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TRAIKOS: Everyone — including Jets’ GM Kevin Cheveldayoff — bears level of responsibility for mishandling of Kyle Beach’s case

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Ultimately, you need to draw a line.

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As a lot as some would have favored, you possibly can’t actually do away with everybody who remained silent or didn’t do sufficient after Kyle Seashore alleged he had been sexually abused by a Chicago Blackhawks video coach in the course of the 2010 playoffs.

When you did, you may not have many left remaining within the NHL. Or anybody working the league.

In any case, the listing of those that have been complicit goes past the small group of people who had initially met and mentioned what they’d do — or, because it occurred, not do — when the allegations of abuse first surfaced 11 years in the past.

It consists of managers and coaches, teammates and opposing gamers, union reps, and lots of, many extra. Practically everybody in all probability performed a job on this cover-up, whether or not huge or small. If gamers knew sufficient in regards to the allegations they have been lobbing homosexual slurs towards Seashore, then even the Blackhawks’ tools supervisor in all probability knew. And didn’t say something.

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Heck, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman and NHLPA government director Don Fehr needed to know.

And for greater than a decade, neither did something about it.

That’s troubling. And whereas it will be finest if this incident had triggered a top-to-bottom clean-up of a league that tends to retains issues behind closed doorways, it’s now clear the NHL is extra involved with punishing the principle offenders than low-level assistant managers.

Former Blackhawks prospect Kyle Beach at the 2008 NHL entry draft in Ottawa. GETTY IMAGES
Former Blackhawks prospect Kyle Seashore on the 2008 NHL entry draft in Ottawa. GETTY IMAGES

So whereas then-GM Stan Bowman and then-head coach Joel Quenneville have been each compelled to resign this week for his or her specific position in remaining silent and mishandling the abuse allegations that affected the profession and lifetime of one in every of their brightest prospects, Winnipeg Jets normal supervisor Kevin Cheveldayoff, who was then the Blackhawks’ former assistant normal supervisor on the time, escaped punishment after assembly with Bettman on Friday.

“Whereas on some degree, it will be best to color everybody with any affiliation to this horrible matter with the identical broad brush, I consider that elementary equity requires a extra in-depth evaluation of every individual,” Bettman mentioned in a press release.

“Kevin Cheveldayoff was not a member of the Blackhawks senior management workforce in 2010, and I can’t, subsequently, assign to him duty for the Membership’s actions, or inactions. He supplied a full account of his diploma of involvement within the matter, which was restricted completely to his attendance at a single assembly, and I discovered him to be extraordinarily forthcoming and credible in our dialogue.”

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In a press release launched on Friday, Cheveldayoff expressed “assist and empathy for Kyle Seashore and all he has needed to endure since 2010.” However he stopped wanting apologizing or taking any blame for any wrongdoing on his half. He didn’t say how a lot he knew or what — if any — actions he took when the allegations first surfaced.

Because the assistant GM, who was in command of the wage cap and the minor-league affiliate, of which Seashore was a member, you need to determine he had extra of a duty on this than he’s letting on. And he’s not alone.

Let’s face it: Everybody knew, and thus everybody shares a duty for remaining silent after phrase unfold that video coach Brad Aldrich had acted inappropriately with one of many workforce’s Black Aces.

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NHL commissioner Gary Bettman ruled Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff was not responsible for the Blackhawks’ cover-up of Kyle Beach’s sex-assault allegations against Brad Aldrich. AP PHOTO FILE
NHL commissioner Gary Bettman dominated Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff was not accountable for the Blackhawks’ cover-up of Kyle Seashore’s sex-assault allegations in opposition to Brad Aldrich. AP PHOTO FILE

The hockey world is small and incestuous. There are fewer than six levels of separation between each participant within the league. Andrew Brunette, who changed Quenneville because the Panthers’ interim head coach, additionally performed for Quenneville in Chicago two years after Seashore was abused. Everybody is aware of everybody and everybody is aware of everybody’s enterprise.

Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews mentioned he heard rumours as to why Aldrich left the workforce. So did Patrick Kane and Duncan Keith. I’m certain everybody knew. In keeping with Seashore, it didn’t take lengthy earlier than teammates have been making feedback on the ice, within the dressing room, across the enviornment, with workers and media all inside earshot.

Nobody spoke up. Nobody requested extra questions, demanded solutions or accountability from the higher-ups. They only saved taking part in, whereas one in every of their brothers suffered in silence.

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“This can be a sport that’s just a little little bit of what you’ll name an old-boys membership and there may be positively some secrecy and issues that want to vary,” mentioned Bruins winger Taylor Corridor, who performed main junior in opposition to Seashore. “Individuals have to be held accountable.”

As Corridor mentioned, everybody bears some duty on this. That features Bowman and Quenneville, but in addition Cheveldayoff. But when the league had punished Cheveldayoff, they could as effectively have punished Toews, who because the captain representing his teammates by no means went to his coach or his GM and requested for extra particulars. And should you punish Toews, the place does it finish?

Joel Quenneville coaches in his final game behind the bench of the Florida Panthers on Wednesday night. Quenneville resigned on Thursday. USA TODAY SPORTS
Joel Quenneville coaches in his remaining sport behind the bench of the Florida Panthers on Wednesday night time. Quenneville resigned on Thursday. USA TODAY SPORTS

Nonetheless, I discover it tough to grasp that Bowman and Quenneville are out of jobs, however Cheveldayoff is allowed to stay as Jets normal supervisor. I additionally discover it tough that Fehr, who in accordance with Seashore was made conscious of the small print of the assault, continues to be the pinnacle of the gamers’ union.

“I don’t know the way that may be your chief,” Seashore advised TSN’s Rick Westhead on Wednesday. “I don’t know the way he will be in cost.”

You’ll be able to say that about lots of people.

Ultimately, you need to stay with the truth that not sufficient did sufficient. And sadly for individuals who are nonetheless within the league, these persons are nonetheless in positions of energy.

mtraikos@postmedia.com

twitter.com/Michael_Traikos

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