Hockey coach in Winnipeg charged with sexual exploitation: police

A Winnipeg hockey coach has been charged with sexual assault and exploitation after she was allegedly involved in an inappropriate relationship with a player.

According to Winnipeg police, officers with the sex crimes unit received information about the alleged incident last month, saying a sexually exploitive relationship occurred between an adult hockey coach and a player between 2019 and 2021. The coach was in her 20s and the player was in her teens, police said.

Investigators allege the coach groomed and gained the trust of the survivor, and the offences began while the player was being coached. Police allege the coercion and abuse continued after the player stopped playing hockey.

“Grooming in sport involves slowly gaining trust before systematically breaking down interpersonal barriers,” said Constable Dani McKinnon with the Winnipeg Police Service. “Athletes can become trapped into compliance because they trust, like or even love their abusers.

“The grooming does not stop with the athlete; the grooming is also involved often in the family. Gaining that trust from the family members will make it easier to have access to the child.”

Police were informed of the incident by a third party before the victim came forward to share her story.

“This is a very brave action,” McKinnon said. “She took some steps on her own to reach out to the public, to some family members and then eventually spoke with police and the report was formally carried on into an investigative stage.”

Madison Biluk, 28, was arrested on Nov. 9, 2023. She has been charged with 15 offences, including sexual assault, sexual exploitation, sexual interference, and multiple luring and child pornography charges. She has also been charged with assault and assault with a weapon.

None of the charges against her have been proven in court. She has been released with conditions.

Police said Biluk coached within Hockey Manitoba from 2018 to 2023. McKinnon said she is no longer coaching hockey.

In a statement, Peter Woods, executive director of Hockey Manitoba, said they learned of the incident through a video circulating online, and notified police and Hockey Canada’s Independent Third Party.

“We take allegations of this nature extremely seriously and the individual is ineligible to participate in Hockey Canada-sanctioned programs, including as a coach, guest coach or volunteer while the ITP complaint process is ongoing,” Woods said in a statement, adding the organization won’t be commenting while the investigations are ongoing.

McKinnon said at this point, they believe the survivor is the only victim involved, but are still investigating.

“There's always a potential, of course, when you're looking at a very large organization,” she said. “But at this time, we don't have anybody else that we're speaking with.”

Anyone with information is asked to call police at 204-986-6245.

If you are in need of assistance, resources are available, including the WPS Victim Services at 204-986-6350 and the Klinic Sexual Assault Crisis Line at 204-786-8631.