B.C. hockey coach charged with sexual offences against minors

A B.C. hockey coach has been arrested and charged with historic sexual offences against minors.

A B.C. goaltending coach has been charged for sexual offences against minors that are alleged to have occurred in Metro Vancouver more than a decade ago.

On Friday, the New Westminster Police Department announced the arrest of 58-year-old Surrey resident Ronald Veit and the three charges he now faces stemming from an investigation into historical sexual offence allegations.

He has been charged with sexual interference, defined in the Criminal Code as sexual touching of a person under 16 years old, allegedly committed sometime between September 2008 and May 2010.

In addition, Veit is facing a charge of sexual exploitation alleged to have occurred between May 2010 and May 2012. Sexual exploitation applies when the offender is in a position of trust or authority towards a young person, or if there is a “relationship of dependency.” In a sexual exploitation case, the victim must be 16 or older but younger than 18.

Veit was also charged with a sexual assault that is alleged to have occurred between September 2008 and May 2012.

Police say all three offences allegedly took place “at or near” Langley, Surrey, New Westminster, Coquitlam and Burnaby.

In a statement to CTV News Tuesday, Veit denied the allegations and said he is “co-operating fully with the legal process and (has) retained legal counsel to address these matters.”

“Out of respect for the legal process and the individual, I will not be commenting further,” he said.

Veit is owner and head instructor of Veit Goaltending Development school in New Westminster and had been the goalie coach for junior hockey team Coquitlam Express since 2020.

His online resume lists 20 years of coaching including in the B.C. Hockey League, Western Hockey League and at UBC. It also names eight NHL goalies Veit says hired him for personal training.

Coquitlam Express, which plays in the BCHL, told CTV News it terminated Veit’s employment “immediately” upon learning of the charges.

“He is no longer affiliated with the Coquitlam Express in any capacity,” a spokesperson wrote in a statement.

“While these charges are not related to his time with our organization, the safety and well-being of our players, families, and community remains our highest priority.”

The team said that the charges are new and were thus not discovered through the criminal record check required of all staff.

Police said Veit was released with several conditions, including not to possess weapons, volunteer with anyone under 18, or communicate with anyone under 18 unless they’re with a parent or guardian “or in the course of commercial interaction in a public place or skating rink.”

Veit cannot attend parks, community centres, schools, or playgrounds, but he is allowed to continue coaching hockey in the presence of other adults, police said.

The NWPD’s Major Crime Unit has conduct of the case and police asked anyone with information that can help the investigation to come forward.

“We understand the challenges victims face in reporting such incidents and want to reassure the public that we take these matters very seriously and resources and support are available,” Sgt. Andrew Leaver said in a news release.

The NWPD can be reached at 604-529-2430.