RCMP in British Columbia has arrested a 58-year-old man in connection with “historical” sexual assaults in the late 1970s and early 1980s that span three provinces.

The RCMP’s major crime section held a news conference in Surrey, B.C. on Friday morning to outline the allegations against the suspect.

BC RCMP Superintendent, Brendan Fitzpatrick, says the complex investigation involves eight male victims in Alberta, B.C. and Saskatchewan.

"I'm here today to seek your assistance and announce the arrest and charge of 58-year-old Alan John Davidson in connection to allegations of sexual assault of minors in the 1970s to early 1980s while he coached minor hockey and baseball in the Thompson Okanagan region of British Columbia," said Fitzpatrick.

Davidson was arrested in Calgary on Thursday and is charged with eight counts of indecent assault and police say all the victims were under the age of 18 at the time of the offences.

The investigation started in 2012 when an adult male reported to RCMP that he was allegedly sexually assaulted by his minor hockey coach while attending high school in Clearwater B.C. in the early 80s.

"The victim indicated the possibility that others on his team may also have been similarly assaulted," said Fitzpatrick.

Police say a second male came forward during the investigation saying he had been allegedly sexually assaulted by his baseball coach.

“Our investigation determined, Davidson has coached in some capacity with minor sports from the 1970s through to approximately 2008,” said Fitzpatrick.

Davidson was also a regular member of the RCMP and police say the alleged incidents occurred before he became a police officer.

“After those alleged offences occurred, through investigation, it was learned that Alan Davidson had served in the RCMP,” said Fitzpatrick. “He served as a regular member for 14 years, from February 1982 to August 1996. After leaving Clearwater, British Columbia, in 1981, he completed RCMP basic training at depot division in Regina, Saskatchewan.”

Police say he served in various detachments in Saskatchewan and Alberta and retired in 1996.

“Our investigators immediately began a parallel review of Davidson’s service and time with the RCMP from application through to retirement. That review remains active and ongoing.”

Police say they are unaware of any alleged offences occuring when Davidson was an RCMP member.

Davidson now lives in Calgary and is scheduled to appear in court on the charges in Kamloops on April 3, 2014.

Fitzpatrick says Davidson is employed by the Alberta Sheriffs Service. "He moved to Alberta in the late 90s and our investigation indicates that he has not coached since approxiamately 2008."

Sheldon Kennedy spoke out about the allegations from the Sheldon Kennedy Advocacy Centre in Calgary and says he is surprised there are not more victims.

"Usually there's a lot more victims and my plea is if you've been affected by this individual, you need to come forward. We know a lot of people suffer in silence," said Kennedy. "Forever we think that there's nothing available for individuals and nobody is going to listen to us and it's our fault and the reality is, is there are people that will listen and things are a lot different than they were even ten years ago."

RCMP is putting out an appeal for other victims to come forward and has set up a toll free tip line at 1-877-687-3377.