Stan Bowman steps down as Chicago GM after review of sex assault allegations against assistant coach
Former player claimed he was assaulted in 2010 by a then-video coach of NHL team
Stan Bowman, GM and president of hockey operations for Chicago's NHL team, resigned Tuesday after an investigation commissioned by the team found he was among a group of leaders who failed to respond promptly to allegations that an assistant coach sexually assaulted a player in 2010.
Chicago hired the law firm Jenner & Block to conduct what the team called an independent review in response to two lawsuits filed against the franchise: one alleging sexual assault by then-assistant coach Brad Aldrich during the team's Stanley Cup run in 2010 and another filed by a former student whom Aldrich was convicted of assaulting in Michigan.
Team CEO Danny Wirtz called the report "both disturbing and difficult to read," and the NHL fined the team $2 million US for mishandling the accusations.
Bowman said he was stepping aside because he didn't want to be a distraction for the team.
"Eleven years ago, while serving in my first year as general manager, I was made aware of potential inappropriate behaviour by a then-video coach involving a player," he said in a statement released by the team. "I promptly reported the matter to the then-[team] president and CEO who committed to handling the matter.
"I learned this year that the inappropriate behaviour 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."
WATCH | GM Stan Bowman resigns amid team's sexual assault allegation saga:
Bowman also stepped down as general manager for the 2022 Beijing Olympic American men's hockey team in wake of the investigation.
Former federal prosecutor Reid Schar, who ran the investigation, said Tuesday that Bowman, former team president John McDonough, hockey operations executive Al MacIsaac, former executive vice president Jay Blunk and then-assistant general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff met with then-coach Joel Quenneville and mental skills coach Jim Gary to discuss the allegations in May 2010.
Sentenced to 9 months
Schar said accounts of the meeting "vary significantly."
"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," Schar said.
Quenneville is the head coach of the Florida Panthers and Cheveldayoff is the GM of the Winnipeg Jets. The Panthers declined to comment, citing NHL commissioner Gary Bettman's plans to meet with Quenneville. There was no immediate word from the Jets on Cheveldayoff's status. Bettman said he would "reserve judgment."
Cheveldayoff had said in a statement released by the Jets in July he "had no knowledge of any allegations involving Mr. Aldrich until asked if I was aware of anything just prior to the conclusion of his employment with Chicago.
"After confirming that I had no prior knowledge of anything, I had no further involvement."
Aldrich left Chicago 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 May 7 in Cook County Circuit Court, alleges Aldrich also assaulted another unidentified Chicago player. The former player who sued and is seeking more than $150,000 in damages is referred in the document as "John Doe."
In a statement released through his attorney, Susan Loggans, John Doe said he was "grateful for the accountability" shown by Chicago.
"Although nothing can truly change the detriment to my life over the past decade because of the actions of one man inside the [Chicago] organization, I am very grateful to have the truth be recognized, and I look forward to continuing the long journey to recovery," he said.
According to the report, the encounter between Doe, then 20, and Aldrich, then 27, occurred on May 8 or 9 in 2010. Doe told investigators it was not consensual, and Aldrich said it was.
On May 23, right after Chicago advanced to the Stanley Cup Final, Bowman, MacIsaac, McDonough, Blunk and Cheveldayoff met with Quenneville and mental skills coach Jim Gary to discuss the allegations.
Schar said accounts of the meeting "vary significantly."
"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," Schar said.
Incident overlooked
According to the report, Bowman recalled that, after learning of the incident, Quenneville shook his head and said it was hard for the team to get to where it was, and they could not deal with this issue now.
The report found no evidence of any investigation or contact with human resources before McDonough informed the then-director of human resources about the allegations on June 14 — a delay that violated the team's sexual harassment policy and had "consequences," according to Schar.
"During that period, Aldrich continued to work with and travel with the team," Schar said. "On June 10th, during an evening of celebration after the [team's] Stanley Cup win the previous day, Aldrich made an unwanted sexual advance towards a [Chicago] intern, who was 22 years old at the time.
"Also after the Stanley Cup win, Aldrich continued to participate in celebrations in the presence of John Doe, who had made the complaint."
While announcing in July that he would participate in the team's probe, Quenneville said in a statement that he "first learned of these allegations through the media earlier this summer."
The eight-page lawsuit says Aldrich, then a video coach for the team who broke down and analyzed game film for the rest of the coaching staff and players, "turned on porn and began to masturbate" in front of the player without his consent. It says Aldrich also threatened to "physically, financially and emotionally" hurt the player if he "did not engage in sexual activity" with him.
Aldrich was sentenced to nine months in prison for the Michigan assault.
With files from CBC Sports
