Graham James

Graham Michael James was a coach, manager and a scout in the 1980s and 1990s. After winning two WHL championships with the Swift Current Broncos he went to found the Calgary Hitmen WHL expansion team in 1994. He was a part owner, general manager and head coach of the Hitmen until his sudden resignation in the 1996-1997 preseason.

In November 1996, he was charged with a sexual assault after his former players, including Sheldon Kennedy, had come forward with the issue. In January 1997, he pleaded guilty to the sexual assault charges and was sentenced to three and a half years in prison. He was pardoned in 2007. In January 2010 further allegations surfaced when Theoren Fleury filed a criminal complaint against him for abusing him and his cousin Todd Holt. Another complaint was filed by Greg Gilhooly. In November 2011 James pleaded guilty of sexual assaults on Fleury and Holt. In March 2012 he sentenced to two years in prison. Gilhooly's charges were stayed. The sentence was increased from two years to five years in February 2013. Hockey Canada set a lifetime coaching ban on James and the judicial system has banned him from working with children.

Read about the case in more detail: Graham James - Wikipedia