The Fort McMurray Monarchs won’t be playing the team they thought they would in their semi-final game.
The Cold Lake Fighter Jets, the top team during the regular season of the Alberta Football League, was kicked from the playoffs for contravening player compensation rules.
The presidents of the five teams came together and made the decision on Thursday.
Monarchs President Will Sadlemyer tells Mix News it was a tough decision that had to be made.
“Evidence was brought forward and it was clearly stated that compensation acts in our bylaw were breached, so we had to make an example because we’ve been down this path before.”
Instead of being the fourth seed, the Monarchs climb up to number three and will now take on the Central Alberta Buccaneers.
The teams have played each other twice with the Bucs winning both by scores of 38-28 and 34-27.
“Although they have beat us twice these games have been close,” said Sadlemyer. “Last time they were up, we were a tie game until a minute left in the game and they scored.”
The Monarchs are coming off two straight wins to end the regular season. The first being the Fighter Jets at home before beating the Irish on the road.
Sadlemyer believes the team feels like they have a lot of momentum.
“Especially beating Cold Lake when they came up here and again on the road in Airdrie, I think the guys are starting to get confident and comfortable with each other.”
The Monarchs will take on the Buccaneers this Saturday at Setters Place in Red Deer.