"Terrible business decision": social media reacts as Edmonton ...

This in from the Edmonton Oilers, news that the team has named Stan Bowman as General Manager & Executive Vice President of Hockey Operations.

Said Oilers CEO of Hockey Operations Jeff Jackson: “I am excited and pleased to be welcoming Stan to the Edmonton Oilers. I believe his vast experience and proven success in this role, together with the important work he has done in his time away from the game, fits our goal of being best in class when it comes to all facets of our organization. Through our many conversations, we share a common vision of where we are as a team and what is required to achieve another Stanley Cup title.”

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Bowman was suspended by the NHL for more than two years due to the Chicago Blackhawks’ mishandling of the Kyle Beach case. The NHL fined Chicago $2 million, having found “inadequate internal procedures and insufficient and untimely response in the handling of matters related to former video coach Brad Aldrich’s employment with the Club and ultimate departure in 2010.”

The NHL reinstated Bowman, former Hawks Asst. GM Al MacIsaac and former Hawks coach Joel Quenneville on July 1, 2024. Rumours at once heated up Bowman might end up in Edmonton, as has now happened.

Bowman was GM of the management team that led the Blackhawks to three Stanley Cup wins.

The Athletic’s lead hockey writer Mark Lazerus, based out of Chicago, said of Edmonton’s move, “I’m genuinely glad that Stan Bowman has put in the work to learn, to understand, to grow, and to help others handle future situations properly. Truly. But we can’t forget that these men’s craven failure led directly to the sexual abuse of a minor. You don’t HAVE to hire them.”I would have been glad to see Stan Bowman continue to work with someone like Sheldon Kennedy, to carve out a new path in the hockey world as an educator, as an example. Instead, he walks right back into an NHL GM job 14 days after reinstatement. This league, man.”

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Detroit hockey writer George Malik said, “For better or worse, there is nothing like the ‘Good Old Boys’ Club’ that is the NHL’s bin of recycled personalities. Regardless of their history, there’s nothing in the NHL like a good retread.”

And Oilers fan Heather Marginet: “Most of us have made a huge mistake that we wish we had never made. You can’t go backwards in time, but you can learn from it, make reparations and move on. I don’t like the distraction this will cause though.”

And 630 CHED host Courtney Theriault: “It’s one thing to hire another old guard GM again when there are plenty of young, bright hockey minds deserving of a shot to push the team over the finish line. It’s another thing entirely to hire a guy who put winning and the old boys’ mentality over basic human dignity.”

Oilers fan Steve French: “I’m a bit underwhelmed as I was hoping for a ‘fresh’ candidate. Having said that, I understand the GM role has changed considerably under Jackson. Based on his experience and recent performance, I trust Jackson made the right decision based on his vision of the GM role.”

And Oilers fan Lynn Mercereau: “It’s like continuing to do big things badly is a sport in itself… It has been my experience that the organization itself (separate from the players) doesn’t care about your feedback, your petitions, your dropping of seasons tix. They just move on to the next person in line. This Bowman hire disappoints me, but doesn’t surprise me.”

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And TSN/Forbes legal analyst Eric Macramalla: “Why on earth would the Oilers hire Stan Bowman? Terrible business decision. Astonishingly tone deaf. Old school hockey at it again.”

And former NHLer Matthew Barnaby: “Scandal aside…This is a GREAT hire for Oilers. Stan is really good guy and VERY good GM. Will be a distraction for a very short time but Edmonton will reap the benefits.”

And Oilers fan Paul Almeida: “I can’t say that I fully endorse this hire. So many good candidates and the Oilers hire the controversial one. The great momentum of the cup finals, the draft and free agency, the good will with the fans and the work of the community foundation all just had their legs cut under them.”

And Oilers fan Kevin Jamieson: “So if even ONLY for public relations purposes (and there are pleanty of other reasons) the Oilers had omitted Stan Bowman as an option – were there not any other suitable candidates? We all know the answer. This is a hell of a way to spoil an otherwise brilliant off-season.”

Former Edmonton Journal columnist Terry Jones said of the Oilers hiring, “This is likely going to go over like a lead balloon with a lot of people. Stan Bowman is the Oilers new general manager and executive VP of hockey operations. Be interesting to read a quote from owner Daryl Katz.”

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And the Athletic’s Dom Luszczyszyn: “Is it good when your new GM gets immediately ratioed?”

Related: “I should have done more”: New Edmonton Oilers GM Stan Bowman has apologized to Kyle Beach, worked with Beach’s college team

The full story of Stan Bowman’s  NHL suspension

As you can see, there’s no shortage of people with strong opinions on whether or not the Edmonton Oilers should have hired Stan Bowman as the team’s new general manager.

Not knowing much about what happened between Chicago Blackhawks management, victim Kyle Beach, and Brad Aldrich, former video coach of the Blackhawks, I decided to dig into it recently, then come to my own conclusions on Bowman. I wrote a post on this last week, but for those who missed it I am including it here.

The best account I’ve found on what happened in an independent report done by the law firm of Jenner & Block. It was commissioned by the Blackhawks after Beach sued that organization in 2021.

The Jenner & Block team was led by former federal prosecutor Reid Schar. The complete 107 page report is a harrowing and painful read, with a thorough description of Aldrich’s modus operandi.

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I suspect most of you don’t have the time or the stomach to take in the whole report, so I’ve prepared a summary, drawing heavily on the executive summary and conclusions of the Jenner & Block report.

In the Jenner & Block report, Beach is referred to as John Doe. In this report, I’ll substitute his real name (Kyle Beach) for John Doe as this makes easier reading comprehension.

The report’s executive summary notes that in May 2021 Beach launched a lawsuit against his former team, the Blackhawks, alleging that in May 2010 he’d been sexually assaulted by Aldrich. “(Beach) further alleged that the Blackhawks were made aware of the alleged assault soon after it occurred and failed to act to address the assault.”

The Blackhawks hired Jenner & Block in June 2021. Jenner & Block investigators interviewed 139 witnesses, including current and former Blackhawks’ personnel, from entry-level paid interns to the most senior executives and coaching staff. “Several witnesses were interviewed more than once. We interviewed 21 current and former Blackhawks players and Rockford IceHogs players. We interviewed (Kyle Beach), Brad Aldrich, and individual players and personnel who were directly involved in the events described below.”

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The Incident, May 8 or 9 2010

“Our investigation uncovered the following events. On May 8 or 9, 2010, (Beach) had a sexual encounter with Brad Aldrich. The Blackhawks were in the midst of the National Hockey League playoffs and ultimately won the Stanley Cup for the first time since 1961. (Beach) was a twenty-year-old hockey player for the Blackhawks’ minor league affiliate team. He was called up to Chicago during the 2010 playoffs to serve as a “Black Ace,” a prospect player who could be available to play for the Blackhawks if needed. Brad Aldrich was the Blackhawks’ twenty-seven-year-old video coach in his second full year in the job. Aldrich was responsible for cutting video clips of game footage for the other Blackhawks’ coaches.”

The report continues:  “Today, (Beach) and Brad Aldrich have widely divergent recollections of the sexual encounter, but both men agree an encounter occurred. The heart of the difference between the two recollections is not only what occurred during the encounter, but most critically whether the encounter was consensual. (Beach) stated that the encounter was entirely non-consensual, (that) during the second week of May 2010, Aldrich invited him to his apartment, provided him with dinner and drinks, told him he had the power to get (Beach) onto the Blackhawks’ roster, and turned on pornography.”

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Beach stated that Aldrich threatened him, saying he needed to act like he enjoyed the sexual encounter or Beach would never play in the NHL “or walk” again, forcibly performed oral sex on (Beach), masturbated on (Beach)’s back, and then threatened Beach again before he was able to escape Aldrich’s apartment.

Aldrich had a different story, “Brad Aldrich stated that the encounter was entirely consensual. Aldrich stated, among other details, that he brought (Beach) and a woman from a bar to Aldrich’s apartment, played strip poker, and engaged in oral sex with the woman, but not with (Beach). Aldrich further stated that after the woman left Aldrich’s apartment, Aldrich and (Beach) watched pornography, Aldrich received permission to engage in a sexual encounter with (Beach), Aldrich performed oral sex on (Beach), and Aldrich received a ‘hand job’ from (Beach).”

Jenner & Block tracked down the woman described by Aldrich and interviewed her for the investigation. “The woman recalled being present for and engaging in sexual activity with (Beach) and Aldrich in Aldrich’s apartment in Chicago, but leaving at a certain point while Aldrich and (Beach) remained at Aldrich’s apartment. Her version of events contradicts certain of Aldrich’s statements, and also contradicts certain of (Beach)’s statements, who said that he went to Aldrich’s apartment building with the woman on a different evening, but the woman left before entering the apartment and no sexual encounter with the woman occurred.”

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Witness Memory

Jenner & Block reported: “Our investigation was affected by the limitations of witnesses’ memories. Memory is malleable and subject to alteration over time, and it is not surprising that witnesses would have divergent recollections of the same events. During the course of our investigation, certain inaccurate information has been publicly disseminated. Many witnesses reported that they were exposed to news and social media posts regarding our investigation and related topics. In our conversations with witnesses, we asked open-ended questions so as not to lead a witness to a particular statement or fact, and we clarified whether a witness remembered a particular fact with certainty and due to first-hand knowledge, or remembered only after the information came to the individual filtered through others or long after the event in question. We also made robust efforts to independently corroborate certain memories with records, such as contemporaneous emails, notes, travel records, and phone records.”

Management Response, late May to early June, 2010

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Jenner & Block then dug into the response of the Blackhawks. “On May 23, 2010, the Blackhawks’ Senior Director of Hockey Administration Al MacIsaac was told by a Blackhawks employee that there may have been a sexual encounter involving Aldrich and (Beach). MacIsaac dispatched the Blackhawks’ mental skills coach and team counselor Jim Gary to speak to (Beach) to gather details of what may have happened. (Beach) recalled that he told Gary the details of the encounter with Aldrich as he reported them to us during our investigation and as described above. Gary recalled a conversation with (Beach) on May 23, 2010 during which Gary obtained limited, yet still very troubling information from (Beach) that Gary believed to be true: that Aldrich was pressuring (Beach) to have sex with him and that Aldrich told (Beach) that if he did not comply, Aldrich could harm his career.”

“Later on May 23, within an hour after the Blackhawks won the playoff game that secured their place in the Stanley Cup Finals, five members of senior management (then-President John McDonough, MacIsaac, General Manager Stan Bowman, then-Executive Vice President Jay Blunk, and then-Assistant General Manager Kevin Cheveldayoff), along with then-head coach Joel Quenneville, and Gary, met to discuss what had been learned about Aldrich and (Beach). Accounts of the meeting vary significantly, and the participants had limited recollections of the details of the meeting. All of the participants recalled being informed that there was an incident between Aldrich and (Beach) involving an unwelcome sexual advance, but, for the most part, the participants reported that they only learned about the incident at a high level—that Aldrich, a coach, tried to “get under the sheets” with (Beach), a player. Gary recalled telling everyone in the meeting what he said Beach told him—that Aldrich was pressuring (Beach) to have sex with him and that Aldrich told Beach that if he did not submit to Aldrich’s advances, he could harm his career. None of the participants recalled being told about the type of clearly non-consensual sexual conduct that is described by (Beach) in his lawsuit or was described during (Beach)’s interview with us.

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“Bowman recalled that during the meeting, McDonough and Quenneville made comments about the challenge of getting to the Stanley Cup Finals and a desire to focus on the team and the playoffs. Several years later, MacIsaac, in discussing the situation between Aldrich and (Beach) with another Blackhawks employee, stated that McDonough did not want any negative publicity during the Stanley Cup Finals.

“While there was a general failure to recall how the meeting ended, Bowman recalled a statement by McDonough, the most senior member of management in the room, that he would handle the situation.

“Regardless of who was, or was perceived to be, responsible for handling the situation, Aldrich continued to travel and work with the team, and participate in team activities throughout the playoffs. We found no evidence that any action was taken to address the issue until after the playoffs ended.

“A Blackhawks policy at the time provided that all reports of sexual harassment would be ‘promptly and thoroughly’ investigated. Our investigation uncovered no evidence, however, that McDonough or anyone else either contacted Human Resources or initiated an investigation between May 23 and June 14.

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“The Blackhawks won the Stanley Cup on June 9. On June 10, during an evening in which players, coaches, and other employees took the Stanley Cup to various Chicago locations to celebrate the team’s championship, Aldrich made a sexual advance on a Blackhawks intern who was twenty-two years old, physically touching the intern. The intern rebuffed Aldrich’s advance and did not report the encounter to management or Human Resources.

“Four days later, on June 14, McDonough informed the Blackhawks’ thenDirector of Human Resources that Aldrich had allegedly made a sexual advance on (Beach). According to the Director of Human Resources, McDonough also informed her about the May 23 meeting in his office, during which McDonough said it was decided that the group would not alert Human Resources or do anything about the incident during the playoffs so as not to disturb team chemistry. When interviewed, McDonough stated that he did not recall this conversation with the Director of Human Resources.

“On June 16, 2010, the Director of Human Resources met with Aldrich and offered him the option to undergo an investigation into what occurred with (Beach) or to resign. Aldrich chose to resign and signed a separation agreement during the meeting. No investigation was conducted. Aldrich received a severance and a playoff bonus, and continued to be paid a salary for several months. He was permitted to host the Stanley Cup for a day in his hometown, his name was engraved on the Stanley Cup, he received a championship ring, and he attended a Stanley Cup banner-raising ceremony at the United Center. He went on to have paid and unpaid positions with USA Hockey, the University of Notre Dame, Miami University in Ohio, and Houghton High School in Houghton, Michigan. While in Houghton, in 2013, Aldrich was arrested and pled guilty to fourth degree criminal sexual conduct involving a minor.”

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The Hockey Boss

The report contains a section on McDonough, the ultimate boss of hockey operations in Chicago, which is pertinent to Bowman’s role in the matter: “In 2010, John McDonough was the President of the Blackhawks and oversaw the entire organization, including Business Operations, Hockey Operations, and Human Resources. He reported to the Blackhawks’ ownership. As we undertook our investigation, a number of witnesses expressed strong views of McDonough’s management style and his control over decision-making within the organization. Witnesses described McDonough as extremely controlling and wanting to be—and being—the final decision-maker on numerous occasions, including for some decisions that were perceived by witnesses as not meriting McDonough’s involvement given McDonough’s role as President of the organization. When interviewed, McDonough described his leadership style as aggressive and direct, but denied that all decisions came to him.20 McDonough stated that he generally let the Hockey Operations employees make the “hockey decisions.” McDonough was released from the Blackhawks in April 2020.”

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Bowman’s recollection of the key May 23 meeting

“Bowman recalled that during the May 23, 2010 meeting, either MacIsaac or Gary stated that there was an incident between (Beach) and Aldrich in which Aldrich had tried to ‘climb into bed’ with (Beach) one night at Aldrich’s apartment. Bowman recalled that Gary said he had spoken to (Beach) earlier that day and that (Beach) did not want to talk about it. Bowman told us that, as described to him, the situation did not strike him as immediately alarming at the time as the allegation did not involve a sexual assault as having occurred. Bowman recalled that, after learning of the incident, Quenneville shook his head and said that it was hard for the team to get to where they were, and they could not deal with this issue now. Bowman further recalled that McDonough referenced his previous employment with the Chicago Cubs. Bowman recalled McDonough saying that the Blackhawks might never make it this far in the playoffs again, and that they needed to think about when to handle the issue. (The Blackhawks had not played in the Stanley Cup Finals in 18 years.) Bowman did not recall anyone explicitly referencing the notion that the issue should be tabled until after the playoffs. Rather, Bowman recalled discussion about the need to find out more about what happened. Bowman further recalled that he asked McDonough what McDonough wanted to do and McDonough responded that Bowman should leave it to McDonough. Bowman stated that when the meeting ended, Bowman believed the issue was in McDonough’s hands and everyone else should focus on the upcoming Stanley Cup Finals.”

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The allegation of reference letters for Aldrich

One common allegation is that the Blackhawks gave Aldrich a reference letter or recommendation for future jobs. Jenner & Block dug intot his and found no evidence of this: “After leaving his employment with the Blackhawks, Aldrich went on to work and volunteer at USA Hockey, the University of Notre Dame, Miami University of Ohio, and Houghton High School. None of the witnesses we interviewed recalled anyone at the Blackhawks providing a written or verbal reference for Aldrich to his future employers. When interviewed, Aldrich stated that he did not list any Blackhawks employees as references on job applications, nor did he ask anyone from the Blackhawks to vouch for him or make any calls on his behalf.”

Jenner & Block’s Conclusion

“In May 2010, a sexual encounter involving (Beach) and Brad Aldrich occurred at Aldrich’s apartment in Chicago. (Beach) stated that the encounter was not consensual and was a sexual assault. Brad Aldrich stated that the encounter was consensual. In the days and weeks that followed, (Beach) shared information about the encounter with his confidant; the Blackhawks’ skating coach (Paul Vincent); and the Blackhawks’ mental skills coach (Jim Gary), who was dispatched by Al MacIsaac to speak to (Beach) . Gary took information he recalled receiving from (Beach) to the senior leaders of the Blackhawks organization.

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“There are multiple accounts of what occurred during the meeting of those senior leaders at the United Center on May 23, 2010. Gary stated that he shared with the senior leaders that Aldrich was pressuring (Beach) for sex and threatening to harm his career if (Beach) did not comply. Others recall Gary’s comments as less stark—that Aldrich had tried to ‘get under the sheets’ with (Beach) . At a minimum, the senior leaders, including then-President John McDonough, were informed of alleged sexual harassment of a player by a coach, including efforts by the coach to engage in unwelcome sexual activity with that player. Several witnesses recalled or later told others about a discussion that ensued during the meeting regarding whether the time was right to address the allegations against Aldrich in light of the need to protect team chemistry and avoid bad publicity during the ongoing playoffs.

“What is clear is that, after being informed of Aldrich’s alleged sexual harassment and misconduct with a player, no action was taken for three weeks. One witness recalled that the decision on how to proceed was left in McDonough’s hands and another witness recalled McDonough saying he would speak to (Beach). McDonough did nothing to address the allegations until June 14, when he reported the information to the Director of Human Resources. While there was a lack of recollection as to whether anyone else present in the meeting besides McDonough needed to or would take any additional steps, nothing was done by the other senior leaders to address the situation.

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“As a result, the Blackhawks’ own sexual harassment policy — which required investigation of all reports of sexual harassment to be conducted ‘promptly and thoroughly’ —was violated. The failure to promptly and thoroughly investigate the matter and the decision to take no action from May 23 to June 14 had consequences. During that period, Aldrich continued to work with and travel with the team. Aldrich engaged in an unwanted sexual advance on a Blackhawks intern — physically grabbing the intern in a sexual manner. And Aldrich continued to participate in team activities and celebrations, in the presence of (Beach).

“Even after the allegations were finally reported to the Director of Human Resources, still no investigation occurred, and Aldrich was permitted to resign his position and to continue participating in Stanley Cup victory events.”

NHL fines Blackhawks, Bowman resigns, Oct. 26, 2021

After digging into the Jenner & Block report, the National Hockey League fined  the Blackhawks $2 Million “for the organization’s inadequate internal procedures and insufficient and untimely response in the handling of matters related to former video coach Brad Aldrich’s employment with the Club and ultimate departure in 2010.”

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The NHL said it had reviewed the Jenner & Block report and was satisfied with its methodology and thoroughness. “We are comfortable that the Report provides an accurate account (or at least as accurate as possible) of the events that transpired 11 years ago.”

“Today’s fine represents a direct and necessary response to the failure of the Club to follow-up and address the 2010 incident in a timely and appropriate manner,” says NHL commissioner Gary Bettman. “And, this response should send a clear message to all NHL Clubs and all NHL personnel that inappropriate acts must be addressed in a timely fashion.

“Additionally, we are faced with determining whether the imposition of League discipline is appropriate for the Club’s senior leaders at the time who were specifically referenced in the Report. As to four of those individuals (i.e., John McDonough and Jay Blunk and, as of today, Stan Bowman and Al MacIsaac), they are no longer employed by the Chicago Blackhawks and are no longer employed in the League. Should they wish to re-enter the League in some capacity in the future, I will require a meeting with me in advance of their accepting any NHL Club-related position in order to determine the appropriate conditions under which such new employment might take place.”

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Beach comes forward, talks to TSN, Oct. 27, 2021

In an interview, Kyle Beach came forward as the victim in the case and spoke to TSN’s Rick Westhead about seeing Aldrich still with the team after Beach had gone to the club with his complaint.

“To be honest Rick, the only way I could describe it was that I felt sick, I felt sick to my stomach. I reported this and I was made aware that it made it all the way up the chain of command by ‘Doc’ (James) Gary and nothing happened. It was like his life was the same as the day before. Same every day. And then when they won, to see him paraded around lifting the Cup, at the parade, at the team pictures, at celebrations, it made me feel like nothing. It made me feel like I didn’t exist. It made me feel like, that I wasn’t important and…it made me feel like he was in the right and I was wrong. And that’s also what ‘Doc’ Gary told me, that it was my fault because I put myself in that situation. And the combination of these and him being paraded around, then letting him take the Stanley Cup to a high school with kids after they knew what had happened. There’re not words to describe it Rick, there really isn’t.”

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Asked why he was now coming forward, Beach said, “I wanted to come forward and put my name on this. To be honest, it’s already out there. The details were pretty accurate in the report, and it’s been figured out. More than that, I’ve been a survivor, I am a survivor. And I know I’m not alone. I know I’m not the only one, male or female. And I buried this for 10 years, 11 years. And it’s destroyed me from the inside out. And I want everybody to know in the sports world and in the world that you’re not alone. That if these things happen to you, you need to speak up. Because there is support systems like Sheldon Kennedy, like the U.S. gymnastics team, like USA Soccer, there is support systems. There is people that are with you. And I hope that this entire process can make a systematic change to make sure this never happens again.”

Quenneville resigns, October 29, 2021

Joel Quenneville, 63, resigned from his job as head coach of the Florida Panthers. He told a TSN reporter for that he was resigning with “deep regret and contrition.”

“I want to express my sorrow for the pain this young man, Kyle Beach, has suffered,” he told TSN. “My former team the Blackhawks failed Kyle and I own my share of that.

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“I want to reflect on how all of this happened and take the time to educate myself on ensuring hockey spaces are safe for everyone.”

Beach and Blackhawks reach settlement, December 15, 2021

The Chicago Blackhawks have settled a lawsuit with Kyle Beach, reported the Associated Press. After representatives for the Blackhawks and former first-round pick Kyle Beach met with a mediator for the first time, they announced that the session had resulted in a confidential settlement. “The Blackhawks hope that this resolution will bring some measure of peace and closure for Mr. Beach,” the team said in a statement attributed to owner Rocky Wirtz, son and team chairman Danny Wirtz, and Susan Loggans, Beach’s attorney.

NHL lifts suspension on Bowman, Quenneville, July 1, 2024

“For more than the last two and a half years, these individuals have been ineligible to work for any NHL team as a result of their inadequate response upon being informed in 2010 of allegations that Blackhawks’ Player, Kyle Beach, had been assaulted by the Club’s video coach,” the NHL said in a statement. “While it is clear that, at the time, their responses were unacceptable, each of these three individuals has acknowledged that and used his time away from the game to engage in activities which not only demonstrate sincere remorse for what happened, but also evidence greater awareness of the responsibilities that all NHL personnel have, particularly personnel who are in positions of leadership.

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“Moreover, each has made significant strides in personal improvement by participating in myriad programs, many of which focused on the imperative of responding in effective and meaningful ways to address alleged acts of abuse.”

That same day, the Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli said, “Bowman will become a top candidate for Oilers GM vacancy. Believe he was on Edmonton’s radar when Jeff Jackson was hired last summer though still ineligible then.”

And E.J. Hradek of NHL.com reported, “Expect Bowman to land in Edmonton. (London Knights exec) Mark Hunter might have a significant management role there as well. Time will tell.”

Daniel Nugent-Bowman of The Athletic reported, “Oilers CEO of hockey ops Jeff Jackson said he’s been so busy with free agency today that he hasn’t thought about Stan Bowman as it pertains to the team’s GM vacancy.”

Sheldon Kennedy’s support for Bowman, July 18

On July 18, former sexual assault victim Sheldon Kennedy spoke out about the work Stan Bowman has done during his suspension.

“I’ve always believed that regardless of how dire a situation may be, there is always some good that can emerge from it. This (Kyle Beach) incident was no exception,” Kennedy said, noting that Al MacIsaac, Joel Quenneville, and Stan Bowman had all contacted him after their suspensions and “wanted to learn more about the issues of sexual abuse and the critical role of bystanders in confronting and addressing maltreatment effectively.”

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Kennedy said he spoke at length with al three and he developed a frienship with Bowman. “I never knew Stan and had never spoken to him before, although he tells me we met in Detroit in my playing days… I was immediately struck by Stan’s genuine care and concern for Kyle, and what could have been done differently. During that period, we spoke almost daily about the seriousness of sexual abuse from the victim’s perspective. We didn’t talk about hockey at all. We focused on what went wrong, what he could have done differently and, most importantly, what could be done to prevent this from happening again.

“In my last 20 years of living sober and helping others struggling with addiction, what gives me the most hope is seeing people accept the truth, demonstrate a willingness to change and learn a better way, and acknowledge the impact their actions have on those around them. Stan exemplifies this to me. During our many conversations he took accountability for his actions and genuinely wanted to learn how to do better. His desire to acknowledge his mistakes and make amends with Kyle was sincere.

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“In my own case, and in the many incidents of abuse that I continue to see, there are bystanders present who, instead of stepping in to make things better, often make the situation worse for the victim through their inaction. Bystanders typically have fear and anxiety around intervening, even when their gut tells them something may be wrong. Too often it’s unclear where to seek help or even how to begin a conversation on the topic. We need to foster confidence, clarity, and a sense of ownership in this critical area. Stan understood this and agreed completely.

“Stan was approaching it as a guy suspended from his job because he could have done more. Stan’s acceptance, open mindedness, and understanding were huge difference makers in building this workshop. I was impressed with Stan’s insights, but more importantly, just how deeply he cared.

“Stan showed incredible leadership by helping craft the workshop curriculum, using his experience as a compelling real-life example, and facilitating the sessions along with a colleague from Chicago… Stan’s hockey experience had great credibility with the young players on these 3 teams, but his honest admission of what he could have done differently really resonated and had an immense impact. Stan spoke about how he personally should have been relentless in following up on every conversation and accusation, rather than trusting others to do so.

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“So why am I writing this piece? I believe Stan would be a valuable asset to an organization due to his acknowledgment of past mistakes and his relentless efforts to make the locker room/game safer for everyone. He possesses the insights, knowledge, and confidence needed to lead in this area. I feel building a strong and healthy culture within an organization and practicing it on an ongoing basis will be a top priority for Stan. I also believe Stan will carry this message within the hockey eco system, which can only help. Lastly and most importantly I feel that Stan will do everything in his power to make sure what happened to Kyle Beach (who is a hero in my opinion) will not happen to anyone else. I know that wherever Stan lands, whether in the game of hockey or not, he will be a true champion in the important area of Respect.”

My take

1. The testimony of Beach to Westhead and the testimony of Kennedy about Stan Bowman both hit hard.

2. As I see it, the primary culprit here is Aldrich. There is no close second.

3. That said, McDonough, the man in charge of the Blackhawks, needed to do far more than he did to quickly investigate this situation. Bowman and Quenneville are also culpable for not doing enough. It’s evident from Kennedy’s letter that Bowman now recognizes this.

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4. I’m glad Kyle Beach has found some semblance of justice.

5. Based on Kennedy’s letter and the work Bowman has done, as well as on the nature of Bowman’s role in this matter, I was OK with Bowman again being considered for a position in NHL management. And I’m OK with the Edmonton Oilers decision to hire him.

Bowman has been aggressively penalized, all the more so because his mistake has been so public. He’s served his sentence. He’s highly qualified to lead an NHL team. And based on Kennedy’s testimony, I would trust Bowman to make the right call should a situation similar to the Kyle Beach matter arise again.

Under certain circumstances, I’m open to people getting second chances. Stan Bowman meets that standard.

6. Craig MacTavish. Zack Kassian. Evander Kane. Corey Perry. Stan Bowman. The Edmonton Oilers are the team of second chances. It started with Glen Sather and has carried on. It’s in the organizational DNA. I’m good with that.

How do you see it?

Staples on politics

Danielle Smith defends ‘belching and farting’ as we hit peak absurdity in climate debate

Cows are seen grazing northwest of Calgary in 2022. Postmedia, file

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