Theo Fleury to visit Fort McMurray after minor hockey coach charged

Former NHL hockey star TheoFleurysays he will visit Fort McMurraynext week, just days after a minor hockey coach in the city was charged with sexual offences.

On Monday, police said a 31-year-old minor hockey coach in Alberta's oilsandscity had been charged with three sexual offences.

The next day, Fleury offered his help to the community, writing on Twitter that he was "available to come up and speak to the survivors if you need me."

On Wednesday, the former Calgary Flames player confirmedhe will be in Fort McMurrayon Dec. 12.

He declined CBC'sinterview request, and said he isfocused instead on helping those impacted. He did confirm he will visit the city to offer his assistance.

Minor hockey coach Steven Charles Adams, 31, has been charged with child luring, sexual assault and sexual exploitation, RCMPsaid Monday in a news release.

The charges resulted from alleged misconduct while Adams was a volunteer coach with Fort McMurrayMinor Hockey in 2018, policesaid.

Fleurywon a Stanley Cup with the Flames in 1989 and a gold medal with Canada's Olympicmen's hockey team in 2002.

In his 2009 autobiography, Playing with Fire, herevealed hehad been sexually abused by a junior hockey coach and said he hoped his story would help others come forward.

He struggledfor years with addictions to drugs and alcohol.

Recently he tweeted about why it's important for sexual assault victims to speak up.

"People are afraid to out these people, he wrote. "Pedophiles love silence. They love doubt. They have power. They have the trust of people they work for."