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Hockey executive Stan Bowman who ignored claims of sexual abuse at his former team lands a new job in the NHL
The Edmonton Oilers have officially hired Stan Bowman as their new General Manager and Executive Vice President of Hockey Operations.
Bowman replaces the outgoing Hall-of-Fame general manager Ken Holland, who agreed to part ways with the Oilers after being with them since 2019.
'I am excited and pleased to be welcoming Stan to the Edmonton Oilers,' said Jeff Jackson, Oilers CEO of Hockey Operations in a statement.
'I believe his vast experience and proven success in this role, together with the important work he has done in his time away from the game, fits our goal of being best in class when it comes to all facets of our organization.
'Through our many conversations, we share a common vision of where we are as a team and what is required to achieve another Stanley Cup title.'
Former Blackhawks general manager Stan Bowman has taken a job with the Edmonton Oilers
Bowman was suspended for his role in a cover up of a sexual assault against Kyle Beach
The 51-year-old Bowman, son of coaching legend Scotty Bowman, is best known for being the architect of three Stanley Cup championship teams in Chicago in 2010, 2013, and 2015.
But he's equally known for being one of three men who were suspended by the NHL for their role in a coverup of sexual abuse by a video analyst in the midst of that 2010 Stanley Cup run.
In a press conference on Wednesday, Bowman admitted, 'My response was inadequate back in 2010. I didn't handle things properly. I should have done more. And that's something I regret, and it's something I've had a chance to reflect on and try to learn from.'
He also said that he spoke to Kyle Beach, one of the victims of former video coach Brad Aldrich to let him know that he had been hired by Edmonton in 'an encouraging conversation'.
Bowman was reinstated into the NHL on July 1 alongside former Senior VP of Hockey Operations Al MacIsaac and former coach Joel Quenneville.
'While it is clear that, at the time, their responses were unacceptable, each of these three individuals (Messrs. Bowman, MacIsaac and Quenneville) 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,' a statement from the NHL read at the time of their reinstatement.
'Moreover, 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.
'The League expects that they will continue this commitment in any future capacity with the NHL and/or one of our Clubs.'
Bowman was reinstated back on July 1 along with Al MacIsaac (L) and Joel Quenneville (R)
Since reinstatement, details have been released about Bowman's work with Sheldon Kennedy, a former NHL player and the co-founder of the Respect Group - a Canadian business that was created to prevent bullying, abuse, harassment and discrimination through programs.
'Given the decades I have spent working in the space of not only sexual abuse, but all forms of abuse, harassment, and discrimination, it seemed everyone in the media and hockey community at large wanted my reaction to this horrible news. I heard Kyle Beach’s interview and felt it was as honest and raw as they get,' Kennedy said in a letter titled 'My Work With Stan Bowman'.
'I clearly recall expressing that this was a terrible situation with significant impact to those involved. I also believed however, it could serve as a powerful learning opportunity if approached with courage. I've always believed that regardless of how dire a situation may be, there is always some good that can emerge from it. This incident was no exception.'
The letter continued: 'I was immediately struck by Stan’s genuine care and concern for Kyle, and what could have been done differently. During that period, we spoke almost daily about the seriousness of sexual abuse from the victim’s perspective. We didn’t talk about hockey at all. We focused on what went wrong, what he could have done differently and, most importantly, what could be done to prevent this from happening again.'
The letter also detailed that Bowman volunteered 'nearly full-time hours' to work with the company on building out a charter.
Bowman's work with the Respect Group was detailed in a letter by the businesses' co-founder
'Stan's acceptance, open mindedness, and understanding were huge difference makers in building this workshop. I was impressed with Stan's insights, but more importantly, just how deeply he cared.'
Kennedy's letter concluded: I believe Stan would be a valuable asset to an organization due to his acknowledgment of past mistakes and his relentless efforts to make the locker room/game safer for everyone. He possesses the insights, knowledge, and confidence needed to lead in this area. I feel building a strong and healthy culture within an organization and practicing it on an ongoing basis will be a top priority for Stan. I also believe Stan will carry this message within the hockey eco system, which can only help.
'Lastly and most importantly I feel that Stan will do everything in his power to make sure what happened to Kyle Beach (who is a hero in my opinion) will not happen to anyone else.'
On May 7, 2021, a former Blackhawks player - initially filing as John Doe, later revealed as Kyle Beach - accused former video coach Brad Aldrich of sexually assaulting him during the 2010 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Beach also alleged that Aldrich physically, emotionally, and financially threatened him.
A month's long investigation by the law firm Jenner & Block found that executives held a meeting after sweeping the San Jose Sharks in the Western Conference Finals to address the claims.
However, the executives - which included Bowman, MacIsaac, and Quenneville - decided to not address the claims until after the Stanley Cup Finals. The report found that the matter was never discussed again.
Aldrich was given the option of resigning or being fired by the Blackhawks' human resources director if the claims were true. Aldrich chose to resign and was still allowed to participate in celebrations after the Blackhawks won the 2010 Stanley Cup Final.
Brad Aldrich went on to allegedly assault a college student and was convicted of assaulting a minor while working as an assistant coach at a high school in Houghton, Michigan
After an investigation, the NHL fined the Blackhawks $2million after Beach came forward
Aldrich went on to work for the University of Notre Dame and Miami University in Ohio before serving as a high school assistant coach in Houghton, Michigan.
He was accused of sexual assault at Miami University and was later convicted of having sexual contact with a minor at the high school job. Aldrich served nine months in prison and was required to register as a sex offender in the state of Michigan.
In October of 2021, Kyle Beach gave an interview on SportsCentre in Canada and confirmed that he was John Doe - detailing his experiences with the Blackhawks.
After the investigation was completed, Bowman and MacIsaac resigned from their positions within the team on October 26. Quenneville, who was the head coach of the Florida Panthers at the time, also resigned from his post two days later.
The Blackhawks were fined $2million by the NHL after the completion of the investigation.
Beach and the Blackhawks reached a confidential settlement in December of 2021.
In November of 2023, another anonymous former Blackhawks prospect filed a negligence lawsuit against the Blackhawks for suppressing his complaints of sexual harassment and threats of physical violence from Aldrich during the 2010 playoffs.