Local hockey coach accused of sexual assault maintains his innocence, lawyer says

The criminal defence lawyer who appeared in court on behalf of a Barrie hockey coach charged with sexual assault maintains the accused is innocent.

In a statement to CTV News, lawyer Alex McLeod said Ryan Wood “maintains his innocence and has confidence in the criminal justice system.”

The comments from the defence lawyer came hours after McLeod appeared on behalf of Wood Monday morning in a virtual Barrie courtroom where the Crown imposed a publication ban protecting the identity of the complainant from being revealed.

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The embattled minor hockey league coach and team owner is accused of sexual assault after being charged last month, not long after police confirmed a complainant came forward in May alleging the sexual assault took place in Barrie.

Wood, who is well-known in the local hockey community, also served as a billet parent for the Barrie Colts for three years. The OHL team said Wood is no longer a billet parent and the alleged incident took place during the off-season when there were no team-sanctioned events being held.

CTV News has confirmed the complainant in the case is not a member of the Barrie Colts or the Purple Cobras Hockey organization, a youth minor hockey association owned and coached by Wood.

The Purple Cobras play in the Klevr Super League (KSL) which has since suspended Wood and the Purple Cobras from the league pending a new owner of the team being put in place.

The matter is scheduled to return to a virtual courtroom in September. The allegations against Ryan Wood have not been tested in court.