After recording the worst start in franchise history, the Chicago Blackhawks fired head coach Jeremy Colliton and assistant coaches Thomas Mittel and Sheldon Brookbank, which have been sexually assaulted. The scandal-affected team created further chaos.
The National Hockey League team announced on Saturday that Rockford Hockey coach Derek King will now serve as interim head coach, effective immediately. The other assistant coaches will stay in their positions.
“For our organization, these have been extremely difficult weeks and we had to accept some necessary changes. When we look to the future, we know that we must regain the trust of the fans. We thank our entire community for their support, because We are working hard to do this,” the leadership of the Blackhawks Said in a statement on Saturday.
“We are grateful to Jeremy for everything he brought to the Blackhawks. We look forward to working with Derek as the interim head coach while working hard to rebuild our permanent leadership in ice hockey operations.”
Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images
As the Blackhawks scored the worst start in team history with a score of 1-9-2, and only achieved their first victory in the 10th game of the season, the coaching change also followed. The team fired Colliton three years after being hired, when he replaced former head coach Joel Quinneville.
Saturday’s announcement was also made a few weeks after an independent investigation revealed that the Blackhawks Serious mishandling of allegations of sexual assault that occurred in 2010 Before the Stanley Cup Championship game against former video coach Brad Aldridge.Last month, the former player Kyle Beach calls himself “John Doe” In the lawsuit about the attack.
An investigation conducted by Jenner and Block Law Firm and led by former federal prosecutor Reid Schar found that a group of Blackhawks executives did not report the incident immediately, but waited after the playoffs ended. For three weeks-in violation of their own sexual harassment policy-“so as not to disturb the team’s chemical reaction.”
The report also found that many Blackhawks players and staff were aware of these allegations, but did not defend the beach. On the contrary, it is reported that his teammates will make fun of him with homophobic insults.
In an interview with TSN, Beech said: “These comments were made in the locker room, on ice, and made around the arena with people of all different backgrounds; players, staff, and the media were all in Field,” added “the word spread quickly.”
The severe report prompted Stan Bowman, who has long served as the general manager of the Blackhawks, to retire at the end of October. Hockey League The team was fined $2 million for improper handling.
In a letter to fans, the Blackhawks admitted last month that “the organization and its executives did not meet our own standards or values in handling these disturbing incidents.”
It continued: “Our ownership and leadership team is committed to ensuring that the Blackhawks comply with the highest ethical, professional and athletic standards. We will not tolerate any organization member’s behavior that violates our values, and we will not accept allowing such issues to continue. Uncontrolled inaction type.”
The team also issued a statement praising Beech for coming forward, while “expressing our deepest apologies for everything he has experienced.”
Weekly newspaper Blackhawks was contacted for more comment, but did not respond to publication in time.
