In a lawsuit filed in the Cook County Circuit Court, it was revealed former Chicago Blackhawks video coach Bradley Aldrich was accused of sexual assault by two players, one whom is participating in the lawsuit.
Aldrich’s history of sexual assault
In 2013, Aldrich was convicted in Houghton, MI., of fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct, involving a student at the high school he worked at at the time. He was sentenced to nine months of jail time and five years of probation.
Following his conviction, Miami University (OH) opened an investigation in June of 2014. Mr. Aldrich had resigned from the school in 2012 following suspicion of unwanted touching of a male adult. In Sept., of the same year, the university released their findings and concluded Aldrich had sexually assaulted two men in the fall of 2012.
Timeline
On May 7, 2021, a lawsuit was filed that alleged Bradley Aldrich assaulted two Blackhawks players. On Oct. 27, former Blackhawks player Kyle Beach came forward and identified himself as the player who filed the lawsuit.
Beach claimed that he informed the Blackhawks of the encounter soon after it happened in 2010, but his complaints were ignored until the season was over. On Oct. 26, an independent investigation confirmed Beach’s claims in a 107-page report. Shortly after the report came out, the Blackhawks dismissed General Manager Stan Bowman and Senior director of hockey operations Al MacIsaac, who helped cover up the assault claims in 2010.
It was also confirmed that immediately following the Western Conference Finals in 2010, a meeting was held with following members of the organization; President John McDonough, Senior director of hockey administration Al MacIsaac, General Manager Stan Bowman, Executive Vice President Jay Blunk, Assistant General Manager Kevin Cheveldayoff, Head coach Joel Quenneville, and Mental skills coach and team counselor Jim Gary.
At the time, it was decided that it was more important to keep the team’s chemistry and avoid negative publicity. McDonough said he would handle the situation, but it wasn’t until after the Blackhawks won the Stanley Cup when any sort of action was taken.
Aldrich was given the opportunity in 2010 to undergo investigation or resign, he resigned but was still treated well by the organization. His name was engraved on the Stanley Cup, he received a day with the trophy, received a championship ring, and attended the championship parade.
Betrayed by his team
During the summer of 2021 after the lawsuit was filed, then head coach Joel Quenneville released a statement that read, “I first learned of these allegations through the media earlier this summer…”. After the 107-page report revealed he knew of the allegations at the time they happened, Quenneville stepped down as Florida Panthers head coach.
In a new statement, Quenneville said, “I want to express my sorrow for the pain this young man, Kyle Beach, has suffered. My former team, the Blackhawks, failed Kyle and I own my share of that…”. Quenneville also said he stands by his July statement, but would not comment further.
Kyle Beach reported that he was harassed with homophobic slurs by teammates and members of staff on and off the ice. Captain Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane had different accounts of the locker room chemistry following the incident.
Toews, who some are calling “Captain Coward”, alleged he didn’t know about the incident until the following year at training camp. When Toews was asked about his feelings towards people in the organization, he said, “Make any argument you want, they’re [Stan Bowman and Al MacIsaac] not directly complicit in the activities that happened”.
Kane said “When Kyle came out as John Doe, that’s the first time I knew that it was him”. In addition to this Kane called Bowman “A great man” who did a lot for him personally.
Moving forward
Stan Bowman and Al MacIsaac, the lone members of that 2010 meeting that remain with the team, have since stepped down from their roles with the team as of October 26.
Blackhawks owner Rocky Wirtz requested for Aldrich’s name to be removed from the Stanley Cup. Though it has to be asked why Wirtz ever allowed his name to be engraved on the trophy in the first place.
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