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Let me start off by saying this, in case I haven’t been clear enough in the last month and a half since these latest Chicago Blackhawks allegations came to light: if what is being reported regarding the former Blackhawks video coach Brad Aldrich, his conduct while with the team, and the organization’s handling of the situation is indeed true, everyone involved should be removed from the organization and / or faced with serious repercussions for their actions or inactions.
Clear and simple. And even if these internal repercussions never occur, there will be consequences, in one form or another.
If you don’t know yet, there are a number of lawsuits currently being filed against former Blackhawks video coach Brad Aldrich for sexual assault, abuse and harassment while at the club, as well as with various hockey organizations for which he has worked. worked after his passage. Chicago. Lawsuits are also being brought against the Blackhawks for their handling of the allegations against Aldrich and the fallout from their alleged failure to report those allegations properly.
To stay on top of everything surrounding the Blackhawks and Aldrich claims, you can read these reports, listed in order of development:
Former Blackhawks player sues team over harassment and sexual assault allegations in 2010 Second trial alleges Blackhawks misconduct in relation to former coach Blackhawks management allegedly refused to file a sexual assault report in 2010More details Blackhawks organizationFormer Blackhawks player says every team member was aware of the allegations
Dave McKinney and Tony Arnold of WBEZ News, as well as Rick Westhead of TSN, reported on incidents and allegations since this investigation began, as well as Katie Strang, Scott Powers and Mark Lazerus of The Athletic, who added more details recently. regarding the team’s knowledge of the alleged incidents in 2010 and what sparked the terrible chain of events involving Aldrich during and after his time with the Blackhawks.
Several times involved in these developments, current and former members of the Chicago Blackhawks front office, including Stan Bowman, Al MacIsaac, John McDonough and James Gary. While former team president McDonough was fired in April 2020, Bowman (general manager / president of hockey operations), MacIssac (senior vice president of hockey operations) and Gary (team mental skills coach) ) are still part of the organization. The four were allegedly involved in a meeting with former skills coach Paul Vincent where Vincent, having learned of Aldrich’s sexual abuse and sexual harassment of two players in the 2010 playoffs, asked Blackhawks management report incidents to Chicago Police. No report was made.
The NHL and Blackhawks have remained almost completely silent on investigations and prosecutions, except for an emailed statement from NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly to The Athletic, stating that he didn’t There is no ongoing league investigation into the incidents or the Blackhawks.
Why ? What is stopping the league from trying to face these reports, allegations and lawsuits? The silence of the league and the team is deafening.
This is far from the first time the Blackhawks have been in the spotlight for the wrong reasons, even in the past 11 years.
Patrick Kane assaulting a taxi driver. Akim Aliu suffered multiple racist incidents from Bill Peters while playing for the Rockford IceHogs. Fans wearing native hairstyles and face paint at the games, which were ultimately banned. Fans making racist remarks to Devante Smith-Pelly. Patrick Kane faces a sexual assault charge, albeit without charge. Minor leaguer Garrett Ross involved in the “Revenge Porn” trial, which was ultimately dropped. It all has to do with Bobby Hull, who still has his statue outside the United Center. with the Blackhawks logo and team name.
This is not an exhaustive list. These are just a few of the major incidents that have happened and have come to light over the past decade. Also, let’s not forget the likelihood that there are many more stories we’ll never hear from, or stories that only live in the rumors and rumors surrounding Chicagoland’s dive bars and lounges. .
It is unacceptable.
Additionally, with the latest scandal surrounding the Chicago Blackhawks, there will be fallout for the organization beyond the summer of 2021 or the 2021-22 season. This could set the franchise back far beyond the three Stanley Cups won in the modern era of the NHL.
We’re one month away from three important dates on the NHL’s offseason schedule: the Seattle Kraken expansion draft (July 21), the NHL draft (July 23-24) and the start of free will (July 28). ). The Blackhawks are putting their team back on track to the top of the NHL and rebuilding itself for the future beyond the era of “One Goal” hockey in Chicago. There are needs to be addressed through the project and free agency and the Blackhawks, for once, are in a financial position to make impactful additions, rather than having to sell assets to stay under the salary cap. How are they going to effectively navigate this time of the offseason and expect things to move in the right direction when it comes to rebuilding, all with this swirling cloud of darkness and uncertainty?
To make it a more specific consideration: Will Stan Bowman even be there for all of this?
These allegations against the team and their former video coach are taking a heavy toll on the organization, and it gets worse with the days. It gets worse as time goes by before the league or team says anything on the subject. None of this is going quietly, even as the NHL and Blackhawks want it to.
If I were a future free agent, why would I want to join an organization that is dealing with something so serious? Why would you think that a team susceptible to such a dramatic front office change (it’s not a guarantee, but you know) will soon be a contender? Chicago was already a questionable destination for free agents, as the roster is yet to be designed to be a Stanley Cup contender. Now? Probably even less. Or at least even less certain.
The brilliance and brilliance of the Chicago Blackhawks, their perception of being the “Gold Standard” of the NHL, the greatness of the Original Six franchise that has become a modern day dynasty… was it just smoke and mirrors, built on lies and cover-ups? So far, I have no reason not to believe the allegations against the team and Aldrich. There is no reason not to believe the stories of the victims in these cases.
You can never take away the memories of what happened on the ice in 2010, 2013 and 2015. But what happened off the ice is also part of the memory forever. Our thoughts are more present with the victims, however, and how each day that goes by without any real action feels like another offense.
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