A former Regina Pats coach who sexually assault a teenaged player during a hockey camp appears poised to receive full parole following a review last month. Bernie Lynch, 70, was handed a three-year sentence in January 2024 for sexually and physically assaulting a 17-year-old boy who was staying at his apartment while attending a Regina Pats hockey school in 1988. The player came forward to police in 2021. By August 2024, Lynch was granted day parole by the Parole Board of Canada, but that was briefly revoked following “behavioural concerns,” including allegations he was targeting younger offenders at the halfway house with unwanted attention and sexual comments. Now, the Parole Board of Canada says Lynch has demonstrated personal changes after a successful four-month stretch of day parole. In an April 30 review, the board said Lynch shows “high reintegration potential.” “It appears that your behaviour has stabilized, and you have begun to engage in some interventions,” the board said. “You have also had financial difficulties and are just getting restabilized in this area. You have almost lost your condo twice due to these issues. You have had about 4 months of stability on your day parole release, and a continued period of day parole will allow you to further your reintegration.” According to the parole board, when Lynch had his day parole revoked, he entrusted a younger friend — 45-years his junior — with the care of his finances and condo. Apparently, it didn’t go well. Lynch returned to day parole to discover money missing from his accounts, bills in arrears and an eviction notice due to unpaid rent. While the parole board says Lynch made improvements in his emotional regulation and community functioning, it notes he has never accepted responsibility for his crimes and continued to maintain his innocence throughout the sentence. “However, thus far in your release and since your last suspension, they say you are doing well and complying with supervision expectations.” If Lynch continues on this track, he could be granted full parole at the end of his stretch of day parole, which is slated to continue for three more months. But, he’ll have to make his case before a panel hearing, the board says. “The Board has a number of concerns that it would like to discuss with you in order to better assess your risk on this expanded form of release.” In the meantime, the board has expanded his day parole privileges, including leave provisions that will allow him to spend time in his condo and away from the supervision of his community-based residential facility. Lynch remains under orders to have no contact with his victim, to follow his parole supervisor’s treatment plan, not to be in the presence of or in a position of trust and authority over males under 18-years-old, and to not attend schools, parks, playgrounds, swimming pools or recreation centres.
