Florida Panthers head coach Joel Quenneville resigned Thursday, days after he and others have been named in an unbiased investigation into the Chicago Blackhawks’ mishandling of a 2010 sexual assault allegation.
Quenneville was head coach of the Blackhawks when a participant mentioned he was sexually assaulted by then-video coach Brad Aldrich in 2010.
Kyle Seashore recognized himself because the “John Doe” within the 107-page report by regulation agency Jenner & Block, saying he hopes talking out will assist different abuse survivors.
The investigation, made public Tuesday, discovered that Blackhawks administration didn’t wish to take any rapid motion in opposition to Aldrich as a result of the group was within the midst of a playoff run, which ended with the membership successful the Stanley Cup.
Quenneville, the second-winningest coach in NHL historical past, resigned from the Panthers after a gathering Thursday with the league commissioner, the Panthers and the league mentioned.
“Joel made the choice to resign and the Florida Panthers accepted that resignation,” Panthers President and CEO Matt Caldwell mentioned in an announcement.
Quenneville is the newest particular person named within the report to depart their place.
Blackhawks normal supervisor Stan Bowman introduced Tuesday that he was stepping apart, and NBC Chicago reported that Al MacIsaac, the group’s senior vp of hockey operations, was relieved of his duties.
Quenneville in an announcement to Toronto-based sports network TSN introduced his resignation “with deep remorse and contrition.”
“I wish to specific my sorrow for the ache this younger man, Kyle Seashore, has suffered. My former group. the Blackhawks, failed Kyle, and I personal my share of that,” Quenneville mentioned. “I wish to replicate on how all of this occurred and take the time to teach myself on making certain hockey areas are secure for everybody.”
Seashore had been introduced up from the minor leagues as a backup through the Blackhawk’s 2010 Stanley Cup playoffs when Aldrich allegedly sexually assaulted him, in line with the report.
He knowledgeable the group, however senior Blackhawks workers didn’t take rapid overt motion in opposition to Aldrich, in line with the report.
“Nobody ought to ever must endure what Kyle Seashore skilled throughout, and lengthy after, his time in Chicago. Fairly merely, he was failed,” Caldwell mentioned. “We reward his bravery and braveness in coming ahead.”
NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman mentioned Thursday that he admired Seashore’s braveness for coming ahead, including that he was “appalled” by the best way his preliminary declare was dealt with. He apologized “for all he has endured,” in an announcement tweeted by the league.
Aldrich didn’t return messages from NBC Information in search of remark earlier Thursday, and his lawyer declined to remark. Based on the report, Aldrich didn’t deny {that a} sexual encounter with the participant occurred, however he contended that it was consensual.
Quenneville joined the Panthers as head coach in 2019 after a 10-year tenure as head coach of the Blackhawks throughout which the group gained three Stanley Cup championships. He was fired after the group did not make the playoffs in 2018 and after a collection of losses.
Andrew Brunette, an assistant coach, has been employed as Panthers interim coach, The Related Press reported.
