Kevin Cheveldayoff will not have to pay for decisions made by the Chicago Blackhawks in 2010, when allegations of sexual assault against then video coach Brad Aldrich surfaced.
Cheveldayoff, now general manager of the Winnipeg Jets, was assistant to GM Stan Bowman during the 2010 series, ultimately won by the same Blackhawks.
The position he held at the time is the primary reason for the NHL’s ruling on Friday.
“Cheveldayoff was not a senior member of the team’s staff in 2010,” wrote Commissioner Gary Bettman in a statement. I cannot therefore make him bear the responsibility for the actions, or inactions, taken by the club. He explained the degree of his involvement in the affair, and it boiled down exclusively to his presence in one meeting. I found him credible and cooperative during our discussion. ”
During our investigation, most of the participants present at this meeting of May 23, 2010 did not initially remember that Cheveldayoff was even present.
Gary Bettman, NHL Commissioner, in a statement
“As an assistant to the general manager at the time, Cheveldayoff reported directly to Stan Bowman,” adds Bettman. He was at the lowest end of the staff ladder in the room. ”
According to the report unveiled by the Blackhawks on Tuesday, Brad Aldrich would have sexually assaulted a player of the organization during this spring 2010. This player was Kyle Beach: he was revealed publicly on Wednesday in an interview with TSN.
PHOTO FROM A TSN VIDEO
Kyle Beach during interview with reporter Rick Westhead on TSN
Several members of the staff of the Blackhawks had decided to cover the case, the time to complete the NHL playoffs.
Then head coach Joel Quenneville resigned his job with the Florida Panthers on Thursday. Stan Bowman, GM in Chicago in 2010, also left office, both for the Blackhawks and for the US Olympic team.
The Jenner & Block firm had a mandate to conduct an independent investigation into the Windy City franchise following the filing of two lawsuits against it. Kyle Beach, whose identity was then anonymous, and a former student of Aldrich, Michigan, were the perpetrators of the accusations.
The law firm had concluded on Tuesday that the Blackhawks staff was aware of the allegations against Aldrich, but that no action had been taken to help the victims.