Blackhawks GM Stan Bowman under investigation!
A former member of the 2010 Stanley Cup winning team has accused former video coach Brad Aldrich of sexual abuse, with additional reports from former players that the entire team was aware of the abuse.
The scandal began when reports surfaced earlier this year that team video coach Brad Aldrich «turned on porn and began masturbating in front of» an unidentified player in May 2010. According to the report, Aldrich also threatened to harm the player «physically, financially, and emotionally» if he «did not engage in sexual activity» with the coach. The player allegedly reported the incident to the team's mental skills coach, James F. Gary.
The player's lawsuit alleges that the Blackhawks not only did nothing to stop the abuse reported by a former player last month, but even gave Aldrich a positive reference letter.
The Hawks have launched an independent investigation into the matter, the results of which will be made public. Army of Survivors, an advocacy group, is calling for Bowman to resign as General Manager of Team USA at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics. The group formed in the wake of the Larry Nasser sexual abuse scandal. The group has asked Bowman to step down from Team USA until he is cleared of covering up Aldrich's abuse.
On Friday, TSN's Rick Westhead reported that a lawyer for a former Chicago Blackhawks player, Susan Loggans, has asked the US Center for SafeSport to investigate Bowman for allegedly covering up two former Blackhawks players' sexual abuse.
�'As you know, Loggans wrote in her email, «I represent two sexual assault victims who were attacked by [former Blackhawks video coach] Brad Aldrich. I am officially requesting an investigation into a coverup of these sexual assaults by Stan Bowman, an NHL team official who also holds a position of major influence with USA Hockey.»
«Have you considered whether Mr. Bowman should be placed on administrative leave from USA Hockey unless and until he's cleared by a truly independent investigation as opposed to not one commissioned and paid for by the Blackhawks?» Loggans wrote as well.
Bowman has been the Blackhawks' general manager since 2009. It remains to be seen what happens for his role with the American team at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, but also what the heck NHL? What about his role with the Hawks?
