Billet mom faces trial over alleged inappropriate relationship with teenage player

The Peterborough Petes organization finds itself connected to a deeply troubling legal matter, as a former billet mom for the OHL club is now standing trial over allegations of an inappropriate relationship with a teenage player.

The judge-alone trial got underway with the accused facing two charges tied to the alleged relationship and the distribution of explicit material. A publication ban has been put in place to protect the identity of the complainant.

According to reports from the Peterborough Examiner, the investigation was launched in 2024 after Peterborough Police received information about the alleged conduct. Authorities subsequently seized the accused's cellphone, laptop and Apple Watch. The phones of two players were also examined as part of the probe.

Investigators reportedly recovered photos, messages and explicit material from the digital devices. That evidence has been entered into the court record.

The Crown's case is expected to center on three key questions: whether an inappropriate relationship took place, whether the complainant was 17 years old at the time and whether the accused held a position of trust over the young player.

Billet families play a critical role in junior hockey across the CHL, providing housing and a home environment for players who are often minors living far from their own families. That dynamic inherently places billet parents in a caregiving role, which is central to the trust element the Crown intends to argue.

The defence, meanwhile, has already pushed back on certain aspects of the police investigation and raised questions about how the digital evidence was interpreted.

None of the allegations have been proven in court, and the accused is entitled to the presumption of innocence.

The trial is expected to span roughly two weeks, meaning a resolution could come in the near future. For now, the case serves as a sobering reminder of the vulnerabilities that exist within junior hockey's billet system and the responsibility placed on those entrusted with the care of young athletes.