A teenage boy pleaded guilty Tuesday to sexual assault with a weapon in a Nova Scotia youth court following a violent hazing incident involving an under-15 boys hockey team last fall. The plea came during a hearing in Truro, where the accused, now 15, appeared alongside his father as the charge was read aloud. A second boy, also 15 and facing four related charges, has pleaded not guilty and is scheduled for trial in February 2027.

According to court records, the incident occurred on Oct. 3, 2025, during a team party and sleepover held at a teammate’s home in Colchester County. The gathering was organized to allow senior players to bond with rookies. Parents remained downstairs while the boys socialized upstairs in two separate rooms.

The court heard that in one room, a 13-year-old rookie player was pinned down by two older players, aged 14, who pulled down his pants and underwear, exposing him. The boy who pleaded not guilty allegedly inserted a mini hockey stick between the younger player’s buttocks. The victim called for the attackers to stop and later told authorities the assault lasted between 15 and 20 seconds but felt much longer. The boy reported initially wanting to tell his parents but hesitated, unsure of how to bring up the topic and reluctant to get anyone into trouble.

Following the assault on the first victim, the two older boys attempted to remove the pants of two other rookies but were unsuccessful in removing their underwear; the younger players managed to free themselves.

The victim’s father reported the incident to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police on Jan. 30, 2026. In court, both the Crown and defense indicated they would submit a joint sentencing recommendation following a psychological and psychiatric assessment of the accused, which is expected to be presented before sentencing in the new year.

Senior Crown attorney Patrick Young noted the sentence for sexual assault with a weapon involving a youth can range widely, from an absolute discharge to secure custody combined with community supervision. The accused is also facing two additional sexual assault charges to be addressed at sentencing. Young declined to provide specifics about plea discussions, citing privilege.

The guilty plea has implications for the separate case of the second accused, who may now be compelled to testify for the Crown. The second boy faces charges including sexual assault with a weapon, two counts of sexual assault, and one count of assault.

Hockey Canada opened an investigation into the incident following reports to its independent third-party (ITP) complaint process, established in 2022 amid broader scrutiny over its handling of sexual assault allegations at the national level. The sports body has maintained confidentiality regarding the ongoing investigation. Hockey Nova Scotia, the provincial governing body, initially suspended and later disbanded the team involved.

The identities of the victims and accused remain protected under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, and the specific team has not been publicly named. The ITP process, which handles maltreatment complaints within hockey confidentially, holds the authority to release findings but has not yet commented on the status of this case.