An investigation that the NHL Players Association (NHLPA) independently commissioned has found no "individual wrongdoing or institutional failures of policy or procedure" by its executive director, Donald Fehr, or others in their handling of now-former Chicago Blackhawk Kyle Beach's allegations of sexual assault against then-video coach Brad Aldrich in 2010, ESPN reported.
The 20-page reviewshared by the NHLPA on its social media channels and created by Toronto-based law firm Cozen O'Connorfound there were breakdowns in miscommunication and misunderstanding in the process of the NHLPA's handling of Beach's allegations, but concluded there was no evidence of "any individual or systemic failure."
Cozen O'Connor stated the core disputes from the NHLPA's perspective were "sharply conflicting accounts" provided by Fehr and player agent Bob Gurney surrounding a conversation they had about Beach's allegations, and a conversation between Dr. Brian Shaw [a psychologist, and program administrator with the NHL/NHLPA player assistance program] and Beach.
Beach, a Blackhawks center prospect during 2009-13, first openly talked about the allegations in an interview on Canada's The Sports Network last Oct. 27, per The Chicago Tribune. Beachwho now plays pro hockey in Germany for the TecArt BlackDragonssaid of his alleged May 2010 encounter with Aldrich, "To be honest, I was scared, mostly. I was fearful. I had my career threatened. I felt alone and dark. And I didn't know what to do as a 20-year-old." He added that watching Aldrich remain with the team through the Stanley Cup playoffs and the championship celebration made him "sick to my stomach."
The Blackhawks have won six Stanley Cup championships: in 1933, 1937, 1961, 2010, 2013 and 2015