Former Chicago Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville and two executives were cleared to return to work in the NHL on Monday after a near three-year absence from the sport for their mishandling of sexual assault allegations.
Quenneville, Stan Bowman and Al MacIsaac have been unable to work in the NHL since October 2021 after what the league called “a result of their inadequate response upon being informed in 2010 of allegations that Chicago Blackhawks player Kyle Beach had been assaulted by the team’s video coach.”
Then-player Beach said he was sexually assaulted by video coach Brad Aldrich.
An investigation launched by the Blackhawks found team officials mishandled allegations raised by Beach in 2010 during the club’s run to its first Stanley Cup crown since 1961, one that began a run of three Cups in six seasons.
They were found not to have wanted to act against Aldrich because of the disruption it could cause for a team making a run at a championship.
Quenneville, the 2010 Blackhawks coach, resigned as coach of the Florida Panthers following the 2021 probe.
Blackhawks general manager and hockey operations president Bowman resigned and MacIsaac, a top team executive, was fired and the team was fined $2 million by the NHL.
Following Monday’s reinstatement, any of the three can now sign contracts with NHL clubs after July 10, although talks on a deal can begin immediately, an NHL statement said.
“While it’s 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,” the NHL statement said.
“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.
“The league expects that they will continue this commitment in any future capacity with the NHL and/or one of our clubs.”
Quenneville, who is 969-572 with 150 overtime losses and 77 ties, ranks second behind Scotty Bowman’s record 1,244 on the all-time coaching wins list.
In addition to winning three Stanley Cups with Chicago, Quenneville has coached for St. Louis, Colorado and Florida, resigning seven games into the 2021-22 campaign.
There is speculation Bowman might be a candidate for a vacant general manager job with the Edmonton Oilers, who lost to Florida in this year’s Stanley Cup Final.
The Columbus Blue Jackets have the only coaching vacancy in the NHL.
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