Canada

Photo: The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.

Graham James arrives at court for sentencing in Winnipeg on March 20, 2012. THE CANADIAN PRESS/John Woods

The prosecution in the Graham James case returns to court in Winnipeg this morning to try to appeal the two-year sentence the former hockey coach was handed for sexual abuse.

James was convicted earlier this year of sexually abusing two of his former players -- N-H-L star Theo Fleury and his younger cousin Todd Holt -- in the 1980s when the two were teenagers.

The Crown is asking for a six-year sentence, arguing the judge put too much stock in prior sentencing decisions for similar offences.

If the Crown isn't successful in its appeal, James `will be eligible for statutory release next July.

Back in 1997, James was sentenced to 3 1/2 years for molesting former NHLer Sheldon Kennedy and two other players.

He finished serving that sentence in 2000.