Graham James (hockey)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Graham James
Born	1954 Summerside, Prince Edward Island, Canada
Occupation	ice hockey coach

Graham James (born 1954) is a former ice hockey coach best known for serving prison time after being convicted of sexual abuse of several of his former players, including Sheldon Kennedy. Born in Summerside, Prince Edward Island, Canada, James originally began his coaching career with the Western Hockey League's Moose Jaw Warriors in 1984, and coached the Swift Current Broncos from 1986-1994, leading them to a Memorial Cup victory in 1989. He was also coach of the Broncos when four of its players were killed when the team bus overturned on December 30, 1986. He resigned in 1994 and became the head coach and general manager of the expansion Calgary Hitmen. He resigned during the 1996-97 season and was replaced by Dean Clark. He was convicted in January 1997 of more than 350 incidents of sexual abuse involving at least two former Swift Current players and served three years in prison. The players referred to whomever James targeted as "Graham's new favorite. James was charismatic. Even during his investigation, he was able to secure character references from respected hockey persons and former players. James had an unpredictable personality, on the surface appearing to be a 'players-coach', but often going to great lengths to ruin the sports experience of many young hockey players, who had fallen out of his grace. Parents and hockey management turned a blind eye to James. To the end, he claimed that his relationship with Sheldon Kennedy was consensual and that he had done nothing wrong.

James was given a lifetime ban from coaching by the Canadian Hockey Association. When the CHA learned that James was coaching in Spain, it complained to European ice hockey officials.^[1]

According to Kennedy on his appearance on The Jim Rome Show on November 14, 2006, James fled to Europe after he was released from prison, and still coaches youth hockey there.

[edit] References