Couple of NCAA tweets

An early look at the #FrozenFour program: #UnionHockey #BCHockey #UNDHockey #GopherHockey #NCAAHockey pic.twitter.com/zNSLdaFkYW
— Union Hockey Blog (@UnionHockeyBlog) April 4, 2014

I want to thank my friends, coaches and most of all, my family for the support over the years. And thank you SCSU for 3 unforgettable yrs.
— Ryan Faragher (@fedz29) April 5, 2014

Tough to say everything in 140 characters.. pic.twitter.com/qqGioIdOzU
— Nic Kerdiles (@NicKerdiles) April 5, 2014

Nic Kerdiles scores a dirty goal (Vine)

s/t to Andy Johnson... Badgers freshman forward Nic Kerdiles' scores his 13th goal of the season. Wow, that's a dirty goal. The Badgers beat PSU 3-2 in overtime.

USA WJC Hockey: Kerdiles checked from behind Sulak

USA forward Nic Kerdiles checked from behind by Czech Republic Defenseman Libor Sulak during game one of the 2014 IIHF WJC. There was no call on the play. After watching the video of the hit a few times, I am not really upset with the no-call in this instance.

Related articles

• IIHF WJC 2014: The most Wonderful time of the year...Go Team USA... (ndgoon.blogspot.com)
• Maple Leafs Legacy at the World Junior Championships (thehockeywriters.com)
• Part 1: Maple Leafs at the World Junior Championships (thehockeywriters.com)
• "Bittersweet" Homecoming for Grand Forks' Lamoureux Twins (thehockeywriters.com)

Highly touted Kerdiles to stay at Wisconsin

Originally posted at the Hockey Writers Combine

The University of Wisconsin Badgers fan base got some great news today, as they found out that their highly touted incoming freshman forward Nic Kerdiles will be staying at the University of Wisconsin and will not be bolting for the Kelowna Rockets of the Western Hockey League, who own his rights.

If Kerdiles had decided to bolt to the Western Hockey League – instead of serving his eight game suspension – he would have been eligible to play immediately for the Rockets.

This is a “huge” win for college hockey fans, but also college hockey in general, which over the past two years has suffered through the loss of some highly touted blue chip recruits and players, who bolted the CHL.

As a college hockey fan, it is a breath of fresh air to see a kid like Kerdiles’ stature happy to be a student at the University of Wisconsin and now have one foot out the door already. Kerdiles said as much today during the press conference.

 "To be the best student-athlete I can be and work toward my degree at a great university,” Kerdiles said.
It also looks like there wasn’t a lot of doubt in Kerdiles’ mind where he wanted to be and he is proud to be part of the Wisconsin Badgers hockey team.

"I'm so glad to be able to call myself a Badger and to continue doing so,” Kerdiles said. "There was never a doubt" he would remain with the Badgers. It was an easy decision for my family and I."

It also sounds like the head coach of the Wisconsin Badgers Mike Eaves is also very relieved to have this problem behind him and that he will not have to worry about his blue chip forward bolting to the WHL or anywhere else.

"I'm glad we're going to put this behind us and move forward," Eaves said. "When he gets back in there, we'll have an impact player in our lineup"

Kerdiles is eligible to return to the Badgers lineup on November 9^th, 2012 when they play the Denver Pioneers at Magness Arena  in Denver, Colorado. Kerdiles already has November 30^th, 2012 circled on his calendar.

When the Badgers finally get Kerdiles back in the lineup from his 10 game suspension – it will be like a team getting a free agent player at the trade deadline or a players returning from injury reserve after a long term injury. But for now, the Badgers Kerdiles will just have to sit and wait.

Wisconsin Freshman Nic Kerdiles’ suspension reduced to 10 games by the NCAA

Originally posted at the Hockey Writer – Combine

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."

Kerdiles to appeal suspension

According to Andy Johnson of Bucky's Fifth Quarter the NCAA will hear the appeal of the suspension of Nic Kerdiles next week on October 18th, 2012. Wisconsin officials are confirming the same thing.

If you haven't heard, Wisconsin's appeal of a one-year suspension by the NCAA of freshman Nic Kerdiles will be heard next Thursday, Oct 18th
— Andy Johnson (@AndyJohnsonB5Q) October 12, 2012

Wisconsin officials confirm NCAA will not hear Nic Kerdiles appeal this week. No specific timetable for when NCAA will act.
— Andy Baggot (@AndyBaggotWSJ) October 11, 2012

Related articles

• Wisconsin freshman Nic Kerdiles suspended for one year by the NCAA (ndgoon.blogspot.com)
• Wisconsin freshman Nic Kerdiles suspended for one year by the NCAA (thehockeywriters.com)
• Nic Kerdiles suspended, NCAA still doesn't get it (sbnation.com)
• NCAA Officially Rules Kerdiles Ineligible for Season, Wisconsin Appealing [Updated] (unitedstatesofhockey.com)
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Wisconsin freshman Nic Kerdiles suspended for one year by the NCAA

Bucky Badger 2003-Present (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Originally posted at the Hockey Writers - Combine. 

While I was on my vacation at the beginning of this week – a major story broke on Badgers freshman forward Nic Kerdiles.

Kerdiles is a highly touted incoming freshman forward and was one of the better players on the U.S. National Under-18 Team last season; unfortunately, he has been suspended by the NCAA for one year.

According to Andy Baggott, beat writer for the Wisconsin Badgers; the University of Wisconsin men’s hockey team could end up losing their highly talented freshman winger Nic Kerdiles for a year for a violation of the NCAA’s amateurism rules.

Multiple sources in the NHL and college hockey indicate the NCAA acted on photos and postings made public via social media that involve an agent and took place leading up to the NHL Entry Draft in June.

It’s not clear what specific issues led the NCAA to rule against Kerdiles, an 18-year-old from Irvine, Calif., but the Bucky’s 5th Quarter website culled a photo from an agent’s Twitter account that showed Kerdiles and two of the agent’s clients holding glasses that advertised a specific energy drink.

The photo could be construed as Kerdiles being marketed by the representative as well as being used to promote a specific product.

The agent who posted the energy drink photo, Toronto-based Ian Pulver of Pulver Sports, didn’t return a phone call seeking comment Monday.

This would be a major hit for the Wisconsin Badgers, according to Andy Johnson of Bucky’s Fifth quarter, Kerdiles is one of the top incoming recruits in the country this season and was expected to challenge for a spot on the Badgers top line.  Losing Kerdiles would be a major hit for the Wisconsin Badgers who have been picked by some to finish in the upper half of the WCHA standings this season.

Of course the University of Wisconsin is appealing this unprecedented decision. According to a tweet by Baggott the NCAA isn’t even going to hear Wisconsin’s Appeal this week.

Wisconsin officials confirm NCAA will not hear Nic Kerdiles appeal this week. No specific timetable for when NCAA will act.
— Andy Baggot (@AndyBaggotWSJ) October 11, 2012

Here is the kicker, you would think since Kerdiles has been suspended by the NCAA he could just go back and hone his skills in junior hockey and serve his suspension while he’s playing Junior hockey – he can’t – Kerdiles has to serve the suspension on the Wisconsin campus.

So, it would appear that a blue chip player like Nic Kerdiles isn’t going to sit idle for a season – the home town Anaheim Ducks who drafted Kerdiles in the second round 36^th overall aren’t going to want him to sit around idle for a season, waiting to play Division I college hockey.

Appeal hearing for suspended Wisconsin forward Nic Kerdiles expected Thurs. WHL's Kelowna Rockets and NHL's Anaheim Ducks watching closely.
— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) October 9, 2012

I would imagine that the Ducks are going to want him to continue playing hockey and you have to wonder if the CHL will be Kerdiles’ next destination.  Kerdiles rights are owned by the  Kelowna Rockets of the Western Hockey League.

It will be interesting to see how this story develops.

Related articles

• Nic Kerdiles suspended, NCAA still doesn't get it (sbnation.com)
• NCAA Officially Rules Kerdiles Ineligible for Season, Wisconsin Appealing [Updated] (unitedstatesofhockey.com)
• UW Frosh Kerdiles Faces Eligibility Issues, Social Media to Blame? [Updated] (unitedstatesofhockey.com)