The Hurricanes went from 11-0 to 5-6 and dropped from first to 10th in the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) rankings after the results of a review by the national organization.
The college didn’t name the player for privacy reasons, only to say he was in his first season at Holland College after previously playing in the United States.
The Guardian has learned it is Christian Williams, who averaged nine points and seven rebounds in six games before Christmas coming off the bench for the ’Canes.
Ken Heckbert, the college’s chief financial officer, said the student-athlete had played at a college in Ontario and then went to Wyoming before arriving in Charlottetown. But he played in Wyoming while not being academically eligible.
“We didn't know he was deemed ineligible while he was there,” Heckbert told The Guardian.
The college had his transcript from Wyoming, and his marks made him eligible to play in the CCAA.
“Our assumption was that the school in Wyoming had dealt with his academic record from Ontario,” Heckbert said.
When the college was told there might be an issue with his eligibility, it removed the player from the roster and started an investigation.
“As soon as we heard any hint that there was questions about his eligibility we took immediate action,” Heckbert said. “We’re not trying to hide anything from anybody.”
Atlantic Collegiate Athletic Association executive director Ron O’Flaherty agreed.
“The fact that Holland College self-disclosed on this, I think, is a significant fact,” he said.
He noted while institutions using ineligible players is not an everyday occurrence, it is not uncommon.
The college gathered all the information it could and sent it to the CCAA for a ruling.
“We have to accept the ruling,” Heckbert said. “We’re not the first (college) that’s had to forfeit games. . . (but) it’s the first it’s ever happen to us” in any sport.
The college is hosting the national championship in March, and after being close the last couple years it is hoping to get to the pinnacle this season.
“We are absolutely moving forward and focusing on our next set of games and beyond,” head coach Josh Whitty said. “We’re still in a very good position to compete for the conference championship.”
Mount Allison and Mount Saint Vincent are now tied for first with 11-1 records followed by Crandall at 8-3. Holland College is fourth with 10 games remaining.
The top six teams make the playoffs with the top two squads getting byes.
Heckbert said the college won’t make this mistake again.
“We’ve learned a valuable lesson from this,” he said. “If you’ve got an athlete that’s played in Canada and the US, as a school, we have to investigate all of their transcript, not just the last part of it.”
Williams is still in school, and Heckbert said they expect him to excel in the classroom.
The Hurricanes went from 11-0 to 5-6 and dropped from first to 10th in the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) rankings after the results of a review by the national organization.
The college didn’t name the player for privacy reasons, only to say he was in his first season at Holland College after previously playing in the United States.
The Guardian has learned it is Christian Williams, who averaged nine points and seven rebounds in six games before Christmas coming off the bench for the ’Canes.
Ken Heckbert, the college’s chief financial officer, said the student-athlete had played at a college in Ontario and then went to Wyoming before arriving in Charlottetown. But he played in Wyoming while not being academically eligible.
“We didn't know he was deemed ineligible while he was there,” Heckbert told The Guardian.
The college had his transcript from Wyoming, and his marks made him eligible to play in the CCAA.
“Our assumption was that the school in Wyoming had dealt with his academic record from Ontario,” Heckbert said.
When the college was told there might be an issue with his eligibility, it removed the player from the roster and started an investigation.
“As soon as we heard any hint that there was questions about his eligibility we took immediate action,” Heckbert said. “We’re not trying to hide anything from anybody.”
Atlantic Collegiate Athletic Association executive director Ron O’Flaherty agreed.
“The fact that Holland College self-disclosed on this, I think, is a significant fact,” he said.
He noted while institutions using ineligible players is not an everyday occurrence, it is not uncommon.
The college gathered all the information it could and sent it to the CCAA for a ruling.
“We have to accept the ruling,” Heckbert said. “We’re not the first (college) that’s had to forfeit games. . . (but) it’s the first it’s ever happen to us” in any sport.
The college is hosting the national championship in March, and after being close the last couple years it is hoping to get to the pinnacle this season.
“We are absolutely moving forward and focusing on our next set of games and beyond,” head coach Josh Whitty said. “We’re still in a very good position to compete for the conference championship.”
Mount Allison and Mount Saint Vincent are now tied for first with 11-1 records followed by Crandall at 8-3. Holland College is fourth with 10 games remaining.
The top six teams make the playoffs with the top two squads getting byes.
Heckbert said the college won’t make this mistake again.
“We’ve learned a valuable lesson from this,” he said. “If you’ve got an athlete that’s played in Canada and the US, as a school, we have to investigate all of their transcript, not just the last part of it.”
Williams is still in school, and Heckbert said they expect him to excel in the classroom.
