Earlier in the month, we had found out that highly touted incoming Wisconsin Badgers freshman forward Nic Kerdiles, had been suspended for one year by the NCAA for a violation of the NCAA’s amateurism rules.
Courtesy of the United States of Hockey --- Apparently, Kerdiles stayed in a hotel room the night of the NHL Entry Draft that was part of a block paid for by a credit card owned by family advisor and certified NHL player agent Ian Pulver. According to the source, though the Kerdiles family eventually repaid Pulver, apparently enough time had lapsed prior to repayment leading the NCAA to view this as a loan from an agent and therefore an improper benefit.With the reduction of the suspension from the NCAA, Kerdiles will now have a 10 game suspension, with time served. The Badgers have already played in two games so eight games remain on Kerdiles’s suspension. Kerdiles will be eligible to return on November 30, 2012 when the Wisconsin Badgers play the Denver Pioneers in Denver, Colorado.
Kerdiles’s has a big decision ahead him, one of his option is that he was been drafted by the Kelowna Rockets of the Western Hockey Leagues and he could leave the University of Wisconsin and he would be eligible immediately to play in the WHL.
As a college hockey fan and advocate, I would hope that ends up “not” being the case.
Walter Dickey, Wisconsin's Senior Associate Athletic Director for Regulatory Affairs, who handled the appeal on behalf of the University of Wisconsin, issued the following statement.
"While we recognize the significant nature of a reduction in penalty from a full season withholding to 30 percent, we are dismayed that any penalty whatsoever was imposed on Nic Kerdiles in this matter. We remain confident that the facts demonstrate Nic had no culpability. The facts serve as evidence that he has the kind of character we believed he had when he was first recruited. Throughout this ordeal, Nic has demonstrated nothing but poise and integrity consistent with the outstanding student-athlete we know he is.
"Nic is currently exploring his options which we have encouraged him to do. Our hope is that he remains a Badger."
