Spitfires, WECSHOF will continue to monitor the consequences of Quenneville’s resignation

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Windsor native Joel Quenneville’s mishandling of allegations of sexual assault of a former player by a former coach in 2010 cost him his job with the NHL’s Florida Panthers on Thursday.

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Time will tell if Quenneville will face further action from his hometown, where his No. 6 has been honored by the club and elevated to the rafters at the WFCU Center, while the Windsor / Essex County Sports Hall of Fame has. included in his Class of 2005.

“Celebrating athletes and builders on and off the field of play while recognizing all the rights of those involved in sport, including the right to enjoy a safe and supportive sports environment, are among the core values ​​of our organization. ”Said Dr. Scott Martyn, who is chairman of the WECSHOF board of directors, said in a statement. “As we continue to monitor these disturbing events, including the recent resignation of Joel Quenneville as head coach of the Florida Panthers following a meeting with NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, WECSHOF will seek to uphold its values ​​while adhering to the more high ethical, professional and athletic standards. . “

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Martyn stopped short of saying what steps the WECSHOF could take in the future regarding Quenneville and the Spitfires said the same for the man, whose 103 points in 1977-78 remain a club record for scoring in a single season by a defender. .

“The Windsor Spitfires continue to monitor reports regarding recent information released about Joel Quenneville, who was a player and captain of our team in the mid-1970s,” the club said in a statement. “We understand that Mr. Quenneville’s decision to resign from his position with the Florida Panthers relates to his knowledge of a sexual assault allegation that occurred between a player and a video coach when he was the head coach of the Chicago Blackhawks. in 2010. This is a very disturbing story.

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“The Windsor Spitfires take extensive measures to ensure that their players live and play in a safe environment. They are provided education on bullying and harassment and have multiple staff members, as well as independent channels, to voice any concerns or issues they may be facing. The facts related to the Chicago incident that occurred in 2010 are very limited and we will continue to assess the situation as additional information becomes available. “

Quenneville, 63, ranks second on the NHL’s all-time win list for coaches behind only Scotty Bowman and had the Panthers off to a perfect 7-0 start to the season.

However, after meeting with Bettman on Thursday, Quenneville announced that he would step down as the Panthers head coach.

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“With deep regret and regret, I announce my resignation as head coach of the Florida Panthers,” Quenneville said in a statement. “I want to express my regret for the pain suffered by this young man, (alleged victim) Kyle Beach. My old team, the Blackhawks, failed Kyle and I own my share of that. I want to reflect on how this all happened and take the time to educate myself on how to ensure that hockey spaces are safe for everyone. “

Quenneville, who played parts of 13 NHL seasons before becoming a coach, coached the Blackhawks from 2008 to 2018, which included a Stanley Cup title in 2010. An investigation revealed he was among six people with the high Chicago management who met and discussed the alleged sexual assault during the 2010 playoffs, but mishandled the claim. The 107-page report said no action was taken for three weeks.

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Stan Bowman resigned as general manager for the Blackhawks on Tuesday and Quenneville late Thursday.

“It goes without saying that the conduct described in that report is troubling and inexcusable,” Florida President and CEO Matt Caldwell said in a statement. “It is a direct contract with our values ​​as an organization and what the Florida Panthers stand for.

“No one should have to put up with what Kyle Beach experienced during and long after their time in Chicago. It was simply a failure. We commend his bravery and courage in introducing himself.

“After a meeting (Thursday) with Commissioner Bettman at the National Hockey League offices, which was part of the league’s process of deciding how to move forward, Joel made the decision to resign and the Florida Panthers accepted that resignation. “.

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Andrew Brunette, who was Quenneville’s assistant coach, was named interim head coach before Friday’s game against the Detroit Red Wings.

“From a life perspective, I think all of us in our locker room, our most important thoughts, I personally speak for myself, my heart is going to Kyle Beach, to Joe Doe in Hope, Michigan (another alleged victim of the former Chicago video coach Brad Aldrich), in what they’ve had to get into the hands of a predator, “Red Wings head coach Jeff Blashill said before the game. what they will have to live the rest of their lives. From a personal perspective, in our room we all feel great sympathy for what those two and anyone else have to go through. “

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“The first and most important part is to do everything possible not to be in situations where people are exposed to predators, but that is sometimes impossible to understand and know. When that kind of action happens, no matter what happens next, it doesn’t take away the fact that the action happened. It is something that none of us would want to subject anyone to.

“From our perspective, we have to make sure our players understand that there is support here for them in many different areas. We have to make sure that we are making the best decisions we can with our players and our staff and everyone around us, their personal lives first. “

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