Bettman apologizes to Kyle Seashore, defends NHL in wake of sexual assault allegations

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NHL commissioner Gary Bettman publicly apologized to Kyle Seashore for what the previous Chicago prospect has been by means of after the participant mentioned he was sexually assaulted by an assistant coach in 2010.

Talking to reporters on a video convention name Monday, Bettman mentioned the league “couldn’t be extra sorry for the trauma that Kyle has needed to endure … our aim is to do what is critical to proceed to maneuver ahead.”

An unbiased third-party report launched final week said the allegations have been largely ignored by the group.

Talking with reporters throughout a digital information convention Monday, Bettman additionally defended the choice to permit Florida Panthers bench boss Joel Quenneville, who coached with Chicago from 2008 to 2018, to be behind the bench for his group’s recreation final Wednesday after the report was launched.

Quenneville met with Bettman on Thursday earlier than resigning.

Bettman mentioned he didn’t need anybody to assume he was prejudging Quenneville, who was the membership’s coach when allegations surfaced that video coach Brad Aldrich sexually assaulted Seashore 11 years in the past.

WATCH | Seashore says he hopes his story will spark change:

Kyle Seashore ‘overwhelmed’ by help after sharing sexual assault story

Previous and current NHLers are exhibiting help for former Chicago participant Kyle Seashore, who revealed he was the ‘John Doe’ within the group’s 2010 sexual assault investigation, and a few are calling on the league to show it is severe about holding gamers secure. 1:58

Requested if Quenneville was given any form of ultimatum, Bettman mentioned, “Joel in the end [saw] that essentially the most wise plan of action was for him to resign.”

The commissioner additionally mentioned Winnipeg Jets normal supervisor Kevin Cheveldayoff — an assistant with Chicago in the course of the interval in query and the one individual current for a Might 23, 2010, assembly to debate the allegations nonetheless employed within the NHL — was “such a minor participant” within the course of, “had no accountability for” the group’s mishandling of the scenario and did not deserve any punishment.

GM steps down 

On Friday, Bettman met with Cheveldayoff, the one individual in Chicago administration on the time who nonetheless works for an NHL membership.

Chicago president and GM Stan Bowman resigned within the wake of the report, whereas the membership introduced Al MacIsaac, one other one in every of its prime hockey executives, was not with the group.

WATCH | Chicago reporter discusses NHL resolution to not self-discipline Jets GM: 

Jets GM Cheveldayoff will not be disciplined over mishandling of 2010 intercourse assault allegations

NHL beat reporter Ben Pope of the Chicago Solar-Instances discusses the fallout from the Chicago NHL group’s mishandling of sexual assault allegations in opposition to a former video coach, together with information that then Chicago assistant normal supervisor and present Winnipeg Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff will not face self-discipline from the league. 10:09

Cheveldayoff was scheduled to deal with reporters Monday, although that was pushed again by the Jets as a result of proprietor Mark Chipman suffered a bout of vertigo over the weekend and insisted on being there for the information convention.

The NHL fined the group $2 million US for its “insufficient inner procedures and inadequate and premature response.”

The NHL Gamers’ Affiliation has an govt board assembly scheduled for later Monday to debate how Seashore’s allegations have been dealt with.

“I do know I reported each single element to a person on the NHLPA, who I used to be put in touch with after,” Seashore mentioned throughout his interview on TSN in Canada on Wednesday, his first since popping out as John Doe. “I imagine two totally different folks talked to [NHLPA head] Don Fehr. And for him to show his again on the gamers when his one job is to guard the gamers in any respect prices, I do not know the way that may be your chief. I do not know the way he could be in cost.”

Fehr signed on as an NHLPA adviser in the summertime of 2010 after Aldrich resigned quite than face a Chicago investigation. Fehr was named NHLPA govt director in December of that yr.

In an announcement final week, Fehr mentioned the individual Seashore spoke with was a program physician on the NHL/NHLPA participant help program, which whereas confidential he added ought to have resulted in additional motion due to its severity.

“The truth that it didn’t was a severe failure,” Fehr mentioned. “There isn’t a doubt that the system did not help him in his time of want, and we’re a part of that system.”

WATCH | Potential influence of Seashore’s sexual abuse allegations:

The potential influence of Kyle Seashore’s sexual abuse allegations

Ian Hanomansing talks to former NHL participant Aaron Ward concerning the influence Kyle Seashore coming ahead with sexual assault allegations is having on the hockey neighborhood and what Ward, a sexual abuse survivor, desires the gamers’ affiliation to do now. 2:57

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