ICE HOCKEYTHE Wightlink Raiders’ battle to reach the play-off finals just got a lot harder, thanks to a decision by the ice hockey’s governing body that has left the club baffled.
Raiders’ 7-5 home victory over the Cardiff ENL Devils has been reversed, with the score scrubbed to 0-0 but both points going to the Welsh side — all because the Islanders were judged to have iced an ineligible player, a player the club claim was given permission to play by the same organisation.
Now, Geoff Underwood of the Raiders’ management team, has said they club may seek compensation, if the Raiders do not reach the final.
The player in question was regular Wightlink Tigers player Richard Nembhard, who was drafted in by player-coach Jeremy Cornish to give him play-off experience.
The club interpreted a recent rule change on player registrations, as meaning Nembhard could play for the Raiders.
As they registered him, they twice checked with the EIHA’s registration secretary that he was allowed to play.
On both occasions, they were assured the registration was fine and he was allowed to play up from the Tigers.
However, after Nembhard iced for the Raiders in their home 7-5 victory a fortnight ago, Cardiff lodged a complaint and the EIHA initially awarded Cardiff a 5-0 win and the two points. After the Raiders protested, EIHA chairman Ken Taggart decided to reduce the score to 0-0 but still awarded the points to Cardiff.
Raiders fans are up in arms about the decision, and a Facebook protest group has already gained more than 300 ice hockey fans from around the country in support.
Fans were keen to tell the County Press their views on the matter.
Ian Ladd said: "I can’t believe what has happened to us this week. I firmly believe it is not good for the sporting world, nor is it an example to the up-and-coming generation of ice hockey players."
Dave Logan added: "To partially backtrack and go for the 0-0 win to the Devils does somewhat smack of the EIHA looking for some damage limitation."
Fans were also bombarding the EIHA chairman, with e-mails complaining about the decision.
But he stood by the ruling when he e-mailed the CP and fans earlier this week.
In the e-mail — which appeared to contradict the actions of his registration secretary — Mr Taggart insisted the rules had been in place for many years, and were enforced to prevent teams from loading up or down from another team within the club.
Mr Underwood said: "We would never have gone through with this and risked our chances in the play-off if we knew. The rule change is too ambiguous.
"What bothers me is that there is no appeal process whatsoever, so we are left with this decision and we have to just deal with it.
"If we don’t make the play-off final, we should take this further and perhaps seek some sort of compensation."
The Raiders now need to beat Chelmsford Chieftains twice this weekend to ensure their passage through to the final.
Anything less than four points will see Chelmsford go through as they already have a much better goal difference to the Raiders.
They face off at Ryde Arena tomorrow (Saturday), at 6pm.
Reporter: sport@iwcpmail.co.uk