Regina police have issued a charge of assault and sexual assault against a man who is no stranger to hockey benches in Regina.

66-year-old Bernie Lynch turned himself in this weekend in Alberta and is heading back to Regina.

The charges date back to 1988 when the complainant was just 17.

Lynch has had coaching roles around Canada and the world. He has served time behind the bench of the SJHL’s Humboldt Broncos as he led them to two league titles in the mid 80’s. He was also on the coaching staffs of the Regina Capitals Junior B team, the Regina Pat Canadians midget team and the Regina Pats both as an assistant coach and a head coach.

Lynch, who is also under investigation in Edson, Alberta, was suspended in March from a coaching position with a Junior A team in Fort Frances and told to have no contact with players after a series of what the team called “inappropriate text messages”: to one of the players.