Editor’s Note: The following story deals with sexual assault, and may be distressing for some readers.
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The NHL has reinstated executives Joel Quenneville, Stan Bowman and Al MacIsaac effective immediately, the league announced Monday.
They are eligible to seek employment in the NHL, but cannot start in a position until July 10.
The three executives have been ineligible to work for the league for two and a half years as a result of their “inadequate response upon being informed in 2010 of allegations that Blackhawks Player, Kyle Beach, had been assaulted by the Club’s video coach,” the league said in a statement.
The NHL goes on to say that, while the club’s response at the time was unacceptable, “each of these three individuals has acknowledged that and used his time away from the game to engage in activities which, not only demonstrate sincere remorse for what happened, but also evidence greater awareness of the responsibilities that all NHL personnel have, particularly personnel who are in positions of leadership.
“The League expects that they will continue this commitment in any future capacity with the NHL and/or one of our Clubs.”
Quenneville, former Florida Panthers head coach, resigned in October 2021 when specifics of how the Blackhawks mishandled the allegations were revealed. Quenneville was Chicago’s head coach when the abuse occurred.
Quenneville denies he was informed of the alleged assault at the time, a claim disputed by Beach.
Quenneville resigned after a meeting with NHL commissioner Gary Bettman, who said he supported the decision. At the time, Bettman noted that if Quenneville wanted to return to the NHL, he needed to seek clearance from the commissioner to do so.
A former Toronto Maple Leaf during his playing career, Quenneville coached the Blackhawks from 2008 to 2019, winning three Stanley Cups, before he was hired by the Panthers in April 2019.
Bowman was former general manager of the Blackhawks and resigned from that position in October 2021.
MacIsaac also was an executive with Chicago.