Blackhawks refused to report alleged sex abuse of players to police: source

[herman]

Let's see how quickly the media jumps to 'mission accomplished' on this terrible situation and coverup after a token bloodletting of x-ing out a name and a fortuitous blockbuster deal to flood the airwaves.

[OldTimeHockey]

Let's see how quickly the media jumps to 'mission accomplished' on this terrible situation and coverup after a token bloodletting of x-ing out a name and a fortuitous blockbuster deal to flood the airwaves.

The media plays a big part in this. Fans do as well.

[Nik]

Let's see how quickly the media jumps to 'mission accomplished' on this terrible situation and coverup after a token bloodletting of x-ing out a name and a fortuitous blockbuster deal to flood the airwaves.

The media plays a big part in this. Fans do as well.

Kind of makes you wish there was a much beloved and admired poster on a hockey forum who has tried for years to tell other fans that caring only about winning to the exclusion of all else is toxic and breeds a terrible environment for sports.

If only.

[OldTimeHockey]

Let's see how quickly the media jumps to 'mission accomplished' on this terrible situation and coverup after a token bloodletting of x-ing out a name and a fortuitous blockbuster deal to flood the airwaves.

The media plays a big part in this. Fans do as well.

Kind of makes you wish there was a much beloved and admired poster on a hockey forum who has tried for years to tell other fans that caring only about winning to the exclusion of all else is toxic and breeds a terrible environment for sports.

If only.

Exactly. It could have fixed everything

[Heroic Shrimp]

Spoke today to sports marketing exec who told me multiple sponsors have "put the NHL on notice" to improve response to Blackhawks abuse scandal.
NHL brand significantly tarnished over past week, exec says, adding some sponsors unhappy with league's crisis management.

— Rick Westhead (@rwesthead) November 6, 2021

[Frank E]

Spoke today to sports marketing exec who told me multiple sponsors have "put the NHL on notice" to improve response to Blackhawks abuse scandal.
NHL brand significantly tarnished over past week, exec says, adding some sponsors unhappy with league's crisis management.

— Rick Westhead (@rwesthead) November 6, 2021

While I appreciate the sentiment or whatever that is, the NHL has a fraction of the terrible bul*shit that the NBA, MLB, and NFL have...and they seem to be doing just fine, right?

EDIT:  And that's not a comment on the league's response, I'm just saying that most corporations will spend their money where the eyeballs are regardless.

[Nik]

While I appreciate the sentiment or whatever that is, the NHL has a fraction of the terrible bul*shit that the NBA, MLB, and NFL have...and they seem to be doing just fine, right?

I don't know about that. As far as bad things in sports goes, this is fairly well up there. I don't know there's a lot in those other sports in recent years that compares to a player in the league being sexually assaulted and a team effectively ignoring it because they thought it might hurt their playoff chances. A company is going to want to feel pretty good on the ROI of their sponsorship dollars to be associated with that.

EDIT:  And that's not a comment on the league's response, I'm just saying that most corporations will spend their money where the eyeballs are regardless.

But sort of the natural flipside of that is that the less powerful a sport is, the more leverage their sponsors have. So while the NBA or NFL might say to a sponsor "If you don't like the way we run things, we have other people whose money we can take" the NHL can't be quite so cavalier with sponsors they want to keep. Remember, we're not too far removed from the NHL games being on the Outdoor Life Network in the states.

[herman]

Tonight on @SportsCentre & @TSNHockey, you’ll hear from the mother of “John Doe 2,” the former high school hockey player sexually assaulted in 2013 by Brad Aldrich.
She’ll share how the abuse has affected her son & offer her reaction to Gary Bettman's comments on the scandal.

— Rick Westhead (@rwesthead) November 8, 2021

Beach 'courageous', says mother of high school player assaulted by Aldrich@rwesthead has the story: https://t.co/kDNN31Y9rt pic.twitter.com/l4iiEdUoZn

— TSN (@TSN_Sports) November 8, 2021

https://t.co/DgodijPi8f

— Rick Westhead (@rwesthead) November 9, 2021

[Nik]

Update: The NHL has informed a lawyer for "John Doe 2" that the league will not cover costs of counselling/therapy for him and his family.
An NHL employee wrote in an email the league will leave that matter for the Blackhawks to manage, JD2's lawyer said.

— Rick Westhead (@rwesthead) November 9, 2021

I'm sure one of their lawyers told them that to do so might be a liability problem but it sure seems like a bad headine for no reason.

[bustaheims]

I'm sure one of their lawyers told them that to do so might be a liability problem but it sure seems like a bad headine for no reason.

Yup. Seems like something they probably should have let their lawyers handle instead of responding directly. Still wouldn't look good, but at least, it would give the league some cover.

[CarltonTheBear]

The Hawks allowed Aldrich to celebrate with them after their cup win.  He felt entitled to the trophy a 2nd time after getting out of prison, on probation as a registered sex offender. https://t.co/U3ngsq2riO

— Ryan Rishaug (@TSNRyanRishaug) November 9, 2021

What the fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu

[Nik]

why, did something happen pic.twitter.com/blLvJOkALW

— katie dzwierzynski (@kdzwierzynski) November 16, 2021

[herman]

Here's the full exchange between me and Rocky Wirtz.

I honestly thought it was kind of a softball question. pic.twitter.com/VeSUnuDnv5

— Mark Lazerus (@MarkLazerus) February 3, 2022

Here’s the full segment/video. Just ridiculous from Rocky Wirtz. pic.twitter.com/9k9QxKW0gI

— Wally Maz (@WallMaz35) February 3, 2022

That new PR manager is in for a treat tonight

[L K]

This is the kind of thing that should get you removed as an owner.  Unbelievably atrocious behaviour. 

[Guilt Trip]

This is the kind of thing that should get you removed as an owner.  Unbelievably atrocious behaviour. 

He's getting blasted on social media. What a tool.

Wayne Gretzky on #Blackhawks: “From every point of view this is just a horrible scenario, what happened to [Kyle Beach]. As a parent, you’re sitting there going, my son’s 18, he’s gonna maybe be drafted by that team … I want to know my 18 y/o son is going to be protected.” (TNT)

— NHL News (@PuckReportNHL) February 3, 2022