The Sarnia Sting organization is investigating why they weren't made aware of a sexual assault allegation against former player Reid Boucher before he joined the team in 2011.
In a written statement to Sarnia News Today, Team President Bill Abercrombie said they're as shocked and as frustrated as everyone.
"It goes without saying that the people involved with the team at the time were not made aware of any incidents prior to him coming to Sarnia," said Abercrombie. "We have been in contact with his former billets to ensure their wellness and are looking into how something like this was allowed to happen. There is an on-going investigation as to why this wasn't made aware to anyone at the time. Our goal from this will be to make sure situations like this do not happen again."
According to the Detroit Free Press, a parent of one of the victim's friends took the allegation to USA Hockey, and he was removed from the billet home.
Later that year, he joined the Sting where he played for two seasons.
The Sting have removed Boucher's name from its record books, and his name has been taken off the team's website. He held the club's single season goal scoring record with 62 goals in 2012-13.
The 28-year-old pleaded guilty in Michigan court to sexually assaulting a 12-year-old girl in 2011. At the time, he was playing for the USA's National Development team while being billeted by the victim's family.
