the UK hockey team’s starting lineup.

Tony Valerino — the star of the team, the one with signs proclaiming his goal-scoring feats, the one with a name tailor-made for pregame introductions — was not announced as a starter before last weekend’s games against Lindenwood.

Valerino has been ruled academically ineligible for failing to meet minimum ACHA requirements of maintaining a 2.0 GPA and at least 9 credit hours. He will not return to the team this year, general manager Ian Ward said. As a senior, the ruling effectively ends his career.

The announcement blindsided nearly everyone. UK head coach Rob Docherty was informed of Valerino’s situation about a week before the Lindenwood games. Docherty said he had yet to talk to Valerino about the issue as of Sunday.

Just like that, Valerino went from being on top of the national scoring list to a name only in record books and on what is now a dated roster.

“It was a big shock,” sophomore forward Michael Getz said. “He’s been the star for four years and all of a sudden he’s off the team.”

Valerino scored 130 goals in 101 career games and it appeared he had more chapters to write in his book. Instead, there will be no storybook ending for a storied career. Valerino declined to be interviewed.

“He’s been such a big part of this team and this program,” Docherty said. “It’s unfortunate that it ended this way, but it is what it is and we have to move on.”

Valerino has had academic troubles before. He was ruled ineligible for a semester during his sophomore year. This time there will be no coming back.

Valerino’s departure has thrown the team into transition. UK lost its leading goal-scorer, assistant captain and four years of starting experience.

“It will be tough down the road without Tony,” sophomore forward Billy Glass said. “He could always be counted on every game. But we can win without Tony, and we needed to prove it to ourselves that we could do it.”

Getz moved into Valerino’s spot on the first line and realizes the difficulty of stepping into Valerino’s skates.

“Filling Tony’s spot, you can’t do it,” Getz said. “You can’t replace him. But we can do our own thing with what we have.”

UK has essentially cut the cord with Valerino, realizing the rest of the season won’t slow down to wait for UK to adjust to the loss.

“We can’t dwell on losing him,” Getz said. “We need to stay focused and keep our eyes on the prize.”

UK not only has to fill Valerino’s productivity with the puck but also his locker room presence as an assistant captain. Junior forward Taylor Vit was named the new assistant captain and sported an ‘A’ on his sweater against Lindenwood.

“Vitty is a great leader and filled that void,” Glass said. “He’s stepped up in the locker room. He’s a mindful guy who knows his hockey, and we listen when he has something to say.”

While Valerino was undoubtedly the most productive player on the team, UK isn’t a one-man show. Vit and Glass are both in the top 13 in the nation in points and the rest of the team feels they can pick up additional responsibilities.

“Tony didn’t win 17 games by himself,” Docherty said. “Everyone else was involved in those 17 wins.”

Docherty said the team will become more defense-oriented and expects younger players to step up and fill the void. UK beat Lindenwood 6-3 on Saturday to improve to 18-7.

“When you lose the number one scorer in the country those are big shoes to fill,” Docherty said. “But we have players who are ready to step up. We will lose goals, things will be different, but we won’t get frustrated and just need to work through it.”