Former hockey coach Graham James offered an apology during a sentencing hearing in a Winnipeg court on Wednesday.
"For my behavior and my actions, I am deeply sorry. I was wrong," said James.
He apologized to Canadian hockey fans, the communities he worked in and the people he worked alongside.
Lastly, he apologized to his former victims Theo Fleury and Todd Holt.
James pleaded guilty in December to repeated sexual assaults.
He appeared in a packed courtroom Feb. 22 looking markedly different than in the past. James had white hair and appeared thin and frail.
In attendance was Greg Gilhooly, a victim who had been sexually assaulted by James.
"Justice here won't truly be served until all of us take steps to try and make sure this doesn't happen again," Gilhooly said outside the courtroom.
Fleury was not in the courtroom but spoke publicly from Vancouver about the impact of the abuse. "The pain was all encompassing," the former NHL player said.
"I felt lost, alone and helpless," said Fleury.
He also posted a victim impact statement on his website and spoke to media.
Holt spoke outside the sentencing hearing in Winnipeg.
He was 15 years old when James took him under his wing.
Holt wanted a future in hockey and thought James could give him that. Instead, he was subjected to years of sexual abuse at the hands of his mentor.
"I emerged a broken, battered young man who lost everything - my innocence, motivation and soul," said Holt.
"I will not know what I could've ever been. I want peace and justice," he said.
On Wednesday, James said he regrets what happened, and he realizes parents expected their children would be safe with him.
He said the fault is his alone.
His lawyer said James is rehabilitated.
He said his client has been vilified and James is not the "beast'' he has been made out to be.
James has already served time behind bars for abusing three other players in the 80s and 90s, including former NHL player Sheldon Kennedy. After previously serving time, James applied for and received a pardon.
Kennedy spoke to a senate committee Tuesday and said he doesn't expect his former coach will be given more jail time. He also gave his support for mandatory minimum sentences for sex offences against minors in the hopes of persuading more victims to come forward.
The Crown asked for a six-year sentence for James Wednesday in court.
The defence is asking for him to receive a conditional sentence without jail time. Evan Roitenberg is asking that James receive 12 to 18 months to be served in the community.
He suggests the sentence could include a curfew and any other conditions the court may wish to impose.
Roitenberg says his client is rehabilitated and is not the "beast'' he has been made out to be.
A sentencing date for James has been set for March 20.
- with a report from CTV's Caroline Baghout and files from The Canadian Press
- Theo Fleury's victim impact statement
