Man accused of sex with child he met online coached minor hockey in GTA

Article content

A 32-year-old man who’s accused of lying about his age to have sex with a child he met online coached minor hockey in the GTA for at least a decade, The Toronto Sun has learned.

York Regional Police made no mention of Tanner Guile’s involvement in competitive boys’ hockey on March 26 when they revealed he had been arrested for allegedly sexually assaulting a child under 16 years old.

Nor would cops comment the accused man’s coaching history when asked Wednesday about information the Sun had received.

“In accordance with our obligations under applicable privacy legislation, York Regional Police is unable to confirm whether the accused is involved in coaching minor hockey,” a spokesperson said. “The appeal for potential victims to come forward is a result of him (allegedly) befriending a youth online while posing as an 18-year-old.”

However, the Oakville Rangers Hockey Club has confirmed Guile had coached in their organization since the 2022-23 season and he previously coached in the GTHL dating back to the 2016-17 season.

“The minute we learned about the allegations against him on Wednesday, March 26 at 3:20 p.m., he was removed from our organization and told not to have contact with any of our members,” Oakville Rangers Hockey Club President John Verdon told the Sun on Wednesday.

“At all times while he was with our club, he had a valid police clearance and a vulnerable sector check as confirmed by the Ontario Hockey Federation (OHF),” he added.

While Verdon did not specify which age group Guile had coached, a Sun source claimed he had been head coach of an Oakville Rangers team of 10- to 12-year-old boys for three seasons after serving as an assistant coach.

RECOMMENDED VIDEO

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

Try refreshing your browser, or
tap here to see other videos from our team.

Play Video

Police issued a statement on March 26 claiming an alleged victim, who is from Vaughan, met the accused through an online messaging platform a few months prior to their in-person meeting.

“(The accused) portrayed himself to be 18 years old,” police alleged, adding that — according to the accusations– the man ordered a rideshare to pick the child up at their school and bring them to his residence in Mississauga on Feb. 18.

Once there, police alleged, the man “engaged in sexual intercourse with the victim.”

The child, whose gender and age were not released, reported the incident to police the next day because “they believed the male to be older than what he had portrayed,” according to police.

Investigators subsequently identified Guile as a suspect and arrested him.

He is charged with sexual assault; sexual interference with a person under 16; telecommunication with a person under or believed to be under 16 years old for specific criminal offences; and invitation to sexual touching under 16 years of age. None of the allegations have been tested in court.

Investigators also released a photo of the accused because they were concerned about the possibility of other alleged victims.

The Oakville Rangers, meanwhile,  wasted no time in notifying the parents of the boys who played for him.

“The parents of the boys he has coached were immediately informed via email and there has been subsequent communication with the entire group and with individual parents who have reached out,” Verdon explained.

Describing the situation as “very upsetting, disappointing and serious,” he said support is being offered to anyone in need and the costs of that support will be covered by the club.

cdoucette@postmedia.com

@sundoucette