TRURO – One of two minor hockey players accused of sexually assaulting a teammate last fall has changed his plea to guilty. The boy, who was 14 at the time of the incident, originally pleaded not guilty in May to charges that included assault, sexual assault, and sexual assault with a weapon, identified by police as a mini hockey stick. The guilty plea was entered on Tuesday afternoon at a youth court in Truro, Nova Scotia, located approximately 80 kilometers northeast of Halifax.
During the court proceedings, the accused appeared dressed in dark blue pants and a light blue dress shirt in a crowded courtroom. Judge Brian Warcop asked the young defendant to remove his chewing gum while confirming his new plea. Following the hearing, several attendees congregated in the hallway, expressing support and hugs for one another. The hearing had initially been scheduled in a courtroom too small to accommodate the expected number of reporters and supporters, leading to its relocation to a larger venue.
A second boy, also 14 at the time of the incident, faces the same charges plus an additional assault charge. He had pleaded not guilty in May and is set to go to trial before a different judge in February. Due to their ages, neither of the accused can be publicly identified.
Crown prosecutor Patrick Young addressed reporters after the hearing, stating that the guilty plea requires the boy to testify in the upcoming trial of the second accused. He explained that a joint sentencing recommendation will be made, although details of the plea negotiation remain privileged. Potential penalties under the Youth Criminal Justice Act could vary from an absolute discharge to a maximum of three years in custody.
Young emphasized the importance of encouraging victims of crime to come forward, highlighting that sexual violence often goes unreported. He noted that the actions of these young individuals could serve as a powerful example to others contemplating reporting such incidents to the police.
During the proceedings, an agreed statement of facts was read by the Crown, stating that the complainant was a 13-year-old rookie player on an under-15 hockey team in Colchester County, located northeast of Halifax. The incident of sexual assault occurred during a sleepover on October 3, 2025, which involved most of the team. While the parents were present downstairs, the players gathered in two bedrooms upstairs.
According to the Crown, the sexual assault began with the victim lying face down on a bed and scrolling through his phone. The two accused allegedly pinned him down, removed his pants and underwear, and used a mini hockey stick during the assault. The complainant pleaded for them to stop, and they did after he started to cry. The entire episode lasted approximately 15 to 20 seconds, but for the victim, it felt like an eternity.
Afterward, the two teammates reportedly attempted to perform similar actions on two other players. They managed to remove their pants but were unsuccessful in taking off their underwear, as reported to the court. The Crown revealed that the complainant has been suffering mentally from the assault and initially struggled to communicate the incident to his parents out of fear of getting anyone in trouble.
The provincial governing body of hockey in Nova Scotia, Hockey Nova Scotia, stated on February 5 that it was first alerted to the allegations on January 30, when a youth reported being assaulted during a private team gathering in October. Hockey Nova Scotia confirmed that it immediately referred the matter to the RCMP and suspended the hockey team involved in the incident.
Initially, four youths were arrested in early February; however, charges were subsequently laid against only two of them. Both accused individuals have been released from custody but are under court orders prohibiting them from contacting three individuals. Furthermore, they are restricted from entering public dressing rooms unless accompanied by an adult.
