The Hockey Hall of Fame confirmedto The Athletic it has crossed out the name of former Chicago Blackhawks assistant coach Brad Aldrich from the Stanley Cup following an investigation into the club's mishandling of an allegation he sexually assaulted a former player.
Chris Johnston @reporterchrisFurther to <a href="https://twitter.com/TSNRyanRishaug?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TSNRyanRishaug</a> report earlier today, here's how the 2009-10 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/blackhawks?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#blackhawks</a> panel on the Stanley Cup now looks after Brad Aldrich's name was XXXX XXXXXX'd out over the weekend. (photo courtesy <a href="https://twitter.com/keeperofthecup?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@keeperofthecup</a>) <a href="https://t.co/G8c19moVeQ">pic.twitter.com/G8c19moVeQ</a>
The Blackhawks requested Aldrich's name be removed from the Cup as the club continues dealing with the fallout from the independent investigation completed by Jenner & Block law firm.Ryan Rishaug of TSN reported the Hall of Fame crossed out Aldrich's name when the names for last season's Tampa Bay Lightning were added.
This is the second time a name has been crossed out on the Cup. The NHL had the Hall remove Basil Pocklington, the father of former Edmonton Oilers ownerPeter Pocklington, after his name was etched onto the Cup following the1983-84 Stanley Cup.
"That decision, among others, reflects the Cup's storied history of engraving mistakes and errors that have ended up enshrined in silver, or been corrected after the fact,"Chicago Blackhawks owner Rocky Wirtz wrote.
Wirtz said that "taking a stand" on Aldrich's behavior meant removing him from the Cup.
Former Blackhawks winger Kyle Beach revealed he was one of Aldrich's victims and is suing the club. The Blackhawks are planning to settle the lawsuit out of court.
"I know I'm not the only one, male or female. And I buried this for 10 years, 11 years. And it's destroyed me from the inside out," Beach said in an interview on TSN. "And I want everybody to know in the sports world and in the world that you're not alone. That if these things happen to you, you need to speak up."
The Blackhawks released a statement Tuesday apologizing to Beach for dismissing his allegation:"We apologize to Kyle Beach for previously stating his allegations ‘lacked merit.’ It is clear now that our organization did not do the right thing."
Following the playoffs, the investigation found that Aldrich was allowed to resign from the team without investigation, given severance pay and celebrated the Stanley Cup victory with the team before going on to work for USA Hockey, Notre Dame, Miami (Ohio) and at a high school in Houghton, Michigan.
Aldrich was convicted of sexually assaulting a minor in Houghton in 2014 and sentenced to nine months in jail.
