Sentencing adjourned for Manitoba hockey coach who lured, sexually assaulted teenage player
The former Manitoba hockey coach who admitted to luring and sexually assaulting a young player on his team is expected to begin serving his sentence in May after a hearing was postponed due to health issues on Thursday, when he was due to be sentenced.
Madison Biluk, 31, was accused in court in 2023 of harassment that occurred between October 2019 and February 2021, when she was grooming and sexually abusing a player on her team. He pleaded guilty in 2024.
The court had previously heard at the hearing that Biluk was between 24 and 26 years old at the time of the crimes, while the actor was between 15 and 16 years old. The actor’s identity is protected by a court-ordered publication ban.
Defense attorneys and prosecutors in the case jointly recommended a six-year prison sentence in January. The judge’s sentencing decision would be made after Biluk completed the planned surgery.
While that surgery took place in February, defense attorney Saul Simmonds requested a six-week delay on Thursday to allow Biluk to complete some post-surgery rehabilitation and receive a medical diagnosis for celiac disease so he can receive proper food in prison.
Crown attorney Larissa Campbell opposed the request, saying the case took a long time to reach sentencing and prosecutors had previously decided to postpone the matter to allow Biluk to have surgery.
“Justice must be seen before it can be done. The continued postponement of hearings impacts justice for victims, as well as public perception of the administration of justice,” Campbell said. Campbell said, adding that many prisoners who are not in good health are detained and prisons have an obligation to ensure the health and safety of these people.
“At best, this is an attempt to forestall the inevitable.”
Defense lawyer Simmonds rejected this claim and said that Biluk, who was sitting with his family in court and wearing a brace on his arm, would have difficulty putting his hands behind his back or being handcuffed.
“We are in no way asking the court to reconsider the decision,” Simmonds said. “We are not delaying justice. From our perspective, justice has been achieved here.”
Manitoba provincial court Judge Jerilee Ryle said she “recognized that justice delayed is justice denied” but granted the request for a six-week delay, noting that criminal charges had already been filed and sentencing submissions were made on joint recommendation.
“This is not a situation where he delayed filing criminal charges or requested the full 12-week recovery period,” Ryle said.
Victim describes ‘serious’ impact on life
The court heard Biluk’s relationship with the player began with driving her to training and skating, but later included late-night calls and private messages on Snapchat containing suggestive photos, as well as personal discussions about sex and relationships.
At one point, Biluk told the player that she should not pursue a relationship because he was her coach, but his behavior quickly escalated and he began taking intimate and nude videos and photos with the girl, kissing the player and touching her sexually, the court heard earlier.
In a victim impact statement read out in court earlier, the actor said the events had had a “serious” emotional impact on his life, leaving him with low self-confidence, leading to constant insecurity, depression and anxiety, which led to him losing his job and weakening relationships with other people. The court heard the girl attempted suicide twice.
Biluk, who was given the chance to speak in court, had previously apologized to the actor and everyone affected by his actions.
The court had previously heard that Biluk was no longer coaching and had been released on conditional bail.
Prosecutors previously said he coached hockey from 2019 to 2023 and was concerned that on multiple occasions during that time his coaching staff said his behavior went beyond the professional coach-player relationship. These concerns resulted in many warnings but did not prevent his behavior.
After his contact with the player involved in the criminal case ended, Biluk continued coaching in Alberta and Manitoba, where his behavior once again raised concerns about inappropriate boundaries with players.
The court heard that while investigations into his conduct were carried out in both provinces, no other charges were pursued.
