Former Regina junior hockey coach Bernard 'Bernie' Lynch found guilty of sexual assault, assault

Warning: this story contains details of a sexual assault.

A former coach of the Western Hockey League's Regina Pats has been found guilty of a historical sexual assault and assault.

Justice Peter T. Bergbusch ruled that Bernard 'Bernie' Lynch inappropriately touched and then hit a 17-year-old while working as an assistant coach for the Pats in August 1988. Lynch had pleaded not guilty to both charges.

Lynch silently looked at his feet with his hands resting in his lap as the decision was delivered at Regina Court of King's Bench on Friday.

Bergbusch said he found Lynch's testimony to be inconsistent and the complainant's testimony to be straightforward and truthful.

As a result, Bergbusch said he was left with no reasonable doubt about Lynch's actions.

Any information that could identify the complainant or his then-girlfriend — the two witnesses called by the Crown during the trial — is under a publication ban.

The complainant spoke with reporters after the verdict, saying it brought relief.

"Now, I think I can really begin to heal and put things behind me," he told CBC.

"I think I always kept it in the back shelf in my mind for years and years, and now I think that I can start to move forward."

The complainant said he felt obligated to tell police about his assault after hearing that Lynch was being investigated by RCMP over other allegations.

The former hockey player said that he knew Lynch should not be around — and especially coaching — teenage boys.

"I just felt like I needed to to speak up for those who who couldn't and and didn't have the courage to do so," he said.

Crown prosecutor Chris White applauded the verdict on the steps of the courthouse Friday afternoon.

"The Crown, all along, has felt that we had a