Warning: This story contains distressing details related to sexual assault.
The NHL lifted its ban on longtime coach Joel Quenneville and executives Stan Bowman and Al MacIsaac on Monday, clearing the way for their return to the league more than two years after they were punished in the fallout from the Chicago team’s sexual assault scandal.
“For more than the last two and a half years, these individuals have been ineligible to work for any NHL team as a result of their inadequate response upon being informed in 2010 of allegations that [Chicago] player Kyle Beach had been assaulted by the club’s video coach,” the league said.
“While it is clear that, at the time, their responses were unacceptable, each of these three individuals … has acknowledged that and used his time away from the game to engage in activities which not only demonstrate sincere remorse for what happened, but also evidence greater awareness of the responsibilities that all NHL personnel have, particularly personnel who are in positions of leadership.”
An investigation commissioned by Chicago concluded team officials mishandled allegations raised by Beach during the team’s Stanley Cup run in 2010.
The Chicago NHL team’s decision to delay taking action after a sexual assault allegation was made against a video coach has led to the resgination of the team’s general manager, a $2-million fine and questions about what needs to happen to other team officials who didn’t act sooner.
Quenneville coached Chicago, an Original Six team, to three Cups since 2010 before joining the Florida Panthers in 2019.
He stepped down from the Panthers at the time the sexual assault scandal came to light. Bowman, Chicago’s general manager and hockey operations president, left his job, as did top team executive MacIsaac.
The fallout included the league fining Chicago $2 million.
Bowman, MacIsaac and Quenneville can sign contracts with an NHL team after July 10.
The league said each “has made significant strides in personal improvement by participating in myriad programs, many of which focused on the imperative of responding in effective and meaningful ways to address alleged acts of abuse.”
Support is available for anyone who has been sexually assaulted through crisis lines and local support services via this Government of Canada website or the Ending Violence Association of Canada database. If you’re in immediate danger or fear for your safety or that of others around you, please call 911.