Morning Free Association: Blackhawks Down

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I haven’t spoken about this here, but the Chicago Blackhawks have been independently investigated by a Chicago lawfirm after a former unnamed prospect made allegations and sued the hockey team for doing nothing about sexual assaults perpetrated by Brad Aldrich, the team’s former video coach. Aldrich was allowed to perform his duties throughout the playoffs that year before being let go some time after the championship parade.

Aldrich would go on to be employed by Miami University and volunteer at a high school after leaving the Blackhawks. He continued to assault young men in these employment and opportunities. An investigation conducted by Miami University found that he abused two hockey players in the fall of 2012. He eventually served time for the assault of a minor.

While the Blackhawks apparently didn’t give recommendations for Aldrich’s future employment, they also didn’t do anything to prevent his future employment like report him to the police. In fact, it turns out that Blackhawks management up through General Manager Stan Bowman knew about the harassment and possibly the assaults. And they chose to do nothing about it until after the playoffs because they didn’t want to disrupt what became a championship run.

Schar says Blackhawks officials held a May 23, 2010, meeting to discuss the allegations of sexual assault. Those present included John McDonough, Stan Bowman, Joel Quenneville, Jay Blunk and Kevin Cheveldayoff, Schar said.

— Rick Westhead (@rwesthead) October 26, 2021

What’s more damning is that the coaches up through Bowman had a meeting and decided to do nothing about Aldrich for an entire month. Aldrich was employed through the Stanley Cup celebrations during which time he allegedly harassed an intern and continued to intimidate the young player he assaulted a month prior. When the team did address the issue, they gave Aldrich the choice to undergo an investigation or to resign. His choice resulted in no further action.

Below is the video call from Blackhawks. Here is the report by Reid Schar of Jenner and Block, the firm that investigated the allegations.

Here it is: https://t.co/dchdwMPIZj

— Steve “Dangle” Glynn (@Steve_Dangle) October 26, 2021

As a result of the investigation, Stan Bowman is out as GM. He reportedly resigned but the Wirtzes have stated that anyone in that management group will no longer be employed by the team. That means that Senior VP Al MacIsaac is gone as well.

Statement from Stan Bowman via #Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/0iOTUFcAhN

— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) October 26, 2021

Later in the evening, he also resigned as GM of US Olympic hockey team.

While Joel Quenneville and former AGM Kevin Cheveldayoff are no longer employed by the team, they should be also be fired by their current teams.

"Bowman recalled that, after learning of the incident, Quenneville shook his head and said that it was hard for the team to get to where they were, and they could not deal with this issue now."

— Rick Westhead (@rwesthead) October 26, 2021

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman has put the kibosh on that for right now, electing to meet with both men prior to making a decision about their future employment.

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman will meet with Kevin Cheveldayoff and Joel Quenneville in the near future to "discuss their roles in the relevant events as detailed in the report."

— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) October 26, 2021

As of now, the Panthers have no comment.

Statement from Panthers, who host the Bruins tomorrow:

“At this time, Commissioner Gary Bettman has indicated that he will be meeting with Joel Quenneville to discuss the events highlighted in the Jenner & Block October 2021 report.
Accordingly, we have no comment.”

— Matt Porter (@mattyports) October 26, 2021

The NHL has levied a $2 million dollar slap on the wrist to the team for its role in the coverup. If Stan Bowman and other wish to be employed again, they need to go through him.

Gary Bettman says in statement through NHL that if Jay Blunk, Stan Bowman, John McDonough and Al MacIsaac wish to re-enter the league, it will require a meeting with the commissioner in advance of them accepting a job. #Blackhawks

— Charlie Roumeliotis (@CRoumeliotis) October 26, 2021

The one good thing that has come from this, besides organizational change in Chicago, is that the Blackhawks plan to pay the former Hawks player and the former high school player for their role in the abuse. It isn’t nearly enough. The former prospect is still dealing with the assault 11 years later. All the money in the world won’t make it better.