[Titan2]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

The report actually doesn't say if players knew at the time. Toews says he heard about it the next season. Hossa says he didn't know. Kane said he heard locker room rumours (I assume the next season as well). I don't think anything says that players knew there was a sexual assault and did not report it at the time.

The whole point of Quenneville's inaction recommendation was to prevent the team from knowing until after the POs.

I spent the morning reading every word of the report. My comments spoilered as they are text wally.

Spoiler!

I have now read the entire report. Based on its contents, which I understand are the only investigation of any type into this incident, I conclude the following:

1. Aldrich is definitely a criminal, and I am glad he ended up in jail for a different offence.
2. The Blackhawk management ####e up. However, it is at the feet of President John McDonough and Sr. Director of Hockery Operations Al MacIsaad, to a lesser degree.
3. The allegation was brought to MacIsaac in a timely manner. He informed McDonough who directed him to have the team counsellor look into it, which he did in a timely manner.
4. Senior management met to discuss the allegations an hour after their third-round victory on May 23.
5. In this meeting Q stated he wanted to focus on the playoffs. That was the extent of his input.
6. Material or not, Beach and the other player were black aces and not on the roster. Black Aces are largely kept away from the team during the playoffs.
7. Bowman took the allegations seriously, as did everyone in the Sr. Mgmt. meeting.
8. Bowman states that he either heard or understood that McDonough would handle the situation.
9. The Blackhawks proceeded to win the Stanley Cup.
10. Aldrich was allowed to continue his invovlement with the team and even got to host the Stanley Cup for a day.
11. On June 14 McDonough told the Director of HR about the allegation.
12. On June 16 she met with Aldrich and outside counsel. When confronted Aldrich broke down. The Dir. of HR told him he could take a leave of absence while they investigated or he could resign.
13. He chose to resign, was paid until August 31, received severance and his playoof bonus.
14. McDonough, MacIsaac and Q. were not involved in the discussions regarding his termination.
15. The other player reported that at training camp one player called him a ###### and asked how he liked the blowjob.
16. Beach states that at training camp he heard several derogatory comments, "After the 2010 Stanley Cup win, John Doe continued to be under contract with the Blackhawks and played for the Rockford IceHogs. During the summer of 2010 and the 2010-2011 pre-season and regular season, John Doe had several additional conversations with Jim Gary and recalled being subjected to rumors and derogatory comments.644 When interviewed, Gary recalled that at the September 2010 Blackhawks training camp, he told John Doe that he could help find John Doe a therapist unaffiliated with the Blackhawks.645 Gary recalled that John Doe did not seem interested in Gary’s suggestion.o, 646 John Doe recalled that during the training camp, multiple players called John Doe derogatory words and asked if John Doe missed “his boyfriend Brad.”647 None of the players interviewed during our investigation admitted to making or hearing about these or similar statements."
17. There is no information indicating that the leadership group knew about the allegations at the time or afterward. Some players indicated "everyone knew" but no players confirmed this or their knowledge.
18. The only allegations about derogatory statements occured at training camp. There is no indication Beach ever skated with any of the roster players.

My conclusions:

1. Re the players. There is no indication that any of the roster players knew about the situation in May 2010 or in the following training camp. They may have heard rumours but there is nothing indicating they did or did not.

2. Re management. For the most part management appeared to conduct themselves appropriately. When the allegations were first raised management directed Gary, the counsellor, to look into it. He did and when he was satisfied the allegations had merit, he took them to Sr. Mgmt. Sr. Mgmt. met in a timely manner to discuss it. McDonough and Q. were concerned about a distration from the team's playoff run. The meeting concluded with the impression that McDonough would handle it. On June 14 he raised the issue with the Dir. of HR and she took over conduct of the matter which resulted in his termination. She did not conduct an official investigation but accepted the resignation and allowed him to participate in team events. She did not inform police.

McDonough breached team policy by failing to investigate in a timely manner. The Dir. of HR breached team policy by not conducting an investigation and she should have removed him from team activities immediately.

Other than that, I don't think anyone deserves blame in this situation, including Bowman, Q, or any of the roster players. I would certainly listen to anyone who has contrary evidence, but it appears to me this has been blown WAY out of proportion.

Again, Aldrich is a predatory scum. McDonough delayed taking action for three weeks. The Dir. of HR, made some bad calls. That is all I see that the 'evidence' supports.