Sudbury officer testifies she didn’t threaten anyone after heated hockey game in Espanola

After a six-month hiatus, the trial of a Sudbury police officer accused of threatening players after a youth hockey game last year continued Thursday in Espanola.

Melisa Rancourt, 51, is charged with uttering threats and causing a disturbance while she was off-duty and coaching a game in Espanola.

She and the Crown’s final witness took the stand Thursday, offering very different accounts of what happened during the Feb. 11, 2024, game.

Maverine Bain, a Sudbury mother whose son played on the opposing Walden team, said the Espanola coach became visibly angry when Bain’s son scored a goal, then skated past the Espanola team’s bench and blew a kiss to mock one of the players -- and a penalty was not called.

Bain testified that, while waiting for her son outside the dressing room, she and Rancourt suddenly “locked eyes.”

Rancourt appeared and said to her, “Next time one of your players skates past my bench and blows a kiss, I’ll break their ankles,” Bain said.

Footage of the incident

But during his cross-examination, defence attorney Len Walker referenced surveillance video caught during that moment, and raised what he said were inconsistencies between the witness’s version of events and what was depicted in the footage.

Walker also noted that initially, Bain accused Rancourt of grabbing two young players by the scruff of the collar -- but then retracted her statement.

In her testimony, Rancourt maintained she didn’t threaten or assault anyone. She said it was an aggressive environment and during the game, one of her players came off the ice in tears after a hard bodycheck.

Some of the Indigenous players on her team told her they had endured racial taunts from the Walden players, Rancourt testified.

After the game, she said she went to discuss her concerns with the Walden coach.

At that point, she said she mentioned to two players near the Walden dressing room that they had displayed unsportsmanlike behaviour.

Bain then appeared, Rancourt said, came up to her and blew her a kiss, adding, “How do you like that?”

When Rancourt said that was unsportsmanlike, she said Bain replied, loudly, “Well, did you see how your kids were acting on the ice?”

She then walked away to find her daughter, Rancourt said, and didn’t threaten anyone.

Rancourt has been a police officer for 26 years and is currently suspended from her job with Sudbury police and as a coach for the Espanola Minor Hockey League.

The trial continues Friday.