Independent review finds no wrongdoing by Fehr, NHLPA in Kyle Beach case
The independent review into the NHLPA regarding its response to Kyle Beach's allegations that he was sexually assaulted by ex-Chicago Blackhawks video coach Brad Aldrich was made public Friday.
The review conducted by law firm Cozen O'Connor concluded the NHLPA, its executive director Donald Fehr, and the league's substance abuse and behavioral health (SABH) program should not be held responsible for their handling of Beach's allegations.
"In sum, after a thorough examination of the contemporaneous record, the policies and practices in place at the union at the time, and the recollections of each of the parties of the contacts with the NHLPA or the SABH program, we cannot identify any individual wrongdoing or institutional failures of policy or procedure by either Fehr, NHLPA personnel, or the SABH program concerning the handling of Beach's reports," the statement reads.
"Beach's warnings about Aldrich were not addressed on account of miscommunication and misunderstanding, rather than any individual or systemic failure."
Fehr recommended in November the NHLPA hire an independent firm to conduct an investigation into how it handled Beach's allegations.
The NHLPA's executive board, which is made up of a player representative from each of the league's 32 teams, voted in favor of releasing the findings to the public.
Beach came forward in late 2021 and said he was sexually assaulted by Aldrich during the 2010 Stanley Cup playoffs with the Chicago Blackhawks. Beach said at the time he was disappointed in Fehr for his lack of action.
"I know I reported every single detail to an individual at the NHLPA, who I was put in contact with after. I believe two different people talked to Don Fehr," Beach said in October. "And for him to turn his back on the players when his one job is to protect the players at all costs, I don't know how that can be your leader. I don't know how he can be in charge."
The independent review attributed its conclusion to miscommunication between all parties involved.
"Ultimately, the failure to act on Beach’s reports stems from a failure of communication. All parties involved managed to walk away from these interactions under some misapprehension."