NHL Fines Chicago Blackhawks $2 Million Over Conduct Related to Sexual Assault Investigation

The NHL is not messing around. The league is disappointed in the findings that have surfaced from an investigation involving the 2010 Chicago Blackhawks and a sexual assault claim towards a Blackhawks employee.

$1 million of the fine money will be dedicated to "fund local organizations in and around Chicago community that provide counseling and training for, and support and assistance to, survivors of sexual and other forms of abuse."
— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) October 26, 2021

The investigation concluded recently and on Tuesday the findings were made public in a press conference and within this 107 page report. Turns out an intern and a member of the 2010 team, a player referred to as John Doe who was a Black Ace for the team in 2010, came forward with sexual assault claims against a video coach. The Blackhawks swept it under the rug, even allowing the coach to celebrate with the player also in attendance weeks later.

Here's a piece of the report that can be found in full by clicking here:

On May 7, 2021, a hockey player formerly affiliated with the Chicago Blackhawks Hockey Team (the “Blackhawks”) filed a lawsuit against the team. The player, John Doe, alleged that in May 2010, he was sexually assaulted by the then-video coach for the Blackhawks. John Doe further alleged that the Blackhawks were made aware of the alleged assault soon after it occurred and failed to act to address the assault.

In late June 2021, Jenner & Block LLP (“Jenner & Block”) was hired by the Blackhawks to conduct an independent investigation. Over the course of four months, we investigated (i) the conduct of the former video coach, Brad Aldrich, in and around May 2010; (ii) the extent to which individuals affiliated with the Blackhawks, including those in senior management, knew about Aldrich’s conduct in May 2010, and when and how those individuals learned about the conduct; and (iii) when and how individuals affiliated with the Blackhawks, including those in senior management, responded to the information they learned about Aldrich’s conduct in May 2010. Our investigation uncovered the following events.

On May 8 or 9, 2010, John Doe had a sexual encounter with Brad Aldrich. The Blackhawks were in the midst of the National Hockey League (“NHL”) playoffs and ultimately won the Stanley Cup for the first time since 1961. John Doe was a twenty-year-old hockey player for the Blackhawks’ minor league affiliate team. He was called up to Chicago during the 2010 playoffs to serve as a “Black Ace,” a prospect player who could be available to play for the Blackhawks if needed. Brad Aldrich was the Blackhawks’ twenty-seven-year-old video coach in his second full year in the job. Aldrich was responsible for cutting video clips of game footage for the other Blackhawks’ coaches