Graham James Granted Bail

A judge says he will grant bail to disgraced former junior hockey coach Graham James, who is facing new sex charges.

Final conditions for his release won't be set until next week.
James is to remain in jail until then.

James faces nine charges stemming from alleged incidents between 1979 to 1994 involving three boys, including former NHL All-Star Theo Fleury.

James, who is 58, served more than a year in jail in the late 1990s for assaulting three young hockey players, including NHL player Sheldon Kennedy.

James was pardoned and moved to Mexico, setting off an entirely new firestorm about the pardoning laws in the country. Here's when CBC's Bob McKeown tracked him down south of the border...
((HT: CBC/Youtube))


James returned to Canada after Winnipeg police issued a warrant on the new charges back in October.

Here's Fleury discussing the new charges brought on James back when Fleury was promoting his book, "Playing With Fire," with CBC/QTV's Jian Ghomeshi...
((HT: CBC/QTV))

BREAKING: Graham James Arrested

((HT: Fan 590/Toronto))

According to the Fan Radio Network, convicted sex offender Graham James surrendered to police at Toronto International Airport Wednesday and was immediately transported to Winnipeg, Manitoba where he has been wanted on nine charges of sexual assault.

More when we know more...

But, in the interim, here's what all the James-chasing is all about...
((HT: CBC/Youtube))


NHL'er Theoren Fleury came public with details involving the abuse Fleury charges James with on his end... George Stroumboulopolus sits down with Fleury...
((HT: CBC's "The Hour"/HockeyHaven76))


Part Two is here...

New Charges Brought On Graham James

A Canada-wide warrant for convicted sex offender Graham James will be issued based on allegations from multiple accusers.

Police in Winnipeg, Manitoba are issuing new charges against the former junior hockey coach, who plead guilty to hundreds of incidents of sexual assault involving two teenaged hockey players under his influence.

James was sentenced to three and half years in prison in 1997 and, ten years later, received a pardon from the National Parole Board of Canada.

Theo Fleury's autobiography details new allegations against James.

Former NHL'er Sheldon Kennedy and another individual went to police in 1996, resulting in James' original guilty plea, but Fleury's allegations have not resulted in charges until today.

"I'm grateful to the Winnipeg Police for responding to my complaint," said a statement posted on Fleury's website.

"I know it took a while, but these things have to be done right."

Here's CBC's Bob McKeown tracking down James in May of 2010...
In Guadalajara, Mexico... yeah, he wasn't running...
((HT: CBC/Youtube))


Sludge... and that doesn't even begin to cover it...

Canada Examining Pardon Process In Wake Of James Result

Right on the heels of another junior hockey player coming forward with sexual abuse allegations against former junior hockey coach Graham James, the National Parole Board is having to explain granting James a pardon in 2007 after he completed a 3½-year prison sentence.

Problem was: No one knew until Sunday after another accuser contacted Winnipeg police about James.

Their explanation according to CBC News:

"The Criminal Records Act does not differentiate pardon applicants by the type of offence they have committed, nor does it allow the board to refuse to grant a person a pardon based on the nature of their crime," said the statement by Caroline Douglas, a spokeswoman for the board.

"A pardon is not meant to erase or excuse a criminal act. A pardon means that the record of the conviction is kept separate and apart from other criminal records."

Public Safety Minister Vic Toews says the federal government will look into giving the National Parole Board more "direction."

"These things should not just be rubber-stamped," Toews said when the news broke. "There may have to be more consideration by the board given to the particular type of offence, and at the present time the board is not entitled to differentiate between offences."

The government could decide to ban sex criminals from receiving pardons or lengthen the waiting time before applying, Toews suggested.

Jim Brown of CBC Radio/Calgary talks with the parliamentary secretary within the Public Safety ministry in an attempt to explain the James pardon...

Here's Sheldon Kennedy, obviously disappointed in the process and the lack of notification on James' pardon...
((HT: CP/Waterloo Record))


Michael Platt of the Calgary Sun reports another former junior hockey star now undergoing therapy in Calgary has added his name to a list of players pursuing sexual-abuse charges against James.

The unidentified player has asked police to investigate allegations of sexual abuse during the 1990s while on a team in Saskatchewan. Remember... James, who has already been convicted of abusing two former players, coached the Swift Current Broncos from 1986 to 1994.

There are also reports out of Manitoba province that two more players are seeking charges against James who coached the Fort Garry Blues in the 1980s.

Theoren Fleury: Playing With Fire

Fleury spent twenty minutes with George Stroumboulopoulos
Heavy stuff...

Here's Part 2
((HT: CBC/The Hour))

Theo Fleury: Playing With Fire

Probably in more ways than one...

The book is out and the media tour commences in earnest today...

Here's an early snippet of an interview Fleury did with the CBC's Bob McKeown on the "Fifth Estate" program. It's analyzed by Jeff Marek and Scott Morrison during the Hockey Night in Canada past...
((HT: CBC))


And it does look like Fleury is wanting to throw Graham James under any train he can find...and put him back in jail...

Fleury: Book Reveals Sexual Abuse

((HT: TSN/Sun Media))

Recently retired NHL'er Theo Fleury ((pictured, thanks Getty Images through NHLI)) will reveal in his tell-all book next week that he was sexually abused by his former junior coach Graham James.

"(James) destroyed my belief system," read the excerpt in Maclean's. "The most influential adult in my life at the time was telling me that what I thought was wrong was right. I no longer had faith in myself or my own judgment. And when you come down to it, that's all a person has. Once it's gone, how do you get it back?"

The interview with Maclean's Charlie Gillis can be found here...

James, the former head coach of the WHL's Moose Jaw Warriors, Swift Current Broncos and Calgary Hitmen was sentenced to 3 1/2 years in prison after former NHLer Sheldon Kennedy made similar allegations in 1996.

Kennedy knew, but never acknowledged anything publicly...

"I made a commitment to myself I wasn't blowing the whistle on anybody. I did know deep down Theo was going to have to deal with it one way or another."

CBC Radio's program, The Current, discussed the idea of whistle-blowing in amateur sports back in 2002... Sheldon Kenndy's actions were part of the discussion...

Calgary's Little Big Man Retires

Theoren Fleury officially retired from the NHL today.
It was a relatively quick ceremony at the Sadledome in Calgary.

It was a final good-bye from an on-ice perspective after he scored four points in four pre-season games.

Commissioner Gary Bettman lifted Fleury's lifetime ban for violating the league's substance abuse policy which allowed Fleury to participate in Flames pre-season camp.

"Do I want to be in the Hockey Hall of Fame? Absolutely. Do I deserve it? I think I do. Four years ago, did I deserve it? No, I didn't," he said, adding that the Hall is incentive to continue his sobriety.

"I'm going to continue to have to live my life the way I've chosen to."

Once critical of the league's substance abuse and behavioral health program, which is designed to address and treat players' drug and alcohol addictions, Fleury now supports it.

"I know I've said things in the past about the program but that's because was in a completely different place," he said. "I was still angry, I was still bitter, I was a lot of things. What it comes down to is nobody likes to face consequences. I had some real consequences I had to face.

"The places I went to and the people I interacted with because of the program got me here today . . . where I'm a solid, functioning human being in society and I can help other people."

Here's some of his good-bye...
((HT: Calgary Herald))

Theo Fleury To Comeback To NHL...?

((HT: TSN/Dreger))

Sources tell TSN Theoren Fleury is attempting a comeback and wants to play in the NHL again.

After playing senior hockey last season, Fleury ((pictured, thanks Kellie Landis/Allsport/Getty)) decided in February he was fit enough to give the NHL another try, so he hired a personal trainer and has been working diligently since.

Those close to him say he didn't leave the National Hockey League the way he wanted, which is fueling his desire to return.

The 41-year-old has been sober for almost four years and has been skating daily in Calgary in the hope that an NHL team is willing to invite him to training camp.

Interest in the former Stanley Cup champion won't be enough to clear the way for Fleury's return. He remains under indefinite suspension and would first have to be approved by the NHL and the NHLPA's Substance Abuse program doctors before reinstatement would be considered.

Sources say Fleury recently sent NHL commissioner Gary Bettman a letter acknowledging his comeback bid and has also discussed the possibility with the league's doctors. The league has confirmed receiving the letter requesting reinstatement.

At 5' 6,'' Fleury was one of the smallest players in hockey. Intense and fearless, Fleury made a name for himself for more than his stature. He could score, play defensively and led teams to championships in junior hockey, in the NHL and on the international stage.

The above story gives us a chance to go back to the beginning with Theo...
The wildest brawl in junior hockey history... the 1987 World Juniors in Piestany, Czechoslovakia between the Soviets and Canadians.
((HT: CBC/ESPN Classic Canada))