Eligibility - NAIT Hockey - Non-Conference Games
( Eligibility Ruling )

2013-14 Season

September 23, 2013

Facts:

Gregg Meropoulis of NAIT has self-reported a violation involving Emma Sommerfeld and Jana Fialova of the Women’s Hockey team. NAIT indicated that the student athletes were recently made aware that their attempts at retaining their eligibility through completing summer classes were not successful and both Ms. Sommerfeld and Ms. Fialova did not attain the eighteen (18) credit hours required to be eligible to compete this current academic year.

Mr. Meropoulis indicated that  Ms. Fialova competed in non-conference games against

  • Fort Saskatchewan Fury September 5, 2013,
  • Sherwood Park Fury September 7, 2013,
  • Thorsby Thunder September 13, 2013,
  • U of A Pandas, September 14, 2013 and
  • Calgary Edge September 15, 2013. 

Ms. Sommerfeld competed in non-conference games against

  • St. Albert Slash September 6, 2013,
  • Sherwood Park Fury September 7, 2013,
  • Thorsby Thunder September 13, 2013,
  • U of A Pandas, September 14, 2013 and
  • Calgary Edge September 15, 2013.  

NAIT defeated the Sherwood Park Fury, Fort Saskatchewan Fury, St. Albert Slash, and Thorsby Thunder but lost to the U of A Pandas and Calgary Edge.

Ruling:
It is clear that NAIT used ineligible players during the above six games. Accordingly, Article I Section 5
Rule 10.1 applies:

10.1. Use of an Ineligible Student-Athlete
Where it has been determined that a member institution is in violation of the rule of eligibility and has used an ineligible student-athlete, other than as identified in Article 10.2, the Commissioner shall exercise his or her discretion to determine an appropriate sanction. (Amended October, 2011)

Under the circumstances, based on the use of ineligible athletes, NAIT shall forfeit the results of the four (4) non-conference victories in question. Taking into account that were this simply an administrative error, the Operating Code would have called for an automatic fine of $500, NAIT is also hereby fined $1500, payable forthwith to the ACAC Office.

Sincerely,

Alan Rogan
Acting ACAC Commissioner
2013-14 Season