Graham James (ice hockey)
| Graham James | |
|---|---|
| Born |
February 7, 1952 Summerside, Prince Edward Island, Canada |
| Occupation | Ice hockey coach |
| Criminal penalty | 5 years in prison |
| Criminal status | Convicted & Sentenced |
| Conviction(s) | Sexual abuse |
Graham Michael James (born February 7, 1952), is a former Canadian ice hockey coach for the Western Hockey League and convicted sex offender, named Man of the Year by The Hockey News in 1989 after coaching the Swift Current Broncos league championship win.
This honour was later revoked by The Hockey News and James, through an intermediary, returned the plaque to the offices of The Hockey News where it was destroyed. In 1994, James became the General Manager and coach of the Calgary Hitmen.
James attracted national attention two years later when NHL player Sheldon Kennedy came forward to accuse him of sexually abusing him over a period of years as his junior league coach. Kennedy also mentioned that another NHL player had endured the same abuse, but refused to name him. James pleaded guilty and was sentenced to three and a half years in prison. After completing his sentence, James obtained a federal pardon and left the country, settling in Spain and Mexico. However, in 2009, Theoren Fleury published a book alleging he too had been abused by James in the 1980s, which James again acknowledged as true. In March 2012, he was sentenced to another two years in prison.
On May 25, 2015, it was reported that James is facing additional sexual assault charges in Swift Current, Saskatchewan. The case was adjourned by Judge Violet Meekma until June 19, when the case will be heard in the Court of Queen's Bench.
Born in Summerside, Prince Edward Island on February 7, 1952, he played hockey until about the age of 18, when he stopped due to asthma attacks. He graduated from university, and worked as a substitute teacher in St. James-Assiniboia School Division 2, Winnipeg, Manitoba, and began his hockey coaching career. It later became evident that he in fact never graduated from university at all, until after he completed courses for his B.A. while serving a prison sentence.
...
Wikipedia