Medicine Hat woman must pay $32,757 restitution in hockey fraud case
Nola Besplug received a two-year conditional sentence after admitting to defrauding families who registered children for a youth hockey program that ultimately never played a season.
Why it matters
The case highlights financial risks families can face when registering children with youth sports programs operating outside established governing bodies.
Nola Besplug, former manager of the Southeast Selects hockey team, has been sentenced to a two-year conditional sentence with house arrest conditions after being convicted of fraud over $5,000. She was also ordered to pay $32,757.20 in restitution to affected families, plus a $200 surcharge.
The offences occurred between April 2024 and March 2025, while Besplug managed the Selects, a team in the Premier Hockey League, which operates independently of Hockey Canada. The team fielded a U16 squad for the 2023-24 season and had planned to expand into multiple age groups for 2024-25, but the program folded before that season began.
Medicine Hat police launched an investigation in January 2025 after concerns arose over money collected for the program. Besplug was charged in September 2025 with fraud, theft over $5,000 and possession of proceeds of crime. The theft and proceeds of crime charges were withdrawn during court proceedings on Aug. 12.
Police said multiple victims came forward from Alberta, Saskatchewan and Montana who had paid to register children for the hockey program.
Compiled by the Alberta Daily Desk — an AI-written summary of reporting from the credited sources below, produced and reviewed under our editorial policy.