The Crown is seeking seven years in federal prison for a former figure skating coach who sexually assaulted two of his students.

Thirty-year-old Matthew Power was convicted in November of eight charges, including sexual assault, child luring, sexual interference and making porn available to children.

He was in his early 20s while the girls were 14 to 16 years old when he abused them as their coach in the C.B.S. area between 2016 and 2020.

It started on Snapchat, and led to sex at Power’s house, in his car, at a cabin, and in a storage room at the rink.

Crown prosecutor Nicole Hurley argued he should receive seven years in total while defence lawyer Rosellen Sullivan countered with four-and-a-half years at the most.

That’ll be minus the time he’s been in custody since he was found guilty in late November.

Power will be sentenced by Justice Valerie Marshall for each of the eight counts, but his total prison term will hinge on which ones run concurrent versus consecutive, or one after the other.

A mother of one girl, and one of the victims, both broke down while reading their victim impact statements in court, by video, today.

The girl said she would get sick in her car before going into the rink, and have nightmares about Power’s dark, bearded face.

Said the mother: “I had to watch my child not want to live anymore. I can’t forgive myself for trusting him.”

Power had been suspended by Skate Canada since January 3, 2021 pending the outcome of the court process.

He’s scheduled to be sentenced in just over a month, on April Fool’s Day.