Canucks: NHLPA response to Kyle Beach situation ‘unacceptable’, says Bo Horvat

“If it was fixed the right way in the first place, then none of this would happen again. And I think that’s the sad part. That’s why I’m glad Kyle comes up and introduces this, so this kind of thing doesn’t. they happen again. ” – Bo Horvat

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Vancouver Canucks captain Bo Horvat criticized the NHL Players Association Tuesday for its response a decade ago to requests for help from Kyle Beach, the former Chicago Blackhawks prospect who alleged he was sexually abused by a coach in 2010.

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According to Beach, he spoke to the NHLPA twice in the months following the alleged non-consensual encounter with Brad Aldrich, who was the Blackhawks’ video coach during the 2010 Stanley Cup playoffs.

But he never received a response from the NHLPA, he said.

And that has riled up the current generation of NHL players. Horvat is the NHLPA representative for the Canucks and participated in a call with about 80 NHL players Monday with NHLPA Executive Director Donald Fehr, who has led the union since 2010, to discuss Beach’s allegations. .

“It is unacceptable. His job is to protect us, protect the players. They’re working for us, ”Horvat said when asked about the NHLPA’s handling of the Beach situation.

During the call, Fehr suggested that the players hire an outside investigator to review the NHLPA’s response to the Beach situation. Players were due to vote on the proposal on Tuesday and were expected to vote to continue.

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“To make sure we do the right things from now on and the voices of the players are heard and make sure this doesn’t happen again,” Horvat said.

Beach came forward last week as the player known as “John Doe,” the former Blackhawks player who had filed a lawsuit against the NHL team for mishandling its sexual assault allegations.

Beach, a 31-year-old Kelowna native, alleged that Brad Aldrich, who worked for the Blackhawks as a video coach from 2008 to 2010, forced Beach to have sex with him during the 2010 Stanley Cup playoffs. Beach had only 20 years at the time and had been called up as one of the team’s Black Aces for the playoff race.

Blackhawks management was informed of Beach’s allegations later, but nothing was done until the playoffs concluded and the Blackhawks won the Stanley Cup. At the time, Aldrich was told that he could resign or that there would be an internal investigation into his conduct. He chose to resign, but was still allowed a day with the Stanley Cup and his name was engraved on the trophy.

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Aldrich went on to work at a Michigan high school, where he sexually abused a teenager and was later found guilty of sexual assault.

That there was a victim beyond Beach has upset many, including Horvat.

“If it was fixed the right way in the first place, none of this would happen again,” Horvat said. And I think that’s the sad part. That’s why I’m glad Kyle reached out and went ahead with this, so this kind of thing doesn’t happen again.

“First of all, it shouldn’t happen in any way. And we have to get to the bottom of this and make sure this doesn’t happen again. “

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