CHICAGO 鈥� The Chicago Blackhawks mishandled allegations that an assistant coach sexually assaulted a player during the team鈥檚 Stanley Cup run in 2010, according to an investigation commissioned by the franchise that cast a shadow over the NHL on Tuesday.
Stan Bowman, the general manager and president of hockey operations, resigned in the wake of the findings by an outside law firm, and the NHL fined the team $2 million for 鈥渢he organization鈥檚 inadequate internal procedures and insufficient and untimely response.鈥� Al MacIsaac, one of the team's top hockey executives, also is out.
Florida Panthers coach Joel Quenneville and Winnipeg Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff, who were with the Blackhawks when the sexual assault allegations were first reported, were named in the damning report.
The Panthers declined to comment, citing NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman's plans to meet with Quenneville. There was no immediate word from the Jets on Cheveldayoff's status.
Cheveldayoff had said in a statement released by the Jets in July that he "had no knowledge of any allegations involving Mr. Aldrich until asked if I was aware of anything just prior to the conclusion of his employment with the Chicago Blackhawks.
"After confirming that I had no prior knowledge of anything, I had no further involvement."
The Blackhawks hired Jenner & Block to conduct what they called an independent review in response to two lawsuits filed against the franchise: one by a player identified as John Doe alleging sexual assault by then-assistant coach Brad Aldrich in 2010 and another filed by a former student whom Aldrich was convicted of assaulting in Michigan.
The , which team CEO Danny Wirtz called 鈥渂oth disturbing and difficult to read,鈥� was released by the franchise. Former federal prosecutor Reid Schar, who led the investigation, said the firm found no evidence that Wirtz or his father, Rocky, who owns the team, were aware of the allegations before the former player's lawsuit was brought to their attention ahead of its filing.
鈥淚t is clear that in 2010 the executives of this organization put team performance above all else,鈥� Danny Wirtz said. 鈥淛ohn Doe deserved better from the Blackhawks.鈥�
In a statement released through his attorney, Susan Loggans, John Doe said he was 鈥済rateful for the accountability鈥� shown by the Blackhawks.
鈥淎lthough nothing can truly change the detriment to my life over the past decade because of the actions of one man inside the Blackhawks organization, I am very grateful to have the truth be recognized, and I look forward to continuing the long journey to recovery,鈥� John Doe said.
Bowman said he was stepping aside because he didn鈥檛 want to be a distraction for the team. He also stepped down from his position as GM of the U.S men鈥檚 hockey team at the 2022 Winter Olympics.
鈥淓leven years ago, while serving in my first year as general manager, I was made aware of potential inappropriate behavior by a then-video coach involving a player,鈥� he said in a statement released by the Blackhawks. 鈥淚 promptly reported the matter to the then-president and CEO who committed to handling the matter.
鈥淚 learned this year that the inappropriate behavior involved a serious allegation of sexual assault. I relied on the direction of my superior that he would take appropriate action. Looking back, now knowing he did not handle the matter promptly, I regret assuming he would do so.鈥�
According to the report, the encounter between John Doe, then 20, and Aldrich, then 27, occurred on May 8 or 9 in 2010. Doe told investigators it was not consensual, and Aldrich said it was.
On May 23, right after Chicago advanced to the Stanley Cup Final, Bowman, MacIsaac, former team president John McDonough, former executive vice president Jay Blunk and then-assistant general manager Cheveldayoff met with then-coach Quenneville and mental skills coach Jim Gary to discuss the allegations.
Schar said accounts of the meeting 鈥渧ary significantly.鈥�
鈥淲hat is clear is that after 小蓝视频 informed of Aldrich鈥檚 alleged sexual harassment and misconduct with a player no action was taken for three weeks,鈥� Schar said.
According to the report, Bowman recalled that, after learning of the incident, Quenneville shook his head and said it was hard for the team to get to where it was, and they could not deal with this issue now.
The report found no evidence of any investigation or contact with human resources before McDonough informed the then-director of human resources about the allegations on June 14 鈥� a delay that violated the Blackhawks' sexual harassment policy and had 鈥渃onsequences,鈥� according to Schar.
鈥淒uring that period, Aldrich continued to work with and travel with the team,鈥� Schar said. "On June 10th, during an evening of celebration after the Blackhawks' Stanley Cup win the previous day, Aldrich made an unwanted sexual advance towards a Blackhawks intern, who was 22 years old at the time.
鈥淎lso after the Stanley Cup win, Aldrich continued to participate in celebrations in the presence of John Doe, who had made the complaint.鈥�
While announcing in July that he would participate in the team's probe, Quenneville said in a statement that he "first learned of these allegations through the media earlier this summer.鈥�
Bettman said he would 鈥渞eserve judgment鈥� on Quenneville and Cheveldayoff, and he plans to meet with them to discuss their roles in the situation.
Aldrich left the Blackhawks after the 2009-10 season.
The former player's lawsuit, filed May 7 in Cook County Circuit Court, alleges Aldrich also assaulted another unidentified Blackhawks player. The former player who sued and is referred in the document as John Doe is seeking more than $150,000 in damages.
The eight-page lawsuit says Aldrich, then a video coach for the Blackhawks, 鈥渢urned on porn and began to masturbate in front of鈥� the player without his consent. It says Aldrich also threatened to 鈥減hysically, financially and emotionally鈥� hurt the player if he 鈥渄id not engage in sexual activity鈥� with him.
Aldrich was sentenced to nine months in prison for the Michigan assault.
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AP Hockey Writer Stephen Whyno reported from Washington. AP Sports Writer Tim Reynolds in Miami contributed to this report.
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Jay Cohen And Stephen Whyno, The Associated Press
