The Chicago Blackhawks have made their first move to address the 2010 incidents involving two former players and former video coach Brad Aldrich, as well as their alleged failure to properly report those incidents.
According to Mark Lazerus (The Athletic), the team has hired a former federal prosecutor to lead an “independent review” of the 2010 incidents involving Aldrich and the team’s alleged mishandling of the situation:
NEW: The Blackhawks have hired a former federal prosecutor to lead an "independent review' of the allegations of sexual assault by former video coach Brad Aldrich in 2010 - and the alleged refusal to report it to police -ย according to an internal memo from CEO Danny Wirtz.
— Mark Lazerus (@MarkLazerus) June 28, 2021
Up until now, the Blackhawks had done nothing outside of trying to get the lawsuits brought against them by former players involved in sexual abuse and harassment incidents involving Aldrich thrown out. There had been little said on the matters from the organization until now, and this will likely serve as the only comments the team will make on the subject until further notice.
Reid Schar of Jenner & Block LLP is leading the review. "Mr. Schar and his firm have significant experience conducting independent investigative reviews, have no previous ties to the Blackhawks organization, and have been directed to follow the facts wherever they lead."
— Mark Lazerus (@MarkLazerus) June 28, 2021
This is a start, but it’s very little, very late.
The NHL needs to also conduct their own investigation into the allegations and the Blackhawks. That investigation needs to also be done by an independent review from an outside legal organization. These investigations cannot be coddled and the incidents cannot be swept away. We are way beyond that point.
NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman is scheduled to speak to the media ahead of tonight’s Game One of the Stanley Cup Final. We will, maybe, find out more from the league’s standpoint on the allegations and incidents involving the Blackhawks and Aldrich at that point.
We’ll keep you up to date with all the developments surrounding the lawsuits, allegations, and everything in-between.