Former UOttawa hockey players in court on sexual assault charges

Court proceedings are expected to begin Tuesday for two former University of Ottawa hockey players charged with sexual assault in connection with an incident at a Thunder Bay hotel last February.

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Guillaume Donovan and David Foucher were both charged after a Thunder Bay Police investigation into a complaint from a third-party that a 21-year-old woman was sexually assaulted at a West Arthur Street hotel on Feb. 2.

At the time, the University of Ottawa men's hockey team, the Gee-Gees, was in Thunder Bay to play a game against the Lakehead University Thunderwolves.

Lawyers for both men and the Crown are expected in court in Thunder Bay Tuesday, but it's not known if the two accused will be present in court.

While the police investigation was underway, the University of Ottawa suspended its men's hockey program for the 2013-14 and 2014-15 seasons.

Gee-Gee's head coach Réal Paiement, who was with the team during the road trip, was initially suspended with pay but later relieved of his duties.

Twelve other Gee-Gees men's hockey players have been considering a defamation lawsuit over the program's suspension, saying they have been tarred with the same brush as the two accused.

Canadian Interuniversity Sports waived its transfer rules for Gee-Gees men's hockey players in July, allowing them to play for another school this season if they can find a spot.