Gilhooly still haunted by Graham James

Greg Gilhooly is still reeling after coming face to face with his former coach and abuser, Graham James, in a Winnipeg courtroom.

It was the first time in 30 years that Gilhooly, now a 48-year-old corporate lawyer based in Oakville, Ont., had seen James.

"I felt that I would be strong and wanted to stare him down and when given the one opportuntity, I cowered like I was 15 years old again in the corner of his room again being abused," Gilhooly told CBC's Information Radio on Thursday.

Gilhooly joined former NHLer Sheldon Kennedy and one-time prospect Todd Holt in the courtroom for James' sentencing hearing.

In December, James pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting Holt and former NHL star Theoren Fleury, both of whom he coached in the 1980s and early '90s. Fleury and Holt are cousins.

The original charges involved nine sex-related charges involving three players James coached in the minor hockey ranks. The charges involving Gilhooly were stayed in exchange for the plea deal.

James has already served almost two years in jail in the late 1990s for assaulting three young hockey players, including Kennedy. He pleaded guilty to those sexual assault charges in 1997 and served about two years of his sentence before being released.

On Wednesday, James told court he is "deeply sorry" for what he did.

But Gilhooly said he's not buying the apology, nor is Kennedy or Holt.

"To say that it was galling, to say that it was self serving, to say that it was something told by a sociopath looking out for his own interest, doesn't go deep enough," Gilhooly said.

James will be sentenced on March 20.

The Crown is seeking a prison sentence of six years. James's lawyer, Evan Roitenberg, has asked for a 12- to 18-month conditional sentence that would be served in the community, along with conditions that would include a curfew, monitoring and counselling.