Former Winnipeg football coach's abuse of players 'unforgivable and sickening,' court hears at sentencing

WARNING | This story contains details of abuse.

A man who was sexually assaulted as a teen by his high school football coach says he'll never forgive his abuser and will continue to suffer from "a lifetime of trauma."

The former football player took several deep breaths in a Winnipeg courtroom on Tuesday as he detailed how he was groomed for six years and was sexually assaulted by Kelsey McKay.

"Some people take the time to forgive their abuser in these things. But not me," said the now-adult victim, who suffers from post-traumatic stress-disorder, severe anxiety and depression.

"In my mind, nobody who has harmed a child ever deserves to be forgiven."

McKay, 53, pleaded guilty last year to 11 charges related to the abuse of nine former players while he worked as a teacher and coach at Vincent Massey Collegiate and Churchill High School in Winnipeg.

He appeared in a Manitoba provincial courtroom on Tuesday in front of Judge Raymond Wyant for the first day of his sentencing hearing.

CBC News is not naming him, or the other victims, because of a publication ban.

Crown attorney Katie Dojack is seeking a 25-year sentence for McKay, who was arrested on April 12, 2022, and has since pleaded guilty to nine counts of sexual assault and two amended charges of luring for offences that happened between 2003 and 2016.

"This case is about power and control," Dojack told the court. "Each of these victims have been sentenced to a lifetime of harm and suffering."

The former player said in his victim impact statement that he faces "a constant battle." 

"I tried to pretend that it didn't happen," he said.

Four of McKay's victims and some of their family members were in court on Tuesday to deliver victim impact statements, including the