Two 15-year-olds charged with sexual assault and sexual assault with a weapon were arraigned in a Truro, N.S., courtroom on Tuesday. One of the teens was in court, while lawyers for both appeared via phone. “Today was for arraignment, which is the very early stage of the process. This is where the charges are read to the accused and the accused is called upon to enter a plea,” explained Patrick Young, senior Crown attorney for the Nova Scotia Public Prosecution Service. “The judge didn’t call upon the two young people to enter pleas today. They were represented by counsel and there was an application by them to adjourn plea to another date.” The youths, who were 14 at the time of the alleged offences, were charged in February in connection with what the RCMP called “hockey hazing incidents.” Police have said the alleged incidents involved members of a boys’ hockey team in the Truro area. On Jan. 30, a youth reported being assaulted during a private team gathering in October 2025. Police launched an investigation, which they said included statements from multiple witnesses. Investigators allege hazing incidents involving other victims and witnesses also happened at other locations. Four youths were arrested, but charges were only laid against two of them. Three victims are listed in court documents. On Monday, a replacement information updating the charges against the two youths was laid in court. The teens are each facing two counts of sexual assault and a single count of sexual assault with a weapon involving the three alleged victims on Oct. 3, 2025, in Colchester County. Previous court documents identified the weapon as a mini hockey stick, but that detail has been removed from the updated charge sheet. One of the teens was previously charged with assault with a weapon, which was described as urine in previous court documents, following an alleged attack on one of the victims in the Truro area between Oct. 1 and Dec. 30, 2025. That charge is now listed as common assault. “I’ve reviewed the charges and I’m satisfied that that’s appropriate under the circumstances,” said Young. “As a Crown attorney we prosecute the charges that are sworn by police based on the evidence in the case, so if the police decide to lay additional charges or replacement information that clarifies some of the language in the charges, then that’s within their decision to do so.” Young said the youths, who were initially charged separately, have now been charged jointly, according to the updated charge sheet. “It’s significant in this case that, with both young persons charged together, there’s a presumption that there’ll be a joint trial if the matter is scheduled for trial, as opposed to two separate trials,” explained Young. “So, it makes the process more efficient and has the potential to reduce delays in the case.” The youths have been ordered not to contact three people, and both are prohibited from entering a public dressing room unless they are with an adult. Hockey Nova Scotia previously said it learned on Jan. 30 about a “maltreatment allegation” involving a minor and it reported the allegation to the RCMP and Hockey Canada’s Independent Third Party. The organization said the team has been suspended while the investigation is ongoing. The team has not been named. For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page
