Theoron Fleury: I was a victim of sexual abuse

In a new book, Fleury names his perpetrator: his junior hockey coach, Graham James -- the same one convicted after Sheldon Kennedy came forward.

http://www2.macleans.ca/2009/10/09/theoren-fleury-was-abused-an-absolute-nightmare-every-day-of-my-life/

 

Sirs, Madames,

The rumour had been out there forever.

I've written about James and Swift Current. Hockey's worst possible story.

I've dealt with Theoren a lot, a main character in one of my books ... I've always had a soft spot for him. A decent but troubled guy. Never cheated on the ice. Never lied off it. He was one of three guys who stood up and took questions after Canada lost to the US after the 96 World Cup. (Lyle Odelein, another Moose Jaw guy, was in that number.) The big names (99, Mess) were already at Chez Paris.

o-<

 

Awful to hear.

 

Like FOTF said, for those in the right circles, this is not shocking.

 

It's good to see he's finally opened up about it. I'm sure he'll sleep better tomorrow.

 

The Toronto Star had this story on the book today:

http://www.thestar.com/sports/hockey/nhl/article/707878--fleury-comes-clean-about-crazy-insane-life

I read it twice looking for the names of either James or Kennedy.

 

I always figured this would come out someday, but I was hoping it wouldn't.

May Graham James burn in hell.

 

He's allegedly back on Canadian soil, living 'somewhere' near Montreal, according to the Calgary Sun.

 

Done coaching kids in Spain or wherever I guess.

 

Fixed.

 

I still can't believe he only served 18 mos of his three year sentence.

Again, not really shocked.

 

Column was by Garth Woolsey. Why he has a column with the Star is beyond me. He's awful.

I bet his column is a rewrite of the Harper Collins press release that accompanied the book.