[News] Kyle Beach reveals himself as John Doe, speaks out to TSN's Rick Westhead about abuse

[GioforPM]

From Keith's presser:

Nugent-Bowman: Were you interviewed by Jenner and Block?

Keith: No.

Man, there is an obvious followup. "Were you asked".

Keith also claimed the organization basically lied about why Aldrich wasn't there any more.

[Patek23]

Originally Posted by CorsiHockeyLeague

... No.

No, I can say with some certainty that that would not be the first question I would ask in this circumstance.

That's not the case for everyone.

2010 version of me would still say things like "that's gay", make gay jokes to my friends. Likely would have thought it preposterous that such a large man could be taken advantage of by a much smaller man.

2021 version of myself has learned many new things. I've learned things I thought and said before were offensive even if I didn't mean them in that way. I've learned that having power over someone doesn't just mean physically.

And ultimately that's my biggest issue with the players like Toews, Kane etc. They were young kids at the time. Speaking out could of cost them their standing as well and they likely were in the same 2010 mindset I was. But now is the time to say they were wrong. That it was unacceptable and they are sorry for what happened. Instead, it's deflection and speaking highly of the men who ultimately were involved in covering it up.

The path for redemption was easy and right in front of them and they chose not to take it. For me, that tarnished their reputation.

[Yamer]

Originally Posted by metroneck

Not sure what makes my blood boil about this more... The assault, the way Kyle's Team treated him initially, or how members of the original leadership group are responding now.

I trully believe people deserve the chance to atone for their mistakes

Quenneville? You really are not a good human being.

Toews? You were, and are, the leader in that room. Man up and be accountable.

Keith and the Oilers Broadcast Apparatus? Not only was that stunt completely unnecessary and self serving, the 'Had Keith known' narrative at this point, is probably the most disgusting thing of all.

Allowing and actually actively perpetuating assault by recommending the abuser for work outside of the organization is right at the top of my list for outrage.

The group that covered this all up is responsible for much, much more than Kyle Beach and any unnamed or outstanding victims within the Blackhawks system.

[calumniate]

Agreed with derek Sutton (somewhat tentatively) that alot of these players were just kids. That's why management was such a massive failure and is why they need to be held accountable.

On that note, being 6'3 230 does not make you invincible to mental health issues and trauma. My heart goes out to Kyle

[Makarov]

Originally Posted by Derek Sutton

Well I'm probably about to get lit up for this, but there's some background to this that certainly had to have been taken into account at the time.

All the posters just hammering on every player on the team is non sense. Most of these players were just still kids themsleves. 10 or more years ago, how often as a teenager or new employee did you remained silent when something happened that shouldn't've , maybe it wasn't considered a big deal, or you were too scared to say anything, or unable stop anything. How many times have one of you stood by as somebody was bullied, or worse assaulted, too shy, too afraid, not knowing what to do, who to turn to or what should be done? Elliot Freidman is speaking about this right now on the Jeff Marek show.

Fair comment, but those players are all veterans now, have had time to reflect back on their actions and the organization's action, and they have, with their comments over the past 24 hours, demonstrated a total lack of understanding, empathy, and accountability. They are, and should be, criticized for that.

Originally Posted by Derek Sutton

It is also very believable that the players could not see how this was an assault. Beach was 6'3" 220 while the creep was just 5'8" 150. "How can someone that much smaller then you assault you?" Wouldn't this be the first question you'd ask yourself? I also believe, based on Kyle Beach's junior past, all involved had reason to doubt Beach's story. He joined the Blackhawks with a reputation for poor on ice and off ice behavior, he fell to where he did in the draft for reasons. The Kyle Beach stories arrived in Chicago long before Kyle Beach arrived in Chicago, Kyle Beach was "hockey culture". I have to think being known as a trouble maker would've casted the most doubt in the players minds as to what really happened.

https://www.pressreader.com/canada/t...82368330251457

In my opinion, this demonstrates a total lack of understanding of what sexual assault is, how it happens, and why it happens. Sexual assault is about power disparity. Power can be physical power, but far more often it is about financial, social, or organizational power.

Your theory that players might have thought Beach was making false allegations regarding the sexual assault is simply incoherent? Even if we presume that Beach was motivated to just "cause trouble" for the organization (that he was trying to play for and be paid millions of dollars by), just for the sake of causing trouble, why on earth would he choose to do so by inventing a sexual assault? Disclosing sexual assault is one of the most difficult, painful, and personally damaging thing that a person can do (especially in these circumstances).

[Drunk Uncle]

Not adding anything that hasn't been said but I need to vent about this.

The Beach interview hit me hard and while this occurred in the hockey world, I think this is a culture issue not just a hockey culture or gender issue. This type of thing is commonplace. Heck, it's happened at multiple companies I've been at and I know multiple people that have experienced something similar.

What is hard to comprehend when you hear high level details or secondhand accounts of these events is how damaging this type of thing can be for the survivor. Beach's interview drove home just how much damage and trauma this causes. The painful recounts, the raw emotion 11 years later, the feelings bubbling up like the assault happened yesterday and the apologies for things which he had no accountability: it was really powerful, important and courageous.

After the interview I found the Schar report and read through most of it. After reading the report two things floated for me. Wow Quenneville. He prioritized winning over sexual assault. He was recognized by a few as the most vocal person in the review about this being a distraction to winning the cup. McDonough is a POS. You are the f'n most senior person in the room, who with authority, chose not to follow your own company policy (Human Resources is under your umbrella for f's sake) and instead you waited to report this. I've seen these investigations take less than a week. Aldrich should have been terminated before the finals started.

Add HR to the list who after the fact: didn't perform the investigation you perform every f'n time. It robbed Beach of the opportunity for counselling and support he needed. It's no wonder that Beach felt completely alone in this with is career/dream under duress.

Bowman, Chevy, Gary, Blunk, MacIsaac: You take this to HR if you don't see action from McDonough. I think there is a world where they may have felt that reporting this to HR would have negative repercussions their careers, especially when you leader doesn't do anything about the allegations. However, you f'n still report it. Your silence is just as big of an issue.

The players in interviews after the fact: sorry but the lack of empathy coming from former players to Beach is unbelievable. Kane "I knew nothing" but don't really feel sorry for the guy is gross. Toews same thing. Seriously, "the Stanley Cup chase is all consuming"? Go f yourself. Not for one moment have any of the players acknowledged the level of trauma Beach incurred from this. If you don't know anything the reaction is "I wish I had known more and done more about it at the time. It's clear that we weren't there for Beach to support him in a time of need and had I known more I would have supported him in a heartbeat". Thing is they can't say that because IMO they all knew regardless of what they are trying to say now.

I hate this whole thing. I hate Aldrich most of all, there is no trauma without him, but I also hate how the Blackhawks have handled this. I hate how the players have handled this. I hate the statements that have come out about this. The collective of everything demonstrates that they have learned nothing and to me that is the absolute worst part. The Blackhawks players, coaches and management’s actions delayed the start Beach's healing process for 11 years and enabled Aldrich to continue sexually assaulting individuals.

Sadly, the individuals involved don’t understand the trauma their lack of actions have caused. The real justice would be getting everyone involved to a place where they can empathize with Beach's emotional state and how their actions or lack there of led to it. I don't see that coming through league punishments and firings.

Actually, I don't see that coming at all, which I also hate.

[TheIronMaiden]

Truth is, in a few months everyone will have moved on but Beach, there will be no retribution and resolution, and beach like so many other victims of sexual assault will continue to pick up the pieces to keep his life together. I hope that he has built a strong support system and can live a happy peaceful life.

[FlamesAddiction]

Regarding the players at the time, I can understand how the environment they were in sows homophobia and toxic masculinity. I can also see how in environments like that, you are often either a victim of the mob, or part of it. For that reason, I can understand why doing the right thing in the moment was a difficult test to pass.

What is disappointing is that they have all grown up now and have had a decade to reflect on things, and still seem to be making excuses and downplaying things. By participating in the investigation and owning their mistakes, they were offered an opportunity for redemption, yet many have not accepted that opportunity (except for Sopel and Boynton, so good on them).

[Derek Sutton]

Originally Posted by Makarov

Fair comment, but those players are all veterans now, have had time to reflect back on their actions and the organization's action, and they have, with their comments over the past 24 hours, demonstrated a total lack of understanding, empathy, and accountability. They are, and should be, criticized for that.



In my opinion, this demonstrates a total lack of understanding of what sexual assault is, how it happens, and why it happens. Sexual assault is about power disparity. Power can be physical power, but far more often it is about financial, social, or organizational power.

Your theory that players might have thought Beach was making false allegations regarding the sexual assault is simply incoherent? Even if we presume that Beach was motivated to just "cause trouble" for the organization (that he was trying to play for and be paid millions of dollars by), just for the sake of causing trouble, why on earth would he choose to do so by inventing a sexual assault? Disclosing sexual assault is one of the most difficult, painful, and personally damaging thing that a person can do (especially in these circumstances).

I agree with all of this, however we are discussing 21- 24 year old hockey players, not a lot of intellect and rational thought in that group.

They all have to be fearful of the consequences should they come forward now, be it there own career or one of the coaches.

[djsFlames]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

Rick Westhead is ruthless in the best way.

Also this whole thing has really made me appreciate the way the Flames handled the Peters situation.

They didn't give him a platform to deny the accusations or say he had never heard of it (Coach Q).

They didn't allow him to remain behind the bench as he was held out of any games in the interim.

There was no talk about how Peters was a good guy who just made a mistake.

And they did their own investigation and fired Peters before the NHL could even step in or do their own thing.

Compare that to how Chicago, Florida, and Winnipeg are handling this and it really does make me appreciate the Flames leadership team a little more again this morning.

Absolutely.

Credit where due. They really showed up and handled their business discretely and didn't compromise ethics to just to let the league figure it out for them, potentially giving a guy who crossed the line another day to work in the league.

They did their due diligence immediately and severed the limb without hesitation.

I think FLA letting Quenneville coach / Quenneville himself not stepping away is the worst part of this. The day reports come out detailing how the hawks leadership group brushed sexual assault under the rug to 'focus on hockey' where JQ was coaching the team, and that NIGHT he is allowed to stand behind a bench and work like normal, because 'Bettman will give him a talking later' is asinine.

[Sylvanfan]

Originally Posted by djsFlames

Absolutely.

Credit where due. They really showed up and handled their business discretely and didn't compromise ethics to just to let the league figure it out for them, potentially giving a guy who crossed the line another day to work in the league.

They did their due diligence immediately and severed the limb without hesitation.

I think FLA letting Quenneville coach / Quenneville himself not stepping away is the worst part of this. The day reports come out detailing how the hawks leadership group brushed sexual assault under the rug to 'focus on hockey' where JQ was coaching the team, and that NIGHT he is allowed to stand behind a bench and work like normal, because 'Bettman will give him a talking later' is asinine.

The fact that they won seems to indicate that the players do not appear to care or be too bothered by this. After the allegations of Jon Gruden using rascist language in an email surfaced, you saw it in the Raiders performance that week. Florida on the other hand played like another day at the office.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by Sylvanfan

The fact that they won seems to indicate that the players do not appear to care or be too bothered by this. After the allegations of Jon Gruden using rascist language in an email surfaced, you saw it in the Raiders performance that week. Florida on the other hand played like another day at the office.

WTF cares how they played though?

That should have zero to do with firing his ass

[Yamer]

Another player states that he believes teammates knew what was going on.

https://twitter.com/user/status/1453755774157590529

[MonaTone]

Originally Posted by Cecil Terwilliger

Here’s the twitter image. Maybe it’s just me but I dislike tweets with text images, you can never see all the text without clicking on the tweet, which redirects to twitter and then clicking again to open the image. Not OPs fault, just the way twitter scales images in tweets.

So Toews is more upset that his good pals had some consequences (and not very severe ones) than he is upset that a teammate of his was sexually abused and his employer/coach/teammates/himself turned the other way to it. AND the abuser went on to abuse again with their endorsements.

What a POS.

[dustygoon]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

From Keith's presser:

Nugent-Bowman: Were you interviewed by Jenner and Block?

Keith: No.

Man, there is an obvious followup. "Were you asked".

Keith also claimed the organization basically lied about why Aldrich wasn't there any more.

Well there is one of the 37. No surprise.

[Red Ice Player]

Kindred spirits of Gym Jordan.

[devo22]

I've always known that Patrick Kane was a POS, but I didn't expect Jonathan Toews to outdo him in that regard. Holy cow, how tone-deaf can you be?

it's so frustrating to see how the NHL handles this. On the one hand, you have the victim of sexual assault showing so much compassion that he's even feeling guilty over something that was obviously not his fault at all (Michigan). On the other hand, you have Q calling it a distraction, Edmonton media falling over backwards to defend Keith, Toews defending higher-ups (such good people) and showing no compassion at all ("PrObAbLy") and so on. Just go pound sand, the whole lot of you.

[talladega.25]

I know this has been said but I still cannot get over how these individuals still have jobs. Gary, Donald, Joel, Kevin..etc.

I work for a large oil and gas company and if something like this happened at my workplace, heads would roll no matter their position or industry status.

It is not like they didn't have protocols and practices in place to deal with this, this is an instance where they refuted and ignored the situation. Turned a blind eye and then discredited the victim even further. I cannot even begin to understand how Mr. Beech felt. Now I know why his career fell to pieces, I didn't quite get that when he was trying to break into the NHL. He was a surefire Junior player in the WHL when I was growing up.

It has been hard for me, especially because I am someone who is exploring their law career and to be an advocate for justice/integrity to cheer for anything NHL related. This has really darkened my perspective on what the NHL is or what the NHL claims to be doing to drive change. Factor in all of the other racism events and other instances (Montreal 1st Rounder). Heck even the Eichel situation is egregious, holding the player's health ransom. WHAT in the F??

I also appreciate the perspective on here, a lot of sound individuals with the right morals/standards. Keep on fighting the good fight ladies and gentlemen.

[Ped]

Originally Posted by dino7c

WTF cares how they played though?

That should have zero to do with firing his ass

He's saying they played well as a team, that it didn't appear by that game that the players were particularly bothered by the incident, nor appeared to be bothered by Q being behind the bench.


Winning above everything else, apparently.


Should have nothing do with whether he gets fired, but says a lot about what other players consider the priority.

[Royle9]

Absolutely disgusting.
I'm scared to think what more could come of this, there's no way this is isolated to 1 guy on 1 team.

How much more #### gets swept under the rug constantly by the NHL/NHLPA etc... scary to imagine.