The lawyer for a minor league hockey coach who infamously tripped a 13-year-old Richmond boy last summer during a postgame handshake will be arguing for a non-custodial sentence when his client appears for sentencing in January.
Martin Joseph George Tremblay, the coach of the University of B.C. Hornets, pleaded guilty Tuesday to one count of assault stemming from the June 23 incident at UBCs Thunderbird Arena, which left the boy nursing an injured wrist.
The incident, which occurred following a minor hockey championship game, was put on YouTube by a parent and has since been viewed globally.
In the footage, Tremblay, whose team won the game 5-4, is seen moving through the postgame handshake line. Hes seen sticking out his right foot, which caused one player and then a second to fall to the ice.
Afterward, Tremblay, 48, is seen raising his middle finger to the crowd. The 13-year-old boy injured his wrist in the fall.
Tremblay was initially charged with two separate counts of assault following his arrest. They were rolled into the single count of assault, to which he pleaded guilty Tuesday in Richmond Provincial court.
He feels terrible about what happened, his lawyer, Robert Bellows told The Province Tuesday. Its had consequences for the boys, its had consequences for him. Its been a very difficult time for him.
Bellows added that Tremblay wrote letters of apology to both boys expressing his remorse. The letters were handed to the Crown on Tuesday as part of the days proceedings.
Bellows said he will be arguing for a non-custodial sentence when Tremblay appears for sentencing Jan. 31. He said hes not sure what the Crown will be seeking in terms of punishment.
It doesnt warrant jail sentence, in my opinion, he said.
