UPD: Oct. 29, 2021 – 2:00 p.m.
The General Manager of the Winnipeg Jets won’t face disciplinary actions for his role in the Blackhawks sex assault scandal.
Kevin Cheveldayoff was the Assistant General Manager when former top prospect Kyle Beach brought forward allegations against then-video coach Brad Aldrich.
NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said Cheveldayoff didn’t have the authority to direct the club’s response in any way, or even the information to know the full scope of what was happening behind the scenes.
“While on some level, it would be easiest to paint everyone with any association to this terrible matter with the same broad brush, I believe that fundamental fairness requires a more in-depth analysis of the role of each person,” he said. “Cheveldayoff was not a member of the Blackhawks senior leadership team in 2010, and I cannot, therefore, assign to him responsibility for the Club’s actions, or inactions.”
Bettman said Cheveldayoff gave a full and honest account of his involvement, which was limited to a single meeting most of the senior staff didn’t even remeber him attending.
He said Cheveldayoff was among the last to be included in the meeting; he was learning about the assault for the first time in the presence of his boss, then-GM Stan Bowman, his boss’ boss, then-CEO John McDonough, and Head Coach Joel Quenneville.
Bettman said Cheveldayoff was not more than an observer and believed the matter was to be investigated.
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The head coach of the Florida Panthers is calling it quits amid the NHL sexual abuse case.
Joel Quenneville resigned on Thursday.
Former Blackhawks top prospect Kyle Beach came out publicly this week saying he filed the lawsuit against the team.
It alleges the higher-ups mishandled his sexual assault allegations against then-video coach Brad Aldrich in 2010 when the team was on a Stanley Cup run.
Antigonish native Al MacIsaac has also stepped aside, along with General Manager Stan Bowman.
With files from Skye Bryden-Blom and Jack Morse.
