Gary Bettman, Donald Fehr grilled on NHL's handling of sexual assault allegations
NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, left, and Donald Fehr, executive director of the NHLPA, speak during a news conference in Toronto about the World Cup of Hockey on Aug. 17, 2016. Credit: AP/Aaron Vincent Elkaim
Both NHL commissioner Gary Bettman and NHL Players Association executive director Don Fehr faced tough questions on Monday in the continuing wake of the findings of an independent investigation into the sexual assault allegations made by former Chicago player Kyle Beach against the organization’s former video coach.
Bettman, in an hourlong teleconference with the media, defended the league’s actions while saying, "We could not be more sorry for the trauma that Kyle has had to endure and our goal is to do what is necessary to continue to move forward."
Meanwhile, Fehr was facing questions from player representatives of the 32 teams in a Monday afternoon executive board meeting over the NHLPA’s inaction after Beach first reported the allegations in 2010.
"I think we’re just looking to understand the situation as best we can," Islanders’ player representative Anders Lee said hours before Monday’s meeting. "I think everyone’s gathering things and you see the reports. But to hear first-hand I think is going to be really great and have a conversation about it and see where the union can be better in the future."
Asked specifically by Newsday whether there are questions regarding Fehr’s continued leadership of the NHLPA, Lee said, "I know there’s a lot of questions that are definitely directed toward Don right now and, as a group, we are looking forward to those answers. Just to see what’s going on and what happened there and how unfortunate this situation became. Looking forward to seeing what they have to say and going from there and make sure this doesn’t happen again."
Fehr did recommend that an independent investigation be launched by outside legal counsel in order to review the NHLPA’s response. The union's executive board will be voting on the matter.
The law firm of Jenner & Block released last week its report into the allegations against former video coach Brad Aldrich in 2010. Beach then publicly identified himself as the "John Doe" who had filed a lawsuit against Chicago and alleged Aldrich sexually assaulted and harassed him during the team’s run to the Stanley Cup in 2010. Beach was a member of Chicago’s "Black Aces," minor league players brought in to practice with the group during the playoffs.
Chicago general manager Stan Bowman, Chicago vice president Al MacIsaac and Panthers coach Joel Quenneville, who coached Chicago in 2010, all resigned in the wake of the report’s findings.
Chicago was also fined $2 million, a figure Bettman defended as "substantial" when asked why that figure was lower than fines for NHL teams that have violated the salary cap or draft-combine rules.
"The others had different context and different facts," Bettman said. "This was to make clear that the way the [Chicago] organization handled the matter was inappropriate."
However, Bettman said Chicago’s ownership, led by Rocky Wirtz, was "not aware" of the allegations made by Beach.
Bettman said the league did not see the report before Oct. 25 and the league’s knowledge of the situation was limited to allegations made by Beach through his lawsuit.
Chicago informed the NHL in December of the potential of a lawsuit but NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly said the league took no action because Chicago insisted the lawsuit was without "merit." Chicago is still fighting Beach’s lawsuit against the organization.
Yet Bettman, when asked for his thoughts as he watched Beach’s emotional interview on TSN as he detailed his allegations against Aldrich, said, "My reaction was I was horrified. It was emotional. I was distressed and I knew that he had obviously been suffering just by watching him and I wanted to make sure we would continue to be focused on how to deal with what was now in front of us. And I was sorry that anybody had to go through what he was discussing."
Bettman also defended his decision not to punish Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff, who was Chicago’s assistant GM in 2010. Bettman said Cheveldayoff, who had "limited authority" with Chicago, believed the situation had been handled in a timely manner.
Andrew Gross joined Newsday in 2018 to cover the Islanders. He began reporting on the NHL in 2003 and has previously covered the Rangers and Devils. Other assignments have included the Jets, St. John’s and MLB.
