Guillaume Donovan, David Foucher trial delayed again, now scheduled for 2018

A sexual assault trial involving two former members of the University of Ottawa men's hockey team that's slated to take place in Thunder Bay, Ont., has been rescheduled again.

The trial of Guillaume Donovan and David Foucher — which was supposed to start Aug. 21 — is now scheduled for Feb. 5-16, 2018.

• Guillaume Donovan, David Foucher charged with Thunder Bay sex assault

• Delay in setting trial dates for former U of O hockey players

This is the second time the trial has been adjourned. It was originally set to start in August, 2016, but was delayed until 2017 after a medical issue involving the family of one of the defence lawyers.

The Ministry of the Attorney General wouldn't say why the court adjourned the 2017 trial dates but did confirm that it did so after another request from the defence.

Donovan and Foucher were charged in 2014 after an alleged incident at a West Arthur Street hotel in Thunder Bay. The University of Ottawa Gee Gees were in town at the time for a pair of games against Lakehead University.

When charges were laid, Donovan was 24 years old and Foucher was 25. Each faces one charge of sexual assault.

In the wake of the allegations, the University of Ottawa suspended its varsity hockey program, fired its coach and put together a sexual violence task force that came back with 11 recommendations, including sexual harassment and violence prevention training for all athletes and full-time coaches. The program returned to the ice in 2016.