Topline
A second former Chicago Blackhawks player has sued the team for allegedly ignoring his reports that video coach Brad Aldrich groomed, threatened, harassed and assaulted him when he joined the team during its run to the 2010 Stanley Cup win, allegations the team dodged in a statement to ESPN, claiming “numerous positive improvements” have been made since similar allegations first surfaced in 2021.
A Chicago Blackhawks’ flag is flown at U.S. Cellular Field during the Chicago White Sox’s game … [+]
Key Facts
A lawsuit filed in a Chicago circuit court last week claims Aldrich, who resigned in 2010, targeted and sexually harassed an unnamed former member of the “Black Aces”—a group of team prospects who could play at the NHL level in the case of an injury or suspension—until he left the franchise to play hockey in Europe.
The player, identified in the suit only as John Doe, claims Aldrich would touch and rub against him, offer to pay for him to receive sexual favors if Aldrich could watch, offer him oral sex and send him nude photos, all while threatening his career if he reported the interactions.
Aldrich is not named as a plaintiff in the suit and could not be reached by Forbes Monday.
The lawsuit claims 15 counts of negligence against the Blackhawks—the player says he reported the treatment by Aldrich to the team and that the organization’s leaders avoided any action until after the Stanley Cup final as to not “affect the team chemistry.”
The lawsuit alleges six counts of negligence, infliction of emotional distress, violations of the gender violence act and willful and wanton conduct on behalf of the Chicago Blackhawks team, and seeks compensatory damages “in excess” of $50,000 per count.
Former Blackhawk Kyle Beach was the first to file a lawsuit against the team, accusing it of ignoring sexual assault allegations against Aldrich in the 2010 playoffs, and it was confidentially settled in 2021.
The Blackhawks said in a statement Forbes that it would not comment on pending litigation but that it has “implemented numerous positive improvements” since Beach’s lawsuit and has worked to “ensure the safety and wellbeing of our players and employees.”
Crucial Quote
“As is common with survivors of sexual assault, it has taken this player some time to come to grips with what happened, and to prepare to advocate for himself with those responsible,” Doe’s attorney, Antonio M. Romanucci, said in a statement.
The engraved listing of the champion Chicago Blackhawks team for the 2009-10 season includes Brad … [+]
Key Background
Beach anonymously filed a lawsuit in 2021 against the team but later came forward to identify himself as the plaintiff. His lawsuit was very similar to Doe’s most recent allegations and claimed he felt “scared” and “alone” after an assault that happened weeks after he joined the team as a Black Ace—around the same time as Doe. Beach claimed Jim Gary, the team’s former mental skills coach, told him the assault was his fault because he “put himself in that situation.” Beach’s claims kicked off an independent review of the Blackhawk’s handling of the allegations that led to longtime general manager Stan Bowman’s resignation. When Beach revealed he had made the claims, the Blackhaws released a statement very similar to the one reported by ESPN on Monday, claiming it had “implemented numerous changes and improvements” and has hired a “new leadership team” that will follow “the highest ethical, professional, and athletic standards.”
Big Number
$2 million. That’s how much the Blackhawks were fined by the NHL after the independent review found “inadequate internal procedures and insufficient and untimely response” by the team.
Tangent
Aldrich resigned from his position as a Blackhawks coach in 2010 and three years later pleaded guilty to criminal sexual conduct with a 16-year-old high school hockey player he’d previously coached. He served nine months in prison, was on probation for five years and was required to register as a sex offender in the state of Michigan, according to law firm who filed the suit Monday, Romanucci & Blandin.
Further Reading
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/maryroeloffs/2023/11/06/another-blackhawks-player-says-former-coach-sexually-assaulted-him-and-alleges-team-covered-it-up/