Senators deal with fallout from promotion featuring former top prospect convicted of rape

A Belleville, Ontario, restaurant is facing public scrutiny after a social media post promoting a game of the Belleville Senators, the Ottawa Senators’ AHL affiliate, included an image of former player Gabriel Gagné.

The post, shared Wednesday on X (@BPBelleville), invited fans to watch the team’s evening matchup against the Rochester Americans. The promotion, however, featured Gagné, who is currently serving a prison sentence for sexual assault.

Gagné was recently granted a reduction in his sentence for domestic violence to three years by Judge Marc-André Gauthier, who noted the player’s efforts to redirect his life. When combined with his other convictions, Gagné faces over five years behind bars.

The incidents allegedly occurred in Trois-Rivières and Montmagny in 2016, during Gagné’s time in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL), and involved sexual assault charges, including one involving a victim under 16. Authorities indicated multiple victims were identified in the case.

Gagné, a native of Laval, Quebec, was selected 36th overall by the Senators in the 2015 NHL Draft after a standout second season with the Victoriaville Tigres. He was seen as a promising prospect, but he never played in the NHL. After being traded to Toronto and eventually left unqualified, Gagné spent most of his professional career on minor league contracts, including a stint with the Rockford IceHogs, the Chicago Blackhawks’ AHL affiliate.

Gagné had then signed with Stjernen Hockey in Norway, but the team terminated his contract following the filing of charges. In the QMJHL, he played for the Victoriaville Tigres and the Shawinigan Cataractes, scoring 68 goals and 64 assists for 132 points in 177 games, likely the only notable statistics of his hockey career.

The restaurant has yet to issue a statement regarding the post or its use of Gagné’s image, which has already drawn criticism from fans and the public.

From TVA Sports: