Formal Complaint Alleges Stone Bridge Hockey Player Ineligible

UPDATE: 7:54 p.m. - Oakton coach John Alexa says his school will not pursue the matter further and is dropping its appeal.

A formal complaint has been filed with the Northern Virginia Scholastic Hockey League alleging a player on the Stone Bridge Bulldogs does not meet the eligibility requirements set forth by the NVSHL.

Stone Bridge advanced to the NVSHL championship with a 10-2 win over Oakton on Wednesday.

The complaint, obtained by Patch on Thursday, claims Stone Bridge violated Section III, Rule A-iii of the NVSHL Operating Rules, which is the Enrollment Rule under Player Eligibility. It states, “The student shall have been regularly enrolled in the school which he/she represents not later than the fifteenth day of the semester.” The complaint alleges the player in question failed to meet this requirement.

According to Section IV, Rule G-2-f, changes to a roster may be made until Jan. 15. The complaint alleges the player did not begin attending Stone Bridge until Jan. 25.

The complaint also states, “We have received emails substantiating [the student] started at Stone Bridge on January 3rd. We at Oakton cannot verify this, we have only been informed via email.”

The NVSHL Executive Director can override the Transfer Rule, which is Rules C and D under Section III, but cannot bypass Rule A. In the case of a transfer, the NVSHL makes its decision “by considering, first and foremost, the VHSL transfer eligibility standards as outlined in the current VHSL Handbook,” according to Section III, Rule D of the NVSHL Operating Rules. The complaint alleges Executive Director Gary Bullen allowed the transfer under rule 28-3-2(i) of the VHSL Handbook, which states, “Any transfer student who was regularly enrolled within the required 15-day period in the school from which he/she transferred,” is excepted from the Enrollment Rule.

Stone Bridge Activities Director Dave Hembach and Oakton Coach John Alexa could not be immediately reached for comment. Loudoun County Supervisor of Athletics Les Cummings, and NVSHL Executive Director Bullen and Chairman John Lynch were also not immediately available.

There is no word yet as to how, or if, this could affect the NVSHL championship game, currently scheduled for Friday between Stone Bridge and McLean.