Trial begins for Sudbury police officer charged with uttering threats at hockey game

A referee and a young player testified Tuesday at a trial of a Sudbury police officer charged with uttering threats to cause bodily harm and causing a disturbance.

Melissa Rancourt, 50, is on trial in connection with an incident at a hockey game Feb. 11 this year when she was head coach of an under-13 team in Espanola.

Rancourt has pleaded not guilty to both charges.

On Tuesday, the Espanola court heard from Sean Cassidy, a senior official refereeing that day, and a young player who can’t be identified.

Cassidy, one of two referees at the game, told the court that the atmosphere grew heated throughout the game, particularly after a penalty cancelled a goal in the third period.

He said Rancourt became more animated and angrier as the game went on and said many of the referees’ calls were challenged.

Cassidy testified that when a Walden player tied the game at 8-8, the player skated past the Espanola bench while making a celebratory hand gesture.

The referee testified he thought that gesture aggravated an already tense atmosphere, so both teams were led off the ice separately so as not to exacerbate the situation further. The game ended in a tie.

The young player testified that after the game, he heard Rancourt threaten players on the Walden team while they were in the hallway near the dressing rooms.

The player testified that Rancourt said, “If you guys ever do a celebration again, I’ll make sure you don’t celebrate again,” and also said she would “snap their ankles.”

The player said that’s when his friend’s mother stepped in, saying “Don’t talk to our kids like that.”

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During his cross-examination, defence counsel Len Walker questioned the young person on the statement they initially gave police.

The defence is expected to call witnesses when the trial resumes Wednesday.

The trial is being presided over by Justice Dana Peterson.