Former Quebec Junior Hockey Players Released on Bail as They Appeal Convictions for Sexual Assault
On July 11, Court of Appeal Justice Geneviève Cotnam granted permission to Nicolas Daigle and Massimo Siciliano, two former Quebec junior hockey players, to appeal their prison sentences for sexually assaulting a minor at a hotel in June 2021. This incident occurred during a celebration of a Victoriaville Tigres championship win.
Their original sentences were 32 months for Daigle and 30 months for Siciliano. They were required to post $2,000 bail each and were released with certain conditions pending their appeal hearing on Nov. 20.
The lawyers for these 21-year-olds argued that the imposed sentences were too harsh and requested that their clients serve their sentences in the community instead.
At the time of the assault, both men were members of the Victoriaville team in the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League, celebrating their championship victory on June 5, 2021.
The victim alleged that she was assaulted by the players at a Quebec City-area hotel, with Daigle also filming her without her consent.
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The victim, who remains anonymous due to a publication ban, worked at the hotel where the team was residing during the 2021 playoffs. She had formed a friendship with Daigle while he and his teammates stayed at the hotel for about a month leading up to their victory.
Initially declining an invitation to join the team’s celebration, citing hotel policy, she also initially refused Daigle’s request to visit his room. However, later that night, after her work shift ended, Daigle messaged her again and persuaded her to return to the hotel.
The victim agreed to visit Daigle’s room only, but upon arrival, she found Siciliano, whom she did not know, present. She expressed feeling trapped before being assaulted by both men, sometimes simultaneously, for approximately 40 minutes.
Throughout the assault, Daigle surreptitiously filmed the victim.
Both individuals pleaded guilty before their trial in October.
