Sexual abuse survivor, ex-player speaks about Blackhawks scandal: ‘No one thought about the victim’ – Winnipeg
Because the fallout continues from the findings of an unbiased report into alleged sexual abuse by a Chicago Blackhawks video coach over a decade in the past, a lot of the dialogue has turned to the tradition of hockey, and the way it was doable for the scenario to be pushed underneath the rug for therefore lengthy.
Toronto lawyer, former hockey participant, and sexual assault survivor Greg Gilhooly advised 680 CJOB that whereas the tradition is slowly altering, there’s nonetheless loads of work to be accomplished.
Gilhooly, a star goalie as a younger athlete in Winnipeg, was a sufferer of hockey coach and serial abuser Graham James within the late Nineteen Seventies — derailing his hockey profession and inflicting him a long time of trauma.
The main points within the Blackhawks report, he mentioned, paint senior Chicago officers in a horrible gentle, and that there’s little question prime executives like longtime common supervisor Stan Bowman needed to lose their jobs in consequence.
“No one in that room, on listening to that info, thought in regards to the sufferer,” Gilhooly mentioned.
“Each particular person in that room considered two issues: profitable the Stanley Cup — what was finest for the group, to win the Stanley Cup — and ‘what do I do to guard myself and advance my profession.’”
Gilhooly mentioned the difficulty of sexual abuse in hockey — via instances like his and lots of others — has grow to be well-known, and if the Blackhawks brass actually needed to avoid wasting their jobs, they need to have come ahead instantly.
“Sufficient of these items has occurred, the place an government is aware of, out of pure self-interest, that (now) ‘the precise factor to do for my profession and for my group is to return ahead.’”
Along with the resignation of Bowman — the GM who guided the group to a few Stanley Cup championships — and different front-office figures, the scandal has additionally impacted former Blackhawks employees, together with Winnipeg Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff, who served as assistant GM with Chicago on the time of the incident.
The Blackhawks have been additionally fined $2 million by the NHL for mishandling the accusations.
Gilhooly mentioned there are various levels of culpability amongst Blackhawks executives, and that issues might not have been so clear on the time as they’re now, on reflection, with the entire particulars turning into public.
“I do have some sympathy for a man like Kevin Cheveldayoff, who was not probably the most senior particular person within the room when the data got here to gentle,” Gilhooly mentioned.
The Jets GM, together with former Chicago head coach — now behind the bench for the Florida Panthers — Joel Quenneville, will likely be assembly with NHL commissioner Gary Bettman within the close to future.
Learn extra:
Winnipeg Jets GM says he had no knowledge of allegations against former Blackhawks coach
In a press release Tuesday, Cheveldayoff mentioned, “I’ve shared the whole lot I find out about this matter as a part of my participation in Jenner & Block’s investigation. That’s mirrored in at present’s investigation report.
“Additional, I sit up for my dialogue with Commissioner Bettman on the soonest doable date to proceed to cooperate totally with the Nationwide Hockey League. I’ll reserve any additional remark till after that dialog has been performed.”
If you happen to or somebody you understand has been a sufferer of sexual assault… assist is offered on the following Manitoba disaster strains:
Klinic Disaster Line: (204) 786-8686
Seniors abuse assist line: 1-888-896-7183
Children Assist Cellphone: 1-800-668-6868
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