Ralko, Burgess removed from Rattlers basketball team
By Ryan McCracken on December 1, 2017.
rmccracken@medicinehatnews.com @MHNMcCracken
Collin Ralko and Kieron Burgess are no longer members of the Medicine Hat College Rattlers men’s basketball team.
MHC vice president of student development Irlanda Price confirmed Thursday that the two young men charged with assault with a weapon were in fact members of the school’s basketball team, but added they have been removed from the squad and their actions do not reflect the school or its athletics program.
“This doesn’t represent the Rattlers program. This doesn’t represent the ACAC athletic code of conduct either. It’s just one of those things that’s extremely unfortunate and very disappointing for the entire institution,” said Price. “The college is very proud of the Rattlers program. We put a lot of time and energy into our Rattlers athetes and we’re very proud of the stuff they do in the community. They’re very invested in the community. I just don’t want this to cast any kind of negative shadow on the entire program based on the decision of two individuals.”
At around 1:30 a.m. on Nov. 25, police received compaints of a passing vehicle shooting at a group of people with airsoft guns in the 400 block of North Railway Street. Soon after, Ralko and Burgess were stopped by police and subsequently charged when two airsoft guns were found inside the vehicle.
Ralko, a longtime Rattlers guard, had been a member of the basketball team for more than four seasons and was in the middle of his final year of elgibility. Burgess joined the squad to start the season at forward.
Price added Ralko, 22, and Burgess, 24, “were involved in very poor decision making over the weekend,” but stressed their actions are not representative of their teammates or fellow student-athletes.
“We really want people to remember that the Rattlers work really hard in the classroom,” she said. “We have the highet GPA team program in the province, so they work hard in the classroom, hard in the community and hard in their sport.”
The Rattlers men’s basketball team is off until Jan. 12 when they meet up with the Broncos in Olds. Price said the players are working closely with coaching staff to ensure they will be able to continue their strong season after starting the year at 6-2 and entering the holiday break sitting eighth in the Canadian Collegiate Athletics Association rankings.
“Any time there’s a change on any type of team, depending on whatever circumstance, there’s always going to be some kind of repercussions for the rest of the players,” said Price. “We will continue to support our basketball team and the rest of the athletes that are on that team, as we are with the rest of the Rattlers.”
Police are searching for a potential third male in the vehicle at the time of the incident and ask anyone with information to contact MHPS at 403 529 8481.
