(670 The Score) Blackhawks president of hockey operations Stan Bowman has resigned following the completion of an investigation into allegations that former assistant coach Bradley Aldrich sexually assaulted a player in 2010.
Additionally, the NHL levied a $2-million fine against the Blackhawks for "inadequate procedures and mishandling" of the matter, the league said Tuesday.
Blackhawks chairman Rocky Wirtz, CEO Danny Wirtz and former federal prosecutor Reid Schar, who ran the investigation for Jenner & Block, held a briefing on Zoom on Tuesday afternoon to announce the findings of the investigation. During it, Danny Wirtz revealed that Bowman has left the organization.
Bowman was one of the senior executives -- along with then-president John McDonough -- and members of the organization who was informed of the sexual assault allegations toward Aldrich in May 2010, but the organization didn't act as it simultaneously was en route to winning the Stanley Cup on the ice.
“We and he ultimately accept that in his first year as general manager, he made a mistake alongside our other senior executives at the time and did not take adequate action in 2010," Danny Wirtz said of Bowman.
"It is clear that in 2010, the executives of this organization put team performance above all else. John Doe (the victim) deserves better from the Blackhawks.
"We deeply regret the harm caused to John Doe and the other individuals who were affected in our failures to promptly address these allegations as we became aware of them.
"As an organization, we extend our profound apologies to these individuals who suffered from the misconduct of our former employee. We must and will do better."
Jenner & Block interviewed 139 people as part of the investigation, including Aldrich and the alleged victim, Schar said. There was no evidence that Rocky Wirtz or Danny Wirtz knew about the sexual assault allegations until lawsuits were filed this past spring, Schar said, and they each said they weren't aware of the allegations.
Bowman had been with the Blackhawks since 2000 and was promoted to general manager in 2009. He was the architect of Stanley Cup championship teams in 2010, 2013 and 2015.
Bowman released a statement through the team following his resignation.
"Since joining the Blackhawks in 2000, I have been extremely grateful for the opportunities presented to me and proud of our accomplishments," Bowman said. "This organization, beginning with the Wirtz family, has been extraordinarily good to my family and to me. That is why today, after discussions with Rocky and Danny, I have decided to step aside. The team needs to focus on its future, and my continued participation would be a distraction. I think too much of this organization to let that happen.
"Eleven years ago, while serving in my first year as general manager, I was made aware of potential inappropriate behavior by a then-video coach involving a player. I promptly reported the matter to the then-president and CEO who committed to handling the matter. I learned this year that the inappropriate behavior involved a serious allegation of sexual assault. I relied on the direction of my superior that he would take appropriate action. Looking back, now knowing he did not handle the matter promptly, I regret assuming he would do so.
"I am confident that this organization and the Wirtz family will continue to do what it takes to win championships, with integrity and with the goal of doing what is right.
"I am deeply grateful to the Blackhawks for the chance to manage the team, to the players for their dedication and to the fans for their tremendous support over the years. It has been an honor to have been part of this incredible organization and to serve the best fans in hockey in the greatest city in the world. I will always cherish my time with the Chicago Blackhawks. On behalf of myself and my family, thank you."
Kyle Davidson will be the Blackhawks' interim general manager.
Two lawsuits were filed this past spring against the Blackhawks alleging wrongdoing by Aldrich. The first alleged that he sexually assaulted a player during the team’s Stanley Cup run in 2010. The other was filed by a former student whom Aldrich was convicted of assaulting in Michigan. Aldrich left the Blackhawks after the 2009-‘10 season.
A former player said Aldrich assaulted him and that the team did nothing after he informed an employee. The lawsuit, filed this past May 7 in Cook County Circuit Court, alleges Aldrich also assaulted another unidentified Blackhawks player. The former player who sued and is seeking more than $150,000 in damages is referred in the document as “John Doe.”
Then a video coach for the Blackhawks, Aldrich “turned on porn and began to masturbate in front of” the player without his consent, according to the eight-page lawsuit. It added Aldrich also threatened to “physically, financially and emotionally” hurt the player if he “did not engage in sexual activity” with him.
On Tuesday, Schar outlined what was found in Jenner & Block’s investigation into the sexual assault allegations and provided a timeline of the events.
On May 23, 2010, Blackhawks senior director of hockey administration Al MacIsaac was told by a team employee that there may have been a sexual encounter between Aldrich and the player identified as John Doe and that Aldrich had also sent a sexually explicit text message to another player.
MacIsaac dispatched Jim Gary, then the Blackhawks’ mental skills coach and team counselor, to speak with John Doe on what may have happened. John Doe shared the details in full of his encounter with Aldrich in speaking to Gary, saying Aldrich threatened to harm his career if he didn’t comply with his advances.
Within an hour of the Blackhawks winning Game 4 to clinch the Western Conference Final on May 23, a meeting was held between McDonough, Bowman, MacIsaac, Gary, coach Joel Quenneville, executive vice president Jay Blunk and assistant general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff, according to the Jenner & Block investigation. While accounts of the meeting varied, the group was informed of the allegations by John Doe.
“Several witnesses recalled and later told others about a discussion that then ensued during the meeting on whether the time was right to address the allegations against Aldrich in light of the ongoing playoffs,” Schar said. “One witness recalled that during the meeting, Mr. McDonough and Quenneville made comments about the challenge of getting to the Stanley Cup Finals and the desire to focus on the team and the 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 Mr. McDonough’s hands and another witness recalled that he would speak to John Doe. Mr. McDonough did nothing to address the allegations until June 14, after the playoffs were over, when he reported the information to the director of human resources.
“The failure to promptly and thorough investigate the matter and the decision to take no action from May 23 to June 14 had consequences.”
One consequence came after the Blackhawks won the Stanley Cup. Aldrich made an advance on a team intern, who was then 22, during the celebration on June 10. He was still allowed to take part in Stanley Cup victory events with members of the organization, including John Doe. He was also allowed by the Blackhawks to take the Stanley Cup home and received a championship ring.
Aldrich was given the option to undergo an investigation into the allegations or resign. He chose to resign, and the Blackhawks didn’t conduct an investigation.
MacIsaac also resigned Tuesday. After the resignations of Bowman and MacIsaac on Tuesday, each of the seven men who took part in that May 23, 2010 meeting are no longer with the organization. Quenneville is currently the head coach of the Panthers, while Cheveldayoff is general manager of the Winnipeg Jets. Both have denied knowledge of the allegations when the lawsuit was filed.
As for the two lawsuits that are still open, Danny Wirtz has instructed Blackhawks lawyers to reach a "fair resolution" through settlements, he said Tuesday.
Information from the Associated Press was used in this report.