Former Regina junior hockey coach Bernard 'Bernie' Lynch sentenced to 3 years for sexual assault

Bernard 'Bernie' Lynch, a former Saskatchewan junior hockey coach convicted of sexually assaulting a teenage player, is set to spend the next three years behind bars. 

Lynch was found guilty of sexual assault and assault in December for inappropriately touching and then hitting the player, 17, while working as an assistant coach for the Western Hockey League's Regina Pats in August 1988. 

The former hockey coach shook his head repeatedly as Justice Peter Bergbusch handed a sentence of three years for sexual assault and 30 days for assault to be served concurrently in a federal penitentiary.

"Mr. Lynch took advantage of the culture of silence [in hockey]," Bergbusch said.

Due to three-day credit for time served, Lynch has 1,092 days left in his sentence.

In addition to time behind bars, Lynch's DNA will go in a data bank, he needs to comply with the sex offender registration act for 20 years, he is prohibited from possessing a firearm for 10 years and he cannot make contact with the victim. 

Lynch chose to speak before the sentence was delivered. He "categorically" denied he ever had sexual relations with the the then-teenager.

Crown Prosecutor Chris White argued before Bergbusch at the sentencing hearing earlier this month that the lasting impacts on Lynch's victim were serious enough that the former junior hockey coach should be sentenced to three years in a federal penitentiary.

"He used his position as a coach, and the bona fides that came with it, to coerce [the complainant] into doing something he would not have done otherwise," White said.

Defense lawyer Andrew Hitchcock argued at the sentencing hearing earlier this month that Lynch should receive a sentence between 18 months and two years in the provincial system.