Chicago Blackhawks amid sexual assault scandal

The allegations date back to 2010, when the Blackhawks won the Stanley Cup. Aldrich was the team’s video specialist at the time.

A first lawsuit was brought on May 7 against the team by a player at the time, reports the TSN network.

The player, whose identity remains protected, alleges that Bradley Aldrich, then in the employ of the Blackhawks, regularly sent him inappropriate text messages, threatening him physically, financially, and emotionally if he did not agree to have sex with him.

The lawsuit says a total of two players from the 2010 squad were sexually assaulted by Aldrich. According to the specialized site Athletic, all team members were aware of the alleged facts.

Hawks and NHL staff knew and wouldn’t have done anything

According to TSN, which cites sources familiar with the matter, the incident between Aldrich and the attacked players had been reported by the latter to Paul Vincent, then an assistant coach for the Blackhawks.

Vincent had informed the staff, namely John McDonough, president of the team, Stan Bowman, general manager, Al MacIsaac, vice-president of hockey operations and James Gary, the team’s regular sports psychologist.

Vincent allegedly asked the staff to file a complaint with the police, which the Blackhawks leadership refused to do.

Other leaders in 2010 included Joel Quenneville, then coach, and now coach of the Florida Panthers, and Marc Bergevin, then director of personnel, and now general manager of the Montreal Canadiens.

Neither TSN nor Athletic only report that Quenneville and Bergevin were aware of the facts, but specify that the affair was an open secret in the locker room.

John Torchetti, also an assistant coach at the time of the alleged facts, confirmed to TSN that this meeting had indeed taken place, and that Paul Vincent had warned him of the accusations of the two players against Bradley Aldrich.

National Hockey League (NHL) commissioner Gary Bettman has yet to respond to the allegations or lawsuits against any of the circuit’s original six teams.

His deputy, Bill Daly, meanwhile told Athletic that the NHL had been in contact with the Blackhawks, but no investigation had been set up. Daly refused to answer the question of the specialized site, where he was asked what elements had to be gathered for an investigation to be triggered.

The Blackhawks also refused to answer TSN’s questions and Athletic, and asked the courts to drop the lawsuits, claiming that they were not brought within a reasonable time, indicates TSN.

A second lawsuit against Aldrich

On May 26, a fortnight after the first lawsuit filed against the Blackhawks concerning two of their players, a second lawsuit was brought for an allegation of sexual assault involving Bradley Aldrich.

In this second lawsuit, again brought against the Blackhawks, a former high school player from Houghton, Mich., Accuses the Chicago organization of providing a letter of recommendation to Aldrich in his job search. . They believe that the Blackhawks thus allowed Aldrich to claim other victims.

Aldrich quit his post as assistant coach after winning the Stanley Cup in 2010, claiming to be looking for new professional experiences. The Blackhawks had provided no reason for his departure.

After leaving the Blackhawks, in July 2012 Aldrich became director of hockey operations for Ohio University Miami, and used to invite young teenage players to his home and illegally supply them with alcohol. for private parties. It was there that he allegedly sexually assaulted a 17-year-old minor, at the time of the alleged incidents, TSN reports.

Aldrich resigned his post at Miami University in November 2012 following doubts about sexual touching an adult, according to a police report seen by TSN.

In 2013, Bradley Aldrich pleaded guilty to a charge of sexual abuse of a minor. He is officially recognized as a sex offender in the state of Michigan, where the complaint was filed.

Last week, Miami University in Ohio, where Aldrich worked at the time, hired a law firm to conduct an independent investigation into Aldrich’s stay.

With information from TSN and Athletic