During the media briefing regarding the findings in the Brad Aldrich sexual abuse scandal this afternoon, Blackhawks chairman Rocky Wirtz and CEO Danny Wirtz announced that Stan Bowman would be “stepping aside” and leaving the organization and his current post of President of Hockey Operations and General Manager.
Stan Bowman is out as the President/GM of the Chicago Blackhawks per Danny Wirtz. #Blackhawks
— Patrick K. Flowers (@PatrickKFlowers) October 26, 2021
Wirtz also announced that assistant GM Kyle Davidson would serve as the interim GM, and the Blackhawks will look for new hockey operations leadership moving forward. In addition to Bowman leaving the organization, Vice President of Hockey Operations Al MacIsaac is no longer a part of the organization.
Kyle Davidson is the interim GM. The Blackhawks will look for new hockey ops leadership.
— Mark Lazerus (@MarkLazerus) October 26, 2021
Indeed, Danny Wirtz made it clear that no executive involved with the 2010 incident(s) will be with the organization any longer.
Danny Wirtz says no executive involved with 2010 will be with the organization any longer.
— Scott Powers (@ByScottPowers) October 26, 2021
The Chicago Blackhawks will release the full report on the findings of the investigation today. We will have plenty to discuss today and in the coming days, but the news of Stan Bowman and Al MacIsaac leaving the organization is a good start, and evidence that the Wirtz’s — who, according to the findings in the independent investigation, didn’t know about the sexual abuse incidents until the lawsuits were filed — are committed to riding the Blackhawks organization of anyone who was a part of these terrible incidents.
Michael: With that said, this is a pretty ridiculous statement from Danny Wirtz.
Blackhawks CEO Danny Wirtz on former Blackhawks GM Stan Bowman: pic.twitter.com/Au6U97bRdB
— Mark Lazerus (@MarkLazerus) October 26, 2021
And here’s Bowman’s statement, for additional context.
Statement from Stan Bowman after stepping down as President/GM. #Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/zdUHka4JBc
— Charlie Roumeliotis (@CRoumeliotis) October 26, 2021
There’s much more going – and many more details – right here. We’ll have a full post on the report and any additional fallout later.