CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- In the aftermath of the sexual assault scandal involving the Chicago Blackhawks that cost careers and goodwill and millions of dollars, a former player, who’s a survivor of sexual abuse, himself, is focusing on helping victims.
Theo Fleury spent 15 seasons in the NHL ending his career with the Blackhawks.
“I’m a sexual abuse survivor. When I was, like from 14 to 16, I was raped by a coach 150 times over two-and-a-half-year period," he told CBS 2 in a candid interview.
He said he’s worked through the trauma over a period of years and is now a victim advocate helping others.
Fluery said the Blackhawks mishandled the sexual assault allegations by the young first round draft pick Kyle Beach against video coach Brad Aldrich from the start.
“They made mistakes at every turn,” he said. “I understand why they did it because they were on a run going to the Stanley Cup final and that would have been a huge distraction, but they should have removed that gentleman from access to the player immediately."
Fleury also said that sexual abuse is not necessarily a hockey problem but a societal one.
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