Former Duxbury hockey coach accused of rape, banned from coaching

Local news

John Blake, who coached the university’s hockey team for decades, reached a settlement earlier this year with the family of a student he was accused of repeatedly raping.

Former Duxbury hockey coach and teacher John Blake, who was fired after being accused of repeatedly raping a high school student, was banned from coaching indefinitely by a national watchdog on Wednesday.

According to a database, the USA Sports Safety Center, an independent organization mandated by Congress, found Blake was permanently barred from coaching with USA Hockey because of sexual assault involving a minor.

The decision, which can still be appealed, was issued Wednesday. Blake’s attorney did not respond to a request for comment Thursday evening.

In 2021, Joseph and Melissa Foley sued Blake in Plymouth Superior Court for $1 million. Their son died the previous year from an accidental drug overdose at age 27.

The lawsuit alleged that in the mid-2000s, Blake prevented Joseph Parker Foley from attending classes and sexually harassed him until the boy brought a knife to school and threatened to kill Blake.

Police said at the time they had launched an investigation but had not charged Blake because the victim had died.

Blake, who coached boys hockey at Duxbury High School for nearly two decades, was fired a week after the lawsuit was filed. An independent report commissioned by the district found no clear evidence of sexual harassment but found Blake not credible.

The case against Blake was settled earlier this year for a confidential amount after a judge ruled in favor of the Foleys and against Blake on all counts.