In a shocking turn of events, Stan Bowman, the new general manager and vice-president of hockey operations for the Edmonton Oilers, has returned to the NHL with a promise that the mishandling of sexual assault allegations, like those that occurred during his time with the Chicago Blackhawks, will never happen again under his watch.
“These things will never happen on my watch again,” Bowman declared during a press conference at Rogers Place. This bold statement comes in the wake of a scandal that rocked the hockey world, involving allegations made by Kyle Beach, a former player for the Blackhawks, against video coach Brad Aldrich during the team’s Stanley Cup season in 2010.
Bowman, who served as the GM of the Blackhawks for 12 years, admitted that he did not handle the situation properly and expressed deep regret for his actions. “I didn’t handle things properly, I should have done more,” Bowman confessed. “That’s something I regret. It’s something I’ve had the chance to reflect on and I’ve tried to learn from.”
Following an independent investigation into the allegations, Bowman, along with longtime coach Joel Quenneville and Blackhawks executive Al MacIsaac, were banned from the NHL. However, commissioner Gary Bettman recently reinstated them, giving them a second chance to work in the league.
During the press conference, Oilers CEO of hockey operations Jeff Jackson addressed the issue head-on. “Let me be very clear, what happened to Kyle Beach in 2010 was wrong. It was horrible. It wasn’t handled properly at the time. But I think Stan has acknowledged his responsibility,” Jackson stated.
Despite the controversy surrounding his past, Bowman has taken steps to make amends. He reached out to Beach in the summer of 2023, after initially not receiving a response. With the support of advocates like Sheldon Kennedy, a sexual assault survivor and former NHL player, Bowman made a renewed effort to contact Beach and address the situation.
As Bowman embarks on this new chapter with the Oilers, he is determined to right the wrongs of the past and ensure that a similar tragedy never occurs again in the world of hockey. His commitment to accountability and learning from past mistakes sets a precedent for others in the league to follow.