Female Coach Preyed On 15 Year Old Player

Just when you think you have heard it all, now a story surfaces of a female hockey Coach from Kamloops who maintained a sexual relationship with her 15-year-old player for up to a year.

A Kamloops court was told that the 39-year-old coach was a high level hockey player for over 25 years prior to stepping into coaching children in the area and obviously due to the nature of this – She cannot be named.

Prosecutor Don Mann told Supreme Court Justice Hope Hyslop the coach “believed in her as a player” and devoted extra time to her.

The young player naturally looked up to her coach, who at one point was trained by NHL coaches and spent time playing in Europe as well as the U.S.

The player looked to her for hockey advice and spent long hours practicing with her and not to surprising the two grew close.

Being a young person who likes to ask questions, the player often sought advice in other areas of life as well, beginning with innocent talks about school, before moving on to sexuality.

When she learned the coach was a lesbian, the player admitted to questioning her own sexuality and from there the relationship got closer.

The coach took her to movies as well as Kamloops Blazer games and they texted and phoned each other daily and soon the coach bought her rings, earrings, a wallet plus other gifts.

The family became familiar with the coach, feeling that she quite likely could be added to the Family, so she spent lots of time at the player’s home.

The victim’s parents naturally the coach, asked her to watch their home and their daughter when they travelled, oblivious to the relationship. At some point they became suspicious and asked questions, but their daughter denied how serious it was.

According to submissions in court, the relationship began with a simple kiss and the Crown says the player was confused and surprised by it—her first with another female.

Given almost unlimited access to the player, the relationship escalated to ‘countless’ sexual encounters—at the coach’s home, at the victim’s brother’s house while the coach house-sat for him and at the victim’s house while the parents were away.

Stanford said the coach regretted her actions and has pleaded guilty to all charges including sexual interference of a person under 16, which carries a mandatory minimum jail sentence.

Mann is pressing for nine months to a year in prison. Stanford argued the coach has already suffered greatly and suggested 90 days in jail to be served over weekends, or six months incarceration.

The sentencing hearing is expected to continue next week.