Editor’s Note: The following story deals with sexual assault, and may be distressing for some readers.
If you or someone you know is in need of support, those in Canada can find province-specific centres, crisis lines and services here. For readers in America, a list of resources and references for survivors and their loved ones can be found here.
Two former Quebec junior hockey players have been released as they appeal their prison sentences for sexually assaulting a minor at a hotel in June 2021 during a celebration of a Victoriaville Tigres championship win.
Court of Appeal Justice Geneviève Cotnam today granted Nicolas Daigle and Massimo Siciliano permission to appeal their sentences, which were for 32 and 30 months, respectively.
The ex-players were each ordered to put up $2,000 bail and were released on various conditions pending their appeal hearing on Nov. 20.
Lawyers for the two 21-year-olds argued that the sentences delivered on Monday are too severe, and had asked instead for their clients to serve sentences in the community.
At the time of the assault both men were members of the Victoriaville team in the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League, and the club was celebrating on June 5, 2021, after winning the championship trophy.
The victim said she was assaulted by the players that night in a Quebec City-area hotel, and that Daigle also filmed her without her knowledge.
The victim, whose identity is protected by a publication ban, was an employee at the Quebec City-area hotel where the team was staying during the 2021 playoffs. She had befriended Daigle while he and his teammates were living at the hotel for about a month leading up to their victory.
She had initially declined an invitation from team members to join their party. Citing hotel policy, she had also initially said no to Daigle’s request to join him in his room. But later that night, after she left work, Daigle messaged her again and convinced her to return to the hotel.
The victim agreed to visit the room only with Daigle, but when she arrived she discovered Siciliano, whom she did not know, was also there. She said she felt trapped before she was assaulted by both of them, at times simultaneously, for about 40 minutes.
During that time, Daigle filmed the woman without her knowledge.
Both men pleaded guilty in October ahead of a trial.
Two former Quebec junior hockey players have recently appealed their sentences for sexual assault and have been released from custody pending the outcome of their appeal.
The two men, who cannot be named due to a publication ban, were convicted last year of sexually assaulting a woman in a hotel room in 2016. They were sentenced to three years in prison, but have since filed an appeal arguing that the trial judge made errors in his instructions to the jury.
The appeal court agreed to release the men on bail while they await a decision on their appeal. The decision has sparked controversy and outrage among advocates for victims of sexual assault, who argue that the men should not have been released given the seriousness of their crimes.
The case has also reignited debate about the treatment of athletes accused of sexual assault, with some arguing that athletes are often given preferential treatment by the justice system.
In response to the controversy, the Quebec Junior Hockey League has issued a statement condemning sexual violence and expressing support for victims. The league has also announced that it will be implementing new policies and procedures to prevent and address sexual misconduct among its players.
The case serves as a reminder of the prevalence of sexual assault in sports and the need for greater accountability and transparency in addressing these issues. It also highlights the importance of supporting and believing victims of sexual assault, and holding perpetrators accountable for their actions.
As the appeal process continues, it remains to be seen whether the two former hockey players will be successful in overturning their convictions. In the meantime, the case serves as a sobering reminder of the ongoing challenges in addressing sexual violence and holding perpetrators accountable for their actions.