Former junior hockey coach David Frost has been found not guilty on four charges of sexual exploitation involving his players and their girlfriends that date back to just over a decade ago.
A judge issued the verdict in Napanee, Ont. on Friday.
However, Ontario Court Justice Geoff Griffin observed that the saga had "exposed a dark and very unhealthy side of hockey. It's extremely offensive and must be denounced."
Frost had coached the junior A Quinte Hawks team in 1996 and 1997, a team based in Deseronto.
The court heard testimony from former junior A hockey players that Frost had coached, as well as several women who dated members of the hockey team at the time.
The women testified that Frost had controlled their boyfriends' sex lives and participated in three way sex with them. Frost had been in his late 20s at the time.
However, the players testified for the defence and denied their then-girlfriends' allegations -- unusual behaviour in alleged victims.
The defence argued that group sex is part of hockey culture, but that Frost never took part in such acts.
In presentation of the Crown's case, there were allegations Frost exercised almost cult-like control over his players.
However, the testimony of the former players had Griffin saying they were not "brainwashed followers of Mr. Frost."
Police originally laid a dozen charges against Frost, but most were dropped due to insufficient evidence.
Two of the charges dealt with allegations that Frost directly or indirectly toughed two teenage players. The other two allege Frost directed the players to sexually touch their girlfriends.
Danton-related charges
Frost isn't done with the legal system. He is also facing trial next April on fraud charges over the alleged use of a credit card belonging to jailed, former NHL hockey player Mike Danton.
Frost previously represented a small list of NHL players as an agent, but he resigned as an agent in 2005.
In 2004, Frost was the apparent target of a bizarre murder-for-hire plot, involving his former client Danton who had played for him with the Quinte Hawks.
Danton pleaded guilty to murder conspiracy charges in July 2004.
The target of the murder-for-hire was not identified in Danton's plea agreement, but prosecutors have said in open court that the former NHL player wanted to have Frost killed.
Frost has denied that he was Danton's intended victim.
In November 2004, Danton was sentenced to seven-and-a-half years in prison.
According to the U.S. Federal Bureau of Prisons website, Danton is currently staying in a federal correctional institution in Sandstone, Minn. His listed release date is Oct. 27, 2010.
With files from The Canadian Press
