Mt. Royal Cougars stripped of title

[Swayze11]

In an unprecedented move, Game 5 of the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference men’s hockey final will be replayed because the Mount Royal University Cougars dressed an ineligible player for the contest, Global TV reported on Tuesday night.
The Cougars hoisted the championship trophy on Sunday after blanking the SAIT Trojans 1-0 in the deciding game of the best-of-five series.
Backup goalie Brett Bothwell earned the shutout, filling in for injured starter Justin Cote.
But the problem is the Cougars dressed a new backup, who was ruled an ineligible player after the fact, despite not seeing game action.
According to Global’s report, the game will be replayed on Saturday at SAIT Campus Arena at 6 p.m.

Read more: http://www.calgaryherald.com/news/AC...#ixzz1I6Cnuvik

Bob McKenzie pretty much summed up my thoughts as well:

If I were Mount Royal, I know what I would do. Not play the game. Give the title to SAIT if it means that much to them. Didn't earn it, tho.

[Knut]

Wow... that is low. How does a backup goalie factor into the way the team played.

[North East Goon]

The captain of SAIT ran the usual starting goalie for MRU injuring him in the process. Now they are complaining about the back-up. Pretty poor sportsmanship by SAIT. (I am an alumni of SAIT hockey to boot)

[MissTeeks]

TSNBobMcKenzie Bob McKenzie
SAIT informs me it had zero to do with replay decision, did not protest, that it was a league decision. Fair enough. Duly noted.

[Swayze11]

^ Doesn't really matter IMO. If Sait wins this replay, it won't feel the same I am sure.

[You Need a Thneed]

It needs to be noted that SAIT did not protest, the call to replay was made solely by the ACAC. SAIT had the option to win by forfeit or to replay, they took replay.

I'm with Bob MacKenzie, though, there's no need for a replay.

[united]

The guy didn't touch the ice, who cares? Rules are rules, but sometimes you have to look away. BTW, MRU's captain is Darnell Glass, the younger brother of Tanner Glass.

@TSNBobMcKenzie
Still think ACAC and both teams should have sat down and done right thing, looked other way on rule this time and use it as lesson learned.

[burn_this_city]

The speed and timing of opening the gate during line changes had a big impact on the results on the ice.

[troutman]

What happens for the winner? Do they go on to national championships?

SAIT should forfeit - they lost fair and square.

[Swayze11]

Originally Posted by burn_this_city

The speed and timing of opening the gate during line changes had a big impact on the results on the ice.

hmmm good point, could have been a gate ringer.

[Resolute 14]

There used to be a CCHA national championship, but I don't think it has been played in several years. The provincial title is the highest.

This is an odd decision since it was the backup goalie, but I can see the ACAC's rationale. Whether or not he played, having an ineligible player on the roster is often a forfeit. So the ACAC was left with ignoring its own rules - never a good thing, awarding SAIT the title by default or ordering a replay. Every one of these options sucks, but I expect they felt the last was the best option.

FWIW, the Okotoks Dawgs were awarded the WMBL championship last season because Swift Current was using ineligible players as well.

[Resolute 14]

ianbusby57 Ian Busby



Mount Royal is protesting ruling by ACAC and there will be a hearing Thursday. Stay tuned on this bizarre story. #saittrojans

[HotHotHeat]

SAIT should go out and play without hockey sticks.

[SeoulFire]

I am glad that SAIT did not initiate this. I hope that they show some class and forfeit the replay.

[JustAnotherGuy]

Originally Posted by SeoulFire

I am glad that SAIT did not initiate this. I hope that they show some class and forfeit the replay.

Based on the comments here I think SAIT is already showing some class.

[burn_this_city]

MRU has decided to forfeit.

http://www.calgaryherald.com/sports/...530/story.html

[Prototype]

Next time, ice a legal roster. Doesn't matter that he didn't play, you could make the arguement that he could have, and would have if their starter was pulled/injured. He was dressed and would have played if called upon.

Rules are rules. I think it's classy that SAIT will play them again, rather than just take the trophy, which within the rules is their right.

Might be as stupid a rule as getting two minutes for putting the puck over the glass in your own end, but it's still a rule. You can't, as an organization, turn a blind eye to your own rules. Period.

[Knut]

^ How could they ice a legal roster ?

Their starting goalie got run over the game before by a SAIT player and was injured. There is no affliate they can call upon.... most likely the backup was a rec league goalie or something.

[Prototype]

After reading burn_this_city's link, I may change my tune, due to this quote:

MRU contacted former backup netminder Steve Houghton, who is currently taking night classes and working to finish his business degree. According to Glass, they confirmed it with the ACAC official on hand.

If MRU confirmed with with an ACAC official, and the official was wrong, that isn't MRU's fault, and shouldn't be stripped.

[Prototype]

Originally Posted by Hesla

^ How could they ice a legal roster ?

Their starting goalie got run over the game before by a SAIT player and was injured. There is no affliate they can call upon.... most likely the backup was a rec league goalie or something.

It would be bad management on the team's part if they did not carry, at the very least, a list of available goalies on campus that could play for them in such an event. Just because it rarely happens doesn't mean it doesn't happen. There should be a plan B. I get that they had 20 hours, but that's still a lot of time to track someone down, especially if they were prepaired.

But it sounds like they were cleared by an ACAC official to play the goalie they did. I hadn't seen that anywhere before my first post.