Defence cross examines complainant in sex assault trial of former junior hockey coach

Warning: this story contains details of an alleged sexual assault.

The trial of a former junior hockey coach continued Wednesday morning with the cross examination of the complainant. 

Bernard "Bernie" Lynch has entered pleas of not guilty to charges of sexual assault and assault.

The trial is being held at the Court of King's Bench in Regina.

Lynch, 68, coached hockey in North America and Europe for more than 40 years. Lynch was the subject of a CBC News investigation in 2021, in which parents and players alleged abusive behaviour.

The complainant in the current case testified on Tuesday that he was 17 when he was sexually assaulted by Lynch in a shower in 1988. 

At the time, the complainant was taking part in a Regina Pats hockey school and Lynch was the assistant coach of the Pats. 

Any information that could identify the complainant is protected by a publication ban.

On Wednesday, defence lawyer Andrew Hitchcock attempted to poke holes in the complainant's testimony.

The hour-long cross examination saw the complainant say he could not recall specific details of the hockey school, as it was 35 years ago.

Hitchcock challenged each aspect of the complainant's story.

At each question, the complainant maintained that the events happened as he had testified and that "it was Mr. Lynch" who touched him.

The complainant has testified Tuesday that he understood he was going to stay with Lynch on the first night of the camp before moving to a hotel for the second night.

He said that while staying at Lynch's apartment he was offered beer and, despite declining multiple times, was ultimately pressured into drinking.

The complainant said that Lynch encouraged him to get naked and walk in front of the apartment's patio door, and