It`s been nearly 25 years since former NHL player Sheldon Kennedy came forward and chronicled the abuse he suffered at the hands of his former junior hockey coach, Graham James.
People were shocked that it had happened. How could it be that James, who was highly respected in the sport, had committed these crimes against Kennedy?
We found out what kind of a monster James really was, and for most people, including myself, any sentence he received would not have been enough.
Questions were also asked about what needed to happen to prevent this from happening again.
We`ve seen other instances of players coming forward to allege abuse or inappropriate behaviour at the hands of coaches or others in positions of power.
And now the NHL has found itself in a mess over how one of its franchises handled abuse committed more than a decade ago.
Earlier this summer, two former members of the Chicago Blackhawks accused the team`s ex-video coach, Brad Aldrich, of sexually assaulting them during the team`s run to the Stanley Cup in 2010.
A report into the mess was released last week, and ramifications have been swift.
The two remaining members of upper management for the Hawks at that time, including general manager Stan Bowman, have resigned. Joel Quenneville, who was the head coach for the Hawks in 2010 (as well as in 2013 and 2015, when Chicago also won the Stanley Cup), has resigned as head coach of the Florida Panthers.
Chicago became aware of the allegations late in the 2010 playoffs, and Aldrich was forced to leave the team shortly after they won the Stanley Cup that year, but after that, the Hawks allowed Aldrich to be part of the Stanley Cup victory parade, gave him a severance package, allowed him to get his day with the Stanley Cup in 2010, permitted his name to be engraved on the cherished trophy, and gave him a good reference for a job with USA Hockey.
Aldrich has since served time in prison for sexually assaulting a minor.
While the Hawks now say they condemn what Aldrich did, their actions don`t exactly reflect an organization appalled by Aldrich’s actions.
Many players say they knew what happened by the time of training camp for the 2010-11 season began, yet they said nothing.
One of Aldrich`s Chicago victims, Kyle Beach, has bravely stepped forward to explain what happened. Some will question why he didn’t do it sooner, but how many people would have actually believed him had this happened five or 10 years ago?
Many would have written him off as a first round bust with an axe to grind against the organization.
If you haven`t watched Beach’s interview with TSN`s Rick Westhead, I highly recommend it. It’s emotion but sheds light on who knew what and the impact the abuse had on Beach’s life.
I believe hockey is in a better place now to deal with these situations than it was 25 years ago. Hockey people are more willing to listen to the victims, to conduct an investigation and to hold the perpetrator accountable.
But what we’re seeing with this Aldrich case is how much work remains for the NHL, and hockey in general.
It should ultimately be an opportunity for those in the game to pause and think how they would handle the situation if they were posed with a similar dilemma.
The Blackhawks ultimately put winning above the safety and wellness of a player. They imposed a veil over the situation, and their actions in the weeks after it was brought to their attention reflect their mindset.
People have lost their jobs, not because this abuse happened, but because of their reaction to the abuse. Jobs have been lost and reputations ruined, although the harm to individuals’ legacies is dwarfed when compared to the harm to Beach and other victims of Aldrich.
Most people in the game of hockey, regardless of the level, are good or even great people. They have carry themselves well and are excellent ambassadors for the sport. They`re involved in the community. It`s not just the players, either. It`s coaches, managers, trainers, parents, volunteers and anyone else part of or connected to a team.
But when something like this comes to light, it`s a reminder that there are some rotten eggs in the sport, and a lot of work still has to be done.
