Hockey coach charged with offences against player worked for multiple sports teams, school divisions

The hockey coach charged by Winnipeg police with 15 offences, including sexual assault and sexual exploitation, worked for multiple sports teams and in at least two Manitoba school divisions. 

Madison Biluk was charged earlier this month in connection with what police called a sexually exploitative relationship between her and a player from 2019 to 2021.

Police said Biluk coached within the Hockey Manitoba organization from 2018-23, but would not provide further details about what teams she worked with and when. 

The Winnipeg School Division confirmed Tuesday that Biluk worked as a sessional on-ice instructor at the Churchill Hockey Academy in October and November 2022.

A spokesperson for the division said while working in this position, "they were under the direction and programming of a teacher at all times."

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CBC News reported last week that Biluk returned to Manitoba to work in 2022, after spending the 2021-22 season as head coach of the U18 AA Rocky Mountain Raiders, based in Okotoks, Alta.

Biluk only coached for one season with that team. 

CBC obtained a complaint letter from six families outlining coaching concerns that season, including some of Biluk's behaviour. 

In one case, the letter says, "during initial team overnight trip, Madi took players on fast food runs at 1 a.m. … and then set her alarm to take other players at 5 a.m." 

The letter also says Biluk was in contact with players on FaceTime. 

The Okotoks Oilers Athletic Association and the Okotoks Minor Hockey Association have not responded to emails from CBC. 

However, on Tuesday, the Okotoks Oilers Athletic Association posted a message online saying the complaint letter is in the hands of Hockey Canada's independent third party. 

"All information that the OMHA and OOAA have received regarding Madison Biluk, the former U18AA Raiders 2021-22 coach, including the parent complaint letter received after the season March '22, has been submitted to the independent third party (ITP), the body that conducts investigations for Hockey Canada," the message said.

Signy Arnason, associate executive director at the Canadian Centre for Child Protection, said in cases involving allegations of abuse, the priority should always be protecting the victim and considering there could be others.

She said that can include not publicly naming where an accused worked. 

"Sometimes sharing detailed information publicly might not be in the best interest of those who have been harmed," she said. 

But there needs to be more transparency when concerns about potentially problematic behaviour arise, even when it doesn't necessarily meet the threshold of something illegal having occurred, she said.

"There really should be a registry for this type of thing," Arnason said. 

"If you're going to put someone in a position where they're overseeing children, those who are vulnerable, underage, then, you know, you need to have the proper systems in place to ensure that kids are protected," she said.

"We know that most of the conduct that's inappropriate doesn't hit a criminal threshold…. This isn't just about sexual abuse, it's also verbal abuse, emotional abuse." 

Arnason said there also needs to be more transparency around coaches who may have been suspended, disciplined or fired.

"That type of stuff actually does need to be transparently put out there, so that parents have the information," she said.

Reference checks should be done and include questions about appropriate boundaries between the coach and athletes, Arnason said.

Parents also need to be made aware of where and how they can make complaints when an issue comes up, she said. 

The spokesperson for the Winnipeg School Division told CBC all offers of employment in the division "are subject to the results of a criminal record check and vulnerable sector scan, plus a clear report from the child abuse registry." 

Biluk also worked in the Evergreen School Division. 

• 'Inappropriate behaviour' by coach charged with sexual assault began years ago, former player alleges

CBC reported last week a letter from the Evergreen School Division to families said Biluk volunteered as a basketball coach at Gimli High School from 2014-20, completed a student-teaching practicum at that school in 2019-20 and worked as a substitute in the division for three days last year.

Biluk has also coached with two elite teams in Manitoba: the U18 AAA Winnipeg Ice and the Interlake Lightning female U18 AAA team. 

Other charges against Biluk include sexual interference, invitation to sexual touching, luring, possessing child pornography and assault with a weapon. 

None of the charges against Biluk have been proven in court. She was released with conditions following her arrest. 

Hockey Manitoba and Hockey Winnipeg have declined interviews, citing the ongoing investigations by police and Hockey Canada's independent third party.

A spokesperson for Hockey Canada would not comment on the specifics of the case, also citing the ongoing investigation.