The Chicago Blackhawks chose chasing a tarnished Cup instead of doing what’s right. (CW: sexual assault) In the wake of an independent investigation that determined that the Chicago Blackhawks covered up allegations of sexual assault by one of their coaches in 2010, president of hockey operations Stan Bowman resigned. Other executives who knew about the allegations are employed with other teams.
Background:
On May 23, 2010, a few weeks before they won their first Stanley Cup in 49 years, Blackhawks brass met to discuss allegations that one of their coaches, Brad Aldrich, sexually assaulted a player. They decided to keep quiet, reasoning that it would distract the team from the playoffs. Aldrich was later forced to resign, but not until he had his name engraved on the Stanley Cup, made sexual advances to an intern, and received a glowing recommendation. He used that to get a job with Miami University, where he assaulted a student. He was fired but not investigated by the police or charged. He was convicted in 2013 of sexually assaulting a high school student.
Here’s a timeline of the case that covers everything up to the release of the independent investigation.
Oh, I forgot the fine: The NHL fined the team $2 million, a smaller punishment than the one they doled out in 2010 when the New Jersey Devils signed a player to a cap-circumventing contract.