Former Sask. hockey coach sentenced to 3 years for sexual assault

Former Saskatchewan junior hockey coach Bernie Lynch has been sentenced to three years in prison for a sexual assault that took place in the summer of 1988.

Lynch was also given 30 days for assault, with the sentences to be served concurrently.

He stood motionless with little to no emotion on his face in the prisoners’ box as the sentence was being handed down.

“I think the right sentence was imposed. It’s what we asked for in the circumstances and we thought it was just and we are happy to see it imposed,” said Prosecutor Chris White.

“Given the facts that he found, I don’t think the sentence was a surprise. I tried to persuade him to put him in the provincial system for various reasons but court obviously felt that a federal sentence was obviously necessary,” said Andrew Hitchcock, Lynch’s lawyer.

At a sentencing hearing earlier this month, White had asked for a three year sentence in federal prison, while defence lawyer Andrew Hitchcock requested Lynch serve a lesser sentence of 18 months to two years less a day.

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Before Friday’s sentencing, Lynch was given the chance to make a statement, in which he stated he has never had any personal or sexual relations with the victim at any time or any place in his life.

“It’s not all that surprising, I mean that was his position all the way through the trial. He has a right to what’s called a right of allocution, so he can say something at the time of sentence and he can say pretty much whatever he wants. I don’t think it really moved the needle at all,” said White.

In addition to his sentence, Lynch’s DNA will go into the National Data Bank. He is prohibited from possessing any firearms for 10 years.

He must also comply with the Sex Offender Registration Act for 20 years and must not make any contact with the victim.

Lynch has a three day credit for time already served. He has 1,092 days left in his sentence. His lawyer expects Lynch will file an appeal.

The former coach for the Regina Pats and Humboldt Broncos was found guilty of sexually assaulting and assaulting a then 17-year-old boy.

The incidents took place in August of 1988.