It might not be over for the Portage Voyageurs hockey team ... if an alleged player controversy from another team is confirmed.
The Lac La Biche squad is one of the eight teams in the Alberta Colleges Athletics Conference currently waiting on word from the league's senior officials that could turn the upcoming men's hockey playoffs on their head. According to the ACAC, the league commissioner is about to release a ruling on allegations that a player on one of the 's teams was not eligible to be skating in the ACAC this season. The decision could affect the points standings of the teams.
Alyssa Davies, a spokesperson for the ACAC, told the POST today that a ruling will be released "imminently" by the league's commissions. The timing of the release comes with just two games left for most teams in the regular season.
"It’s important that this is released as soon as possible since the outcome could have an impact on playoff eligibility," Davies to the POST.
One of the impacted teams is the Portage College Voyageurs. If the team alleged to have played with an ineligible player is punished with changes to their final standings, that would mean the final two games of the season could move the Voyageurs into a playoff spot.
The Voyageurs are slated to play Concordia University this weekend in what was to be their last games of the regular season. The Voyageurs are currently in last place in the league, just four points back of the sixth-place cut-off for the playoffs. Depending on which team is alleged to have been using an ineligible player, and the severity of the punishment, the Voyageurs could take that last spot if they win consecutive games.
The POST will have the report from the commissioner when it becomes available — and the trickle-down effect any ruling might have.