London couple named in $1.3M suit filed by hockey coach they accused of assaulting son

A London-area minor hockey coach, named in a lawsuit filed last year by the parents of a former player alleging physical abuse and harassment, is now counter suing for defamation, claiming his coaching career has been ruined.

Michael Nicoll, head coach of the U13 Huron-Perth Lakers hockey "AAA" team, alleges the case is one of "an out-of-control hockey parent who openly bragged about ruining the career of a coach for failing to give his son sufficient ice time," the statement of claim reads.

Nicoll's lawsuit, filed Friday in Ontario Superior Court in London, seeks $1.29 million in damages, including $1 million in general damages, $40,000 in special damages for lost income, and $250,000 in aggravated damages.

The couple, the claim alleges, acted maliciously and lied to damage Nicoll's reputation, and committed "premeditated and malicious acts of defamatory retribution."

CBC News is not identifying the couple, as it would identify their underage son.

The London, Ont. couple's $2 million lawsuit that CBC News first reported on last year, alleged that Nicoll "physically battered" their son during a practice in October, causing him to fall hard on the ice.

Nicoll also verbally harassed and assaulted their son in front of teammates, threatened and/or intimidated the boy, refused or failed to enforce Hockey Canada's dressing room policy aimed at preventing abuse, and spread false statements about the teen's father, the couple allege.

The suit named Nicoll, Huron-Perth Lakers Hockey Association (HPL), Minor Hockey Alliance of Ontario, Ontario Minor Hockey Association, Ontario Hockey Federation, and Hockey Canada as defendants.

At least $750,000 is being sought by the teen's father, who alleged Nicoll made defamatory statements about him to the league president, including that he verbally and physically assaulted Nicoll in the locker room after a game.

Statements of claim contain allegations that have not been tested in court. No statement of defence has been filed in the couple's lawsuit, and Nicoll is being represented by Hockey Canada in the matter. 

The couple has not filed a statement of defence in Nicoll's lawsuit. CBC News contacted Andrew Graham, the lawyer representing them in their suit against Nicoll, seeking comment, but did not receive a response by publishing time.

Nicoll's lawyer, Phillip Millar, described Nicoll as being a well-respected coach who now finds himself "accused of essentially child abuse."

"We're gonna hold them accountable for defamation, destroying his career and reputation in the public world. The mistake is, it appears as though (the father) bragged that he was going to do this," he said by phone.

In his claim, Nicoll says the battery alleged in the couple's suit was an exaggeration of an incident in which their son accidentally ran into Nicoll during a situational awareness drill and fell uninjured.