He also played in Slovakia! The Chicago player they sexually harassed came out of anonymity – Športky.sk

CHICAGO – Canadian hockey player Kyle Beach came out of anonymity and revealed in a long interview to TSN that he is the player who allegedly was the victim of sexual harassment in the Chicago Blackhawks overseas NHL team eleven years ago.

The thirty-one-year-old striker, who introduced himself to Slovak fans in the DVTK Miškovec jersey in the 2019/2020 season, has so far hid his identity and was called “John Doe” in the investigation report. However, on Wednesday night, he talked about what he experienced at the club in 2010 as a 20-year-old talented player who wanted to make it to the first Chicago team.

Allegations of disgusting practices are faced by former coach Bradley Aldrich, who allegedly sexually harassed not only Beach but also a student in Michigan. According to the harassment file, the then president of Chicago John McDonough, Stan Bowman, assistant general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff, executive vice president Jay Blunk, mental coach Jim Gary, director of administration Al MacIsaac and head coach Joel Quenneville knew about it.

However, the management of the club did not act at the time. The Blackhawks won the Stanley Cup that year, so they reportedly kept quiet about the case on the road to success. After Beach spoke, Stan Bowman resigned as general manager and president of the Blackhawks and ended up as the GM of the US national team. MacIsaac also finished on the team.

Quenneville is currently a Florida coach and will have a meeting with NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman on Thursday to explain the events surrounding Beach’s alleged sexual harassment. Cheveldayoff, who works as general manager of Winnipeg, also graduates.

I felt like I didn’t even exist

“To be honest, I was mostly scared.” Beach said of the meeting with Aldrich: “It threatened my career and I felt alone and in the dark. At the age of 20, I didn’t know what to do. It never occurred to me in a dream that someone would put me in such a situation to help me and make me a better hockey player, man and help me build my career. ” Beach said in an interview that he was “sick” when he saw that Aldrich stayed with the team and together they celebrated winning the Stanley Cup.

“I reported it and I was told it got to the top, but nothing happened. As if Aldrich’s life was the same as the day before. I felt like I didn’t even exist, that I was unnecessary and that he was right and I do not,” said Beach.

Chicago chose him from 11th place in the first round of the draft in 2008 and was one of the club’s great talents. However, he never made it to the first team and after a few years on a farm in the AHL Rockford IceHogs left for Europe. He currently plays in the third German league for Erfurt.

Beach claims that he could not cope with harassment for a long time and “helped” himself with alcohol and drugs. He didn’t talk about the matter for long so that he could “go after his dreams and continue hockey, which he loves”. “And now that I’m starting to heal, I’m looking back and it must have affected my life,” said the Canadian.

Aldrich ended up in Chicago on June 14, 2010 without further investigation into the matter. Three years later, he confessed in another case of sexual harassment to a high school hockey player, who later also sued Chicago for failing to act against his former coach. Aldrich spent nine months in this case, the AP agency reported.

• The author: © List
• Source: TASR