Convicted sex offender wanted again

TORONTO, Oct. 13 (UPI) -- A convicted sex offender and former junior hockey coach faces new charges based partly on accusations by a Calgary Flames hockey star, court documents show.

The accusations against Graham James were brought by three alleged victims, and by Theo Fleury in his book, "Playing With Fire," Postmedia News reported Wednesday.

"I'm grateful to the Winnipeg police for responding to my complaint. I know it took a while, but these things have to be done right," Fleury,42. said. "It was an open chapter in my life that is closed, and now we are nearing the end of this part of the story."

Winnipeg police issued a warrant for James' arrest, Kelowna.com reported Wednesday. Charges include three counts of sexual assault, three counts of gross indecency, indecent assault and sexual touching.

He previously served 18 months of a 36-month prison sentence involving hundreds of sexual assaults against National Hockey League player Sheldon Kennedy occurring between 1984 and 1995, Postmedia said.

At a news conference, Fleury talked about the effects of sexual abuse that began when he was 14 and drove him to drug abuse alcoholism and thoughts of suicide, and shortened his 15-year NHL career.

"This is the biggest epidemic on the planet, bar none," Fleury said. "We were innocent. We were children. On my book tour, I don't know how many guys came up to get a book signed .... and quietly said, 'Me too'."

James now coaches hockey in Guadalajara, Mexico.