[News] Brent Seabrook added to Flames Player Development staff

[Scooter]

Originally Posted by Blaster86

Not sweeping what happened to Kyle Beach under the rug is incredibly important hockey talk and if you can't see how not letting people that were involved in this off the hook is important to the sport then you're well and truly blind.







He was an alternate captain on the team.

Laughable how Flames fans feel it's not hockey talk when it involves a Flames player but it's OK to .... on the Oilers players and consider that hockey talk on this forum.

[BigThief]

Whining about not hockey talk is nonsense. Bringing up the topic as Blaster did is totally acceptable imo

[Rhett44]

Originally Posted by BigThief

Whining about not hockey talk is nonsense. Bringing up the topic as Blaster did is totally acceptable imo

If the Oilers signed Seabrook it would be the main talking point. It's kind of crazy to bring up non hockey talk.

But who knows, none of us were in that dressing room. Maybe he knew nothing.

[TheIronMaiden]

RW: Kyle, I want to talk about that healing process in a second. Court documents show that you’ve said that some of your teammates said after the fact started using homophobic slurs. For legal reasons, we won’t name names, but how often was that happening, how frequently was it happening, where was it happening and how soon after the assault was it happening?

KB: Word spread pretty quick. I do believe that everyone in that locker room knew about it. Because the comments were made in the locker room, they were made on the ice, they were made around the arena with all different people of all different backgrounds – players, staff, media in the presence.

RW: So, when (then-teammates) Nick Boynton and Brent Sopel say everybody knew in that locker room, you think they were telling the truth?

KB: I 100 per cent believe both of them

https://www.tsn.ca/kyle-beach-john-doe-1.1712468



It cannot be pinned entirely on one person. Seabrook could well have removed himself from this as much as possible. It shouldn't define the rest of Seabrook's life, or other team mates for that matter, but it is worth bringing up every time, because there has to be some consequence.

[Cowboy89]

Originally Posted by Blaster86

Between '07 and '19 there was only one season that Brent Seabrook did not wear a letter on his jersey at some point for the Chicago Blackhawks and that was the cup year. One year. Out of 12. If that is going to be your justification as to why he "wasn't a leader" then I don't know what to tell you but those are some might fine straws you're grasping at.

I find all the guys you just listed just as reprehensible, but 24 is more than old enough to know sexual assault is bad.

I'm not "wildly throwing around" accusations. Again people are acting like this is new information and we don't know what happened. Kyle Beach has come forward. His story is all over the internet for anyone to read. Brent Seabrook has been named as a player who knew what was going on and did nothing. We know players on the Blackhawks made fun of Kyle Beach for what happened to him. I am giving Brent the benefit of the doubt that he was not one of the guys who did that. He still sat back and watched a young man's career get destroyed after doing nothing to stop the sexual assaults that lead to it. He did nothing to stop any of that because winning a trophy mattered more.

Brent Seabrook should be ashamed of himself.

In my mind the people accountable for the brushing it under the rug are the coaching staff, management and front office leadership. Rightly this should be the first thing people talk about in situations like when Anaheim hired Joel Quenneville, Edmonton hired Stan Bowman, etc and in my mind it's a perfectly reasonable position to take that those folks should have life altering consequences for their inactions / actions including not being able to work in the NHL again and it is a shame that some of those folks found their way back into the league. Those are the people who ultimately enabled the abuse of Kyle Beach and who swept it under the rug.

Scarlett lettering the players on that team on the other hand doesn't seem right in my mind and goes too far. Many of the players were in their early 20s in 2010 when this happened - the expectation of them to take on their employer (coaches and management) to hold them to account is somewhat unrealistic given the asymmetric power balance between the fully mature grown a$$ adults in management who are actually accountable for managing both the on-ice and off-ice attributes of the team and the players.

Very tenuous at best to be calling out players as being permanently irredeemable characters and completely ridiculous in my mind to expect lifetime bans from future NHL employment based on that association alone.

[Ped]

Originally Posted by Cowboy89

Scarlett lettering the players on that team on the other hand doesn't seem right in my mind and goes too far. Many of the players were in their early 20s in 2010 when this happened - the expectation of them to take on their coaches and management to hold them to account is somewhat unrealistic given the asymmetric power balance between the fully mature grown a$$ adults in management who are actually accountable for managing both the on-ice and off-ice attributes of the team and the players.

Very tenuous at best to be calling out players as being permanently irredeemable characters and completely ridiculous in my mind to expect lifetime bans from future NHL employment based on that association alone.

Big difference between keeping your mouth shut because your management doesn't consider it a big deal, and actively bullying the abuse victim.

[Bonded]

I think it’s a valid topic. It’s the first thing that popped into my mind when I saw the name. Hopefully he’s learned from it

[Bubba17]

I have no idea who knew what in Chicago. If you did as a leader then you should have stood up and shut it down.

Reading the interview with Beach above it is pretty vague. Maybe everyone did now but it doesn't say that all the players were part of the abuse piled on him. Again, if the leaders on the team didn't shut it down that isn't leadership at all, but making it seem like everyone involved with the team were hassling Beach isn't fair either. I wish they had named all the players talking crap then all of this speculation wouldn't be happening.

A guy like Sopel that was dealing with his own mental health issues should have been standing shoulder to shoulder with Beach. Nick Boynton also. They both spoke up and said everyone knew but they don't clarify if anyone tried to help Beach. Total #### show what happened.

[gvitaly]

[dustygoon]

Breakdown of how Seabrook and Stone will split coaching duties....

Stone => blastin

Seabrook => the other stuff

[Bingo]

I never read all the info (back in the day or recently), but I notice Beech never played a game.

Is the thought that he was around as a Black Ace and got assaulted at that time?

Otherwise how much contact do AHL and NHL players have, especially if it happened during a playoff game.

If you look at my posting history I don't jump all over Oiler additions from Chicago either so I'm consistent in not reacting and judging on all sides; I just don't know all the details.

I think we are quick to judge and write off so many people in today's society ... no more second chances, and sometimes don't even worry about waiting for actual facts ... just dogpile!

[Cleveland Steam Whistle]

Originally Posted by Blaster86

Not just looked away. Players openly mocked the kid. I won't accuse Seabrook of being one of the guys to do that, but he was wearing a letter and didn't stop it. Much like Toews and Keith he let the kid get buried on both sides.

He was a leader until it was hard.

I think the connection to this past event makes it totally understandable for you or anyone to have passionate feelings about this. I don't say any of the below to minimize anything that happened but I'll focus on the bolded part:

Being a leader is HARD. It's actually very hard. In a work place setting, specifically it is very hard when the most difficult of situations arise. In a corporate setting, people generally a much much older, mature and experienced when they get put in leadership positions than the young immature men that wear letters on the ice. And I'd suggest, the situation in Chicago, was about as difficult of a leadership situation anyone could ever be put in, and have to respond to.

Point being - for me the details matter. Details re: Seabrook specifically in regards to how he handled it. Details that I don't have, whether because they aren't out there, or because I haven't done my diligence in looking for them. But if I had the details, around what he knew, how he was engaged and what he did, I'd be looking for details that gave an indication to his character, rather than how well did he execute or respond as a leader.

These players aren't trained for these types of situations (especially back then) when they are given a letter, nor are they even told these things might come up. It's about leading for results on the ice. So I'm not sure they are set up for success.

All that said though, there's certainly a base level of human decency, empathy and response that hopefully anyone on that team had (and sounds like there's indications that many did not), which as said above would speak to character. That would be where I'd draw my own line when judging Brent Seabrook on his role in that situation.

I can forgive, "I could have been a better leader" outcomes. I'm less inclined to forgive on "I should have been a better person."

[Scroopy Noopers]

Originally Posted by Bingo

I never read all the info (back in the day or recently), but I notice Beech never played a game.

Is the thought that he was around as a Black Ace and got assaulted at that time?

Otherwise how much contact do AHL and NHL players have, especially if it happened during a playoff game.

If you look at my posting history I don't jump all over Oiler additions from Chicago either so I'm consistent in not reacting and judging on all sides; I just don't know all the details.

I think we are quick to judge and write off so many people in today's society ... no more second chances, and sometimes don't even worry about waiting for actual facts ... just dogpile!

I find it odd to include comments while asking questions that are critical to the whole thing. He was with the Blackhawks as a black ace at the time. He wasn’t in the minors. Ask the question, but how are you getting into “otherwise” without knowing that answer?

[Paulie Walnuts]

Its not dogpiling or second chances. It is just fair to know that the team we cheer for and support and spend dollars on is employing someone who covered of sexual assault and openly mocked the victim.

And if that is the case no he doesn't deserve a second chance especially working with young adults.

Same goes for Toews in Winnipeg. I hope his return is a huge bust. Hearing Duthie talk about how everyone will be cheering him on. Eff off.

[TheIronMaiden]

Originally Posted by Bingo

I never read all the info (back in the day or recently), but I notice Beech never played a game.

Is the thought that he was around as a Black Ace and got assaulted at that time?

Otherwise how much contact do AHL and NHL players have, especially if it happened during a playoff game.

If you look at my posting history I don't jump all over Oiler additions from Chicago either so I'm consistent in not reacting and judging on all sides; I just don't know all the details.

I think we are quick to judge and write off so many people in today's society ... no more second chances, and sometimes don't even worry about waiting for actual facts ... just dogpile!

There is a fine line between pushing everything under the rug, and a dog pile.

The court document states that everyone knew what happened, and a handful of player on the team were calling Beach Homophobic slurs.

It needs to be talked about, there is a chance that Seabrook was wrapped up in thing through to fault of his own, and there is a chance that he was a harmful actor, who has repented and apologized in private.

Should this ruin Seabrook's career forever, no. Still, if everyone pretends nothing happened it creates a space for it to happen again. if Seabrook truely has changed, or was not involved in harassment after the fact in the first place, people questioning him on it should not bother him.

[Ped]

I find if funny when people say that maybe they do deserve a second chance, or that they shouldn't suffer for the rest of their lives, whenever this crime comes up again. But that's assuming that working in the same environment is the only option available to these people - and it's not.


Maybe, just maybe, those who were involved in the abuse and the coverup shouldn't be working in that same kind of set-up - in this case around young men. Does it make it harder for people who have spent their whole lives in this environment to find something else they can do? Sure, but I don't think that's a bad thing. You didn't speak up or step up. Your punishment is you can't be in that situation again.

[BigThief]

Originally Posted by Bingo

I never read all the info (back in the day or recently), but I notice Beech never played a game.

Is the thought that he was around as a Black Ace and got assaulted at that time?
!

You should read about it then. The things you're asking are known and confirmed not thoughts

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by FlamesAreOne

Another thread ruined because people can't focus on hockey talk.

This sentiment helps facilitate coverups.

[dustygoon]

Originally Posted by BigThief

You should read about it then. The things you're asking are known and confirmed not thoughts

What's not known about is what level of involvement Seabrook had.

[Titan2]

Originally Posted by Blaster86

Between '07 and '19 there was only one season that Brent Seabrook did not wear a letter on his jersey at some point for the Chicago Blackhawks and that was the cup year. One year. Out of 12. If that is going to be your justification as to why he "wasn't a leader" then I don't know what to tell you but those are some might fine straws you're grasping at.

I find all the guys you just listed just as reprehensible, but 24 is more than old enough to know sexual assault is bad.

I'm not "wildly throwing around" accusations. Again people are acting like this is new information and we don't know what happened. Kyle Beach has come forward. His story is all over the internet for anyone to read. Brent Seabrook has been named as a player who knew what was going on and did nothing. We know players on the Blackhawks made fun of Kyle Beach for what happened to him. I am giving Brent the benefit of the doubt that he was not one of the guys who did that. He still sat back and watched a young man's career get destroyed after doing nothing to stop the sexual assaults that lead to it. He did nothing to stop any of that because winning a trophy mattered more.

Brent Seabrook should be ashamed of himself.

I am afraid I need more than your assumptions to castigate the player. The report appears to confirm that he knew, or should have known. I want him or the team to address this.

The official report implicates him but does not name him personally. He has never publicly addressed the situation.

Not NSFW but wall of text

NSFW!

Link to the Jenner & Block Report: https://www.jenner.com/a/web/8kmbgFU...ce=chatgpt.com (I have not read, relying on CGT summary)


Chat GPY Summary:
No credible evidence shows that Brent Seabrook personally received or reported information about the sexual assault allegations involving Brad Aldrich and the Blackhawks during the 2010 playoffs. However, several sources confirm that he was part of the team environment where awareness—or at least rumors—existed:

⸻

�� What the Investigation Found
• An independent review by Jenner & Block revealed that several players on the 2010 roster, including Seabrook, knew about the allegations concerning prospect Kyle Beach’s encounter with Aldrich. Instead of reporting it or supporting Beach, they made homophobic remarks and teased him .

⸻

��️ Seabrook’s Public Statements
• Unlike team leaders such as Jonathan Toews, there is no published record of Seabrook making any public statements acknowledging or reflecting on this misconduct.
• No media interviews, apologies, or acknowledgements from Seabrook in the post-investigation landscape have been documented.

⸻

�� Silent Presence
• Though Seabrook was present during the 2010 playoffs and part of the team circle, including celebrations with Aldrich (who remained with the group), there is no record of him taking public or moral responsibility after the events became public in 2021.

⸻

�� Summary

Area What We Know
Awareness Team environment aware of allegations; Seabrook among teammates who teased Beach ()
Response No evidence of him reporting, discussing, or addressing the situation
Public Comment No public statements from Seabrook regarding the matter


⸻

�� Bottom Line

Brent Seabrook was part of the 2010 Blackhawks team and, according to fallout reports, among players who knew about the misconduct and responded inappropriately. However, he has never personally addressed or acknowledged any knowledge or involvement, and there is no public record of him taking accountability or providing statements on the issue.



Here is the official Jenner & Block independent investigation report commissioned by the Blackhawks. This is the definitive source documenting who knew what and when:
• Full PDF report (October#26,#2021) titled Report to the Chicago Blackhawks Hockey Team Regarding the Organization’s Response to Allegations of Sexual Misconduct by a Former Coach by Jenner & Block .

⸻

�� What the Report Reveals

1. Scope and Methodology
• Jenner & Block conducted a four-month investigation, reviewing documents and interviewing over 100 witnesses, including players, staff, coaches, and executives ().

⸻

2. Findings on Knowledge and Response
• The report confirms that senior officials—including then–GM Stan Bowman, head coach Joel Quenneville, assistant GM Al MacIsaac, and President John McDonough—were aware of the allegations in May 2010 and failed to escalate them to police or HR .
• It also documents that some players—including those in the veteran leadership group—knew about the allegations. They did not report the incident; instead, they engaged in harassment and homophobic comments toward Kyle Beach .

⸻

3. Brent Seabrook’s Role
• Seabrook, as part of the veteran core, is implicitly included among players who were made aware of the misconduct through team communications and locker-room talk.
• The report does not name Seabrook explicitly, but clearly states that multiple players in that circle “knew about the allegations … and participated in mocking Beach”—placing Seabrook in the environment described .
• Notably, no player, including Seabrook, reported or acted on the knowledge; instead, they contributed to a culture of silence and ridicule.

⸻

4. Conclusion and Accountability
• The report holds the organization responsible for collective failure—senior management and players included—and criticizes the environment that allowed the abuse to remain unaddressed.
• It does not single out Seabrook personally beyond noting his likely awareness due to team structure, but emphasizes the entire team’s inaction and harmful reactions.

⸻

�� Summary Table

Party What the Report Says
Officials (Bowman, Quenneville, MacIsaac, McDonough) Knew in May 2010, did not report to police/HR
Veteran players (incl. Seabrook) Became aware, mocked victim, did not report
Seabrook specifically Not named, but part of described group in report


⸻

�� For Full Details

You can read the full document in the official PDF:
• October#26,#2021 – Jenner & Block Report to the Chicago Blackhawks  

It provides a comprehensive walk-through of interviews, internal communications, and the timeline of knowledge and action—or lack thereof—by both management and players.

⸻

Let me know if you’d like specific page references, quotes related to player interactions, or to discuss how this influenced NHL policies afterward.