CHICAGO, ILLINOIS: Brad Alderich, a former NHL’s Chicago Blackhawks star is facing sexual assault accusations from ex-players.
A second player has filed a lawsuit against the club, alleging that they failed to address and disregarded his complaint against the former video coach at that time.
The alleged assault took place near 2010 Stanley Cup Finals
Within the lawsuit, he specifies that the purported incident occurred during the 2010 Stanley Cup Finals.
The lawsuit, in reference to the unnamed player as "John Doe," states that the Blackhawks were well aware of Coach Aldrich's predatory behavior, particularly directed at him.
It mentions that Doe reported at least one incident to the Blackhawks president’s secretary and also reached out to the team counselor about his concerns.
“The Chicago Blackhawks take allegations of workplace misconduct and organizational response very seriously, and it’s why, over two years ago, we commissioned an extensive independent investigation into the troubling events that occurred in 2010,” the team’s statement said.
Attorneys for the anonymous player shared that his client was inspired by former Blackhawks player Kyle Beach, who sued the team in 2021 over its handling of similar sexual assault allegations Beach made against Aldrich in 2010, as per CNN.
The lawsuit, filed just a few days ago, alleges that the Blackhawks prioritized their Stanley Cup Championship aspirations over the well-being of their players.
It further claims that the team provided protection to a sexual predator on its coaching staff who engaged in grooming, harassment, threats, and assault against John Doe.
What are all the latest lawsuit claims against the Blackhawks?
According to the lawsuit, the alleged victim accused Aldrich of behaving in an "overtly and aggressively sexual" manner towards him and using threats against Doe's career to "coerce" him into not reporting the coach's actions.
These actions reportedly included attempting to make Doe and others watch pornographic movies with him.
The report concludes by asserting that Aldrich had committed sexual misconduct in 2010, and senior Blackhawks leaders neglected to "swiftly and comprehensively investigate" Beach's assault accusation.
In response, the NHL imposed a $2 million fine on the Blackhawks, characterizing it as a penalty for the "organization's deficient internal protocols and inadequate and delayed response."
Antonio Romanucci, one of Doe’s attorneys said, “Having somebody like Kyle Beach, who was a known player, someone who was very well known, to come forward – that’s what gave him the courage.”
On Monday, November 6, he stated, "John Doe feels an immense sense of personal shame, guilt, and embarrassment. It took him a considerable amount of time to come to terms with these feelings and to find the courage to come forward and make his allegations public."
The victim is seeking 'way in excess' of $300,000 in damages from Chicago Blackhawks
