The Nova Scotia Buccaneers have been removed as the 2024 Maritime Bowl champions.
The Maritime Football League determined the team used an ineligible player in the championship game, and the game will be posted as a no-contest.
The League constitution states that a player must play at least one regular season game to be eligible to play in the playoffs.
An investigation was launched after the league received information about the player and a ruling was made on Wednesday.
“On behalf of the Maritime Football League Council and Executive Committee, we regret to inform our fans, players and sponsors that we are removing the NS Buccaneers as 2024 champions and posting the official outcome of our final game as a no-contest. This is the result of an ineligible player being used during the playoffs, it is up to each team management committee to follow our bylaws and constitution and in no way a reflection of the player. We stand by our rules and constitution and will do better to remove the possibility of this happening in the future,” the MFL posted to their social media on Wednesday.
The final score of that championship game against the Moncton Mustangs was 43 to 42.
Mustangs Vice-President and Head Coach Jason Terris says they’re disappointed, “It was a really close game, and anything could have happened, but I guess we will never know at this point.”
Terris has been involved in football for over 30 years, through minor football, high school, University and senior football. He says he has always been taught the value of sportsmanship, respect for your team and teammates, and respect for the rules.
“For a team to choose these actions, it steals all we value, and kind of nullifies all the hard work this year.”
Terris says the MFL is going to review operations and make decisions that will help prevent these situations from happening in the future.
“We (Mustangs) finished first in the league. We had an undefeated schedule this year. We went into the championship expecting to win, and the boys feel that there’s definitely unfinished business there. So everyone is motivated and driven to make sure that the 2025 championship game ends in our favour,” Terris adds.
