One week after former Chicago Blackhawks star Kyle Beach came forward to claim he was sexually assaulted in 2010 by the team’s then video coordinator, Brad Aldrich, and that his complaints were ignored by leadership, more reports showing the culture of homophobia happening on the team at the time have been released.
A locker room photo from Stanley Cup celebrations taken in 2010 shows Blackhawks stars Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane holding up the Stanley Cup. Behind them, a whiteboard displays an opponent’s name, Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Chris Pronger, with the words “is Gay” scribbled next to it and circled in red pen.
Boy that 2010 Chicago Blackhawks locker room was a real laugh riot. Apparently they thought Chris Pronger was gay. .@NHLBlackhawks hope The Stanley Cup was worth it. #KyleBeach thank you for exposing this. pic.twitter.com/xGRYVmuzCo
— Earl Skakel (@EarlSkakel) October 29, 2021
The photo was reportedly taken just a few weeks after Beach complained about Aldrich, but before any action was taken in the matter.
According to an independent investigation conducted by the Chicago law firm Jenner & Block, Beach’s report was ignored to avoid bad publicity amid the ongoing playoffs. After the playoffs, HR told Aldrich he could either resign or undergo an investigation. He chose to resign, but not before negotiating a handsome severance package that included a playoff bonus and several months’ salary.
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Three years later, Aldrich was arrested and pled guilty to fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct involving a minor in a separate incident.
After Jenner & Block’s report was released, Blackhawks president of hockey operations and general manager Stan Bowman resigned. Joel Quenneville, who was head coach for the Blackhawks at the time, also stepped down from his current job as head coach of the Florida Panthers after initially claiming he didn’t know anything about Beach’s 2010 allegations.
A mascot did more for Kyle Beach than the Blackhawks’ own captain https://t.co/DLAFQBpSvR
— Vanessa (@vanessaj7_) October 30, 2021
Speaking to TSN’s Rick Westhead last week, 31-year-old Beach called for systemic change within the NHL.
Kangol2
The team basically did nothing about the sexual assault to avoid bad press. No surprise there.
The team then rewarded the sexual abuser, who would later go on to commit another act of abuse. No surprise there.
The team’s locker room was a “cesspool” of homophobia. No surprise there.
I’m glad Beach is speaking out and that Joel Quenneville has paid some penalty for helping to keep this situation out of the press. All of the Blackhawks officials who participated in quashing the story and not addressing the abuse should have to pay some price.
I was surprised, though, that, given how much hockey players still pummel each others’ faces in, Beach didn’t turn Aldrich’s face into a tenderized strip steak. Not saying he should have done that or faulting him for not doing so, but I could easily see another play whaling on Aldrich if he tried to pull his predatory BS.
Fahd
Just goes to show, even a 20 year old tough male hockey player could remain silent – not knowing how to deal with the indifference of the powerful individuals around him who are supposed to be looking out for his well-being – perhaps afraid of the unpredictability of what might happen if he came forward, etc.
I think nowadays another young man in his position would immediately file a police report and start tweeting about what happened. At least, I hope so.
Jim
Locker room full of homophobia not news.
Let’s look at the self loathing homosexuals in the locker room.
cuteguy
Didn’t that ex FLOTUS, the gold digging Hooker from Yugoslavia use the words “locker room boy talk” when excusing her sugar daddy when he was unknowingly caught bragging about assault on the access Hollywood truck? Is it no wonder this type of criminal abuse is not only allowed but encouraged by the GQP? Absolutely disgusting smh
Thad
The NHL is officially supportive of gay players, officials, and fans. “You Can Play” and “Hockey Is For Everyone” are initiatives superior to any other pro sport’s.
BUT sometimes there’s a gap between ideals and reality
I was a BlackHawks fan in 2010. I was thrilled when they win the Stanley Cup. And the Cup appeared at Chicago Pride that year. It’s the only major sports trophy that has been to Gay Pride. We didn’t know about abuse. We didn’t know the homophobia.
I’m glad it’s no longer a secret. I’m sorry it happened.
Openminded
Agreed. If you notice in Beach’s online post, he appears to feel relief that the team has investigated and found the need to apologize for neglecting his claims, yet then he goes on to say the real fight is now preventing the team from destroying evidence proving his claims. Seems to me the reality is that the team gave a faux apology just to buy time to cover their crap up.