Hockey’s toxic culture is on display once again.
Editor’s note: This story contains mentions of sexual assault. Please proceed with caution.
Nothing about the revelations made public from the Chicago Blackhawks organization on Tuesday should be a shock for anyone who follows the NHL. Disgusting? Yes. Horrifying? Absolutely. Shameful and pathetic? One hundred percent. Shocking? No, not if you’ve been paying any attention to hockey for any length of time.
On Tuesday, the Blackhawks shared the findings of law firm Jenner & Block’s independent investigation into sexual assault allegations made against former video coach Brad Aldrich during the team’s Stanley Cup run in 2010. Two lawsuits were filed against Aldrich which alleged that he sexually assaulted a former player in May 2010, received a positive reference letter from the organization upon his departure, then went on to sexually assault a high school player in 2013.
Due to the report, Chicago general manager Stan Bowman has stepped aside from his role, and has vacated his position as the GM of the 2022 U.S. Olympic Men’s Ice Hockey Team. Other organizational members remaining from 2010 — including Al MacIsaac, senior vice president of hockey operations — have left the team as well. The NHL is also fining the Blackhawks organization $2 million “for the organization’s inadequate internal procedures and insufficient and untimely response” on the matter.
This has been, without a doubt, the biggest scandal the NHL has seen in its modern history. And we’ve seen many in recent years, from Mike Babcock’s alleged verbal abuse against former players to Bill Peters allegedly using racial slurs against Akim Aliu. Hockey culture has always been rotten to the core, and this incident is yet another reminder that this suffering and hate is what our favorite sport has been built upon.
And it sucks! It really, truly does. Not just from a hockey fan perspective, but, first and foremost, for the countless victims of hockey culture who have had their lives irrevocably changed by the toxic cesspool that encompasses every part of this sport. The institution of hockey has failed these people and continues to do so with every passing day.
This is a sport — a game!! — after all. We watch people put knives on their feet and skate around on a slippery surface for our enjoyment. I, like many of you reading this, love hockey! But, it does not love us back — and never has.
Far smarter people than I have written and talked about what we as hockey fans and those of us in the media can do to supplant this culture of toxicity. Holding the people responsible accountable, speaking out against injustices, and lobbying for more oversight of those in charge is just the beginning for how we can start to bring about change.
And this Blackhawks scandal isn’t over by a long shot either. Specifically due to the investigation naming former Chicago head coach — and current Florida Panthers head coach — Joel Quenneville and former assistant general manager — and current Winnipeg Jets general manager — Kevin Cheveldayoff as two people in the know of the incident.
Earlier in the summer, both Quenneville and Cheveldayoff stated in public record that they had no knowledge of the allegations against Aldrich. The report released on Tuesday, however, names them both as being present in a meeting discussing the allegations within the hour of the Blackhawks advancing to the 2010 Stanley Cup Final.
NHL commissioner Gary Bettman has stated that he will meet with both Quenneville and Cheveldayoff in due time to discuss their roles in the events, but both should be fired from their respective teams. The Blackhawks entire front office knew of the allegations against Aldrich, but said nothing as to not disrupt team chemistry ahead of the team’s first Stanley Cup win in 49 years.
This entire scandal is shameful and embarrassing from every angle. Staying silent to protect team chemistry while a young player was suffering is inexcusable and a horrific neglect of a duty of care.
There is no punishment severe enough for the Blackhawks organization to make up for the trauma these victims have faced. Though the Blackhawks have cleaned house and the NHL has fined the team — $1 million fewer than the league fined the New Jersey Devils for circumvention when signing Ilya Kovalchuk, by the way — nothing will be able to repair what has been lost.
It’s hard to say any justice was done here in a 12-year-old case where the punishments and consequences only came after the Stanley Cup celebrations have ended and the confetti has all but dissipated on the Blackhawks’ dynasty. And that, unfortunately, is hockey culture at its finest.
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