Joel Quenneville says he’ll meet with NHL commissioner Gary Bettman about his role in Blackhawks’ handling of 2010 sexual assault allegation
CHICAGO — Florida Panthers coach Joel Quenneville said he is scheduled to meet with NHL commissioner Gary Bettman to discuss his role in handling a 2010 sexual assault allegation against a former video coach by a former Chicago Blackhawks player.
Quenneville was the Blackhawks' coach at the time the player accused then-video coach Brad Aldrich of assault.
“I want to let you know that (Thursday) I’ll be meeting with Gary Bettman,” Quenneville told reporters Wednesday morning. “(I) look forward to continuing to contribute to the process.
“I know I respect you all doing your jobs and having your questions as well here, but I won’t comment any further until the appropriate time after I meet with the commissioner.”
Quenneville said he believes the meeting will take place in New York, where the NHL is headquartered.
Chicago-based law firm Jenner & Block on Tuesday released a bombshell report condemning Quenneville and Hawks senior managers’ handling of an abuse claim against Aldrich. In a league statement, Bettman demanded individual meetings with Quenneville and Kevin Cheveldayoff, the Hawks' assistant general manager in 2010 and current GM of the Winnipeg Jets.
Bettman said in the statement he planned to discuss “their roles in the relevant events as detailed in the report. I will reserve judgment on next steps, if any, with respect to them.”
Stan Bowman resigned from his position as Hawks president of hockey operations and GM as a result of Jenner & Block’s independent review.
The report sprung from a lawsuit filed in May by the former Hawks player, using the pseudonym John Doe, who accused the team of negligence and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
Quenneville may have to answer for a conflict in his account of 2010.
On July 13, Quenneville said in a statement released by the Panthers, “I first learned of these allegations through the media earlier this summer. I have contacted the Blackhawks organization to let them know I will support and participate in the independent review.”
However, Jenner & Block’s report placed Quenneville, Bowman and Cheveldayoff at a May 23, 2010, meeting of senior managers — including then-President John McDonough, Al MacIsaac (removed Tuesday from his role as senior vice president of hockey operations), then-executive vice president Jay Blunk and mental skills coach James F. Gary — to discuss how to handle the allegation against Aldrich.
According to the law firm’s interview with the team’s director of human resources, whose name was withheld in the report, “Gary said that during the meeting, Quenneville appeared angry and was concerned about upsetting team chemistry. Also according to the Director of Human Resources, Gary recalled that ‘they’ decided to hold off talking to Aldrich about the situation until the season was over.”
The report also said that “Bowman recalled that during the meeting, McDonough and Quenneville made comments about the challenge of getting to the Stanley Cup Finals and a desire to focus on the team and the playoffs.”
