Latest news with #KyleBeach
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
NHL Ducks name Quenneville as coach after probe into sex assault scandal
Joel Quenneville, former coach of the NHL Chicago Blackhawks, was named coach of the Anaheim Ducks (JONATHAN DANIEL) Joel Quenneville, a three-time Stanley Cup champion coach who resigned as a coach during a sexual assault investigation involving his former NHL club, was hired Thursday as coach of the Anaheim Ducks. The 66-year-old was reinstated by the NHL last July after a 2021 independent investigation found Quenneville and other Chicago Blackhawks front office leaders decided to delay any action on sexual assault allegations within the team until after the 2010 Stanley Cup playoffs. Advertisement Quenneville resigned as coach of the Florida Panthers in 2021 after the NHL launched a probe into claims former Chicago video coach Brad Aldrich sexually assaulted Blackhawks prospect Kyle Beach during the 2010 playoffs. The report said witnesses placed Quenneville in a meeting where Aldrich's actions were discussed after the Blackhawks had reached the 2010 Stanley Cup Final, which they won for the team's first crown since 1961. Quenneville had denied being aware of the alleged assault before the findings of the probe were released in 2021, but after meeting with NHL commissioner Gary Bettman, he resigned as coach of the Panthers the next day. The Ducks said they looked into Quenneville's actions. Advertisement "Over the last two weeks, we conducted interviews with many outstanding coaching candidates while simultaneously conducting a comprehensive review of what took place while Joel was head coach of the Blackhawks in 2010," Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek, a 20-year NHL player, said. "We spoke with dozens of individuals, including advocates for positive change in hockey and leadership of the NHL, which last July officially cleared Joel to seek employment in the league. "Our findings are consistent with Joel's account that he was not fully aware of the severity of what transpired in 2010. "It is clear that Joel deeply regrets not following up with more questions at the time, has demonstrated meaningful personal growth and accountability and has earned the opportunity to return to coaching." Advertisement Verbeek called it a "great day" for the club and described Quenneville as "a proven winner and one of the top coaches in NHL history." The Ducks, who have not reached the NHL playoffs since 2018, fired coach Greg Cronin last month after two seasons with the club, setting the stage for Quenneville's hiring. "We believe this is a major step forward in our process of being a perennial playoff contender," Verbeek said. - 'Actions over words' - Quenneville guided Chicago to NHL crowns in 2010, 2013 and 2015, becoming one of only 11 coaches to win the Stanley Cup three times and the only one to do so in the salary cap era of the past 20 years. Advertisement "I'm excited to join the Anaheim Ducks," Quenneville said. "This is the organization I wanted to restart my career with and am truly grateful for this opportunity. "In nearly four years away from the game, I have learned from my prior mistakes and realized it will be actions over words that demonstrate my commitment to being a better leader." Quenneville has a career regular-season record of 969-572 with 77 drawn and 150 overtime losses with Florida, Chicago, Colorado and St. Louis. His 969 wins rank second all-time for NHL coaches. He was the NHL Coach of the year in 2000 with St. Louis. js/bb
CBC
08-05-2025
- Sport
- CBC
Joel Quenneville hired by Ducks for 1st head coaching job since Chicago's sex abuse scandal
Joel Quenneville is returning to the NHL with the Anaheim Ducks for his first head coaching job since the second-winningest coach in league history resigned and was banned for his handling of a sexual assault scandal. The 66-year-old Quenneville was hired by Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek on Thursday for his first coaching job since his resignation from the Florida Panthers 3 ½ years ago in the wake of his handling of the sexual assault scandal during his tenure with Chicago. Verbeek called the move "a major step forward in our process of being a perennial playoff contender" and said the team had done its due diligence. "Over the last two weeks, we conducted interviews with many outstanding coaching candidates, while simultaneously conducting a comprehensive review of what took place while Joel was head coach of [Chicago] in 2010," he said. "Our findings are consistent with Joel's account that he was not fully aware of the severity of what transpired in 2010. It is clear that Joel deeply regrets not following up with more questions at the time, has demonstrated meaningful personal growth and accountability and has earned the opportunity to return to coaching." Quenneville and Chicago executives Stan Bowman and Al MacIsaac were banned from the NHL for nearly three years after an independent investigation concluded that the team mishandled allegations raised by former player Kyle Beach against video coach Brad Aldrich during the team's Stanley Cup run in 2010. The trio was reinstated last July, and Bowman became the Edmonton Oilers' general manager three weeks later. Kyle Beach 'overwhelmed' by support after sharing sexual assault story 4 years ago Duration 1:57 Quenneville said he was "truly grateful" to be back in the league. "In nearly four years away from the game, I have learned from my prior mistakes and realized it will be actions over words that demonstrate my commitment to being a better leader," he said. Before his departure, Quenneville spent parts of 25 NHL seasons behind the benches of St. Louis, Colorado, Chicago and Florida, establishing himself as his era's most consistent winning coach. He led Chicago to Stanley Cup championships in 2010, 2013 and 2015. His 969 career victories are the second-most in NHL history, trailing only Scotty Bowman's 1,244. Quenneville's reputation and career were badly damaged by his role in the tean;s handling of the accusations against Aldrich. After four seasons out of the sport, the 13-year NHL defenceman is getting another chance behind the bench — this time with a franchise in the middle of a lengthy rebuilding process. Quenneville takes over a team that has missed the playoffs for seven consecutive seasons, the third-longest active absence in the NHL. Anaheim finished sixth in the Pacific Division this season at 35-37-10 after being in the bottom two for the previous four consecutive years. He replaces Greg Cronin, who was surprisingly fired by Verbeek at the conclusion of his second season in charge. Cronin led the Ducks to a 21-point improvement in his second season, but Verbeek changed course for reasons he declined to reveal when he announced the firing. While announcing the change, Verbeek said he expects the Ducks to make the playoffs next season. That's a pronouncement that the first-time GM had never made during his 3 1/2 years in charge of owner Henry Samueli's franchise. And Quenneville has plenty of experience in getting teams to the postseason. His teams have made 20 Stanley Cup playoff appearances, reaching the postseason in all but two of the 22 seasons he finished. Quenneville inherits a team with an ample stock of young talent. The roster includes No. 2 overall pick Leo Carlsson, No. 3 overall picks Mason McTavish and Beckett Sennecke, promising forward Cutter Gauthier, rising defencemen Jackson LaCombe and Pavel Mintyukov, and several veteran forwards, including two-time All-Star Troy Terry and Trevor Zegras.
Reuters
08-05-2025
- Sport
- Reuters
Reports: Ducks hiring Joel Quenneville as head coach
The Anaheim Ducks are hiring three-time Stanley Cup winner Joel Quenneville as their new head coach, multiple outlets reported Thursday. Quenneville, 66, won three championships with the Chicago Blackhawks (2010, 2013 and 2015) and ranks No. 2 in NHL history with 969 wins for four teams over 25 seasons. He resigned as coach of the Florida Panthers in October 2021 after an independent investigation came to light about how he and other Blackhawks leaders had handled a 2010 sexual assault allegation against the team's video coach, Brad Aldrich. Commissioner Gary Bettman said at the time that the coach would have to meet with the NHL should he seek future employment in the league, and the NHL reinstated Quenneville in July 2024. The Ducks fired Greg Cronin last month after he compiled a record of 62-87-15 in two seasons. Anaheim has missed the playoffs in each of the past seven seasons. Quenneville was 969-572-150 with 77 ties as head coach of the St. Louis Blues (1996-2004), Colorado Avalanche (2005-08), Blackhawks (2008-18) and Panthers (2019-21). He won the Jack Adams Award as the league's coach of the Year in 1999-2000. Former Blackhawks prospect Kyle Beach made assault claims against Aldrich during the 2010 Stanley Cup playoffs. The investigation found that Quenneville and Chicago executives decided to defer any actions against Aldrich until after the Stanley Cup Final to avoid any distractions. "I want to express my sorrow for the pain this young man, Kyle Beach, has suffered," Quenneville said after leaving his job with the Panthers in 2021. "My former team -- the Blackhawks -- failed Kyle, and I own my share of that. I want to reflect on how all this happened and take the time to educate myself on ensuring hockey spaces are safe for everyone." --Field Level Media
Daily Mail
08-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
BREAKING NEWS NHL coach implicated in sexual assault scandal 'set to make shock return to league'
Despite being implicated as a major player in the cover up of the sexual assault of one of his former players, Joel Quenneville will be returning to the National Hockey League as a coach. Quenneville, who has been out of work since 2021, is set to be announced as the head coach of the Anaheim Ducks per multiple reports. The Ducks recently fired head coach Greg Cronin after he spent two seasons behind the bench. Per ESPN's Emily Kaplan, the Ducks were interesting in hiring University of Denver head coach David Carle before he extended his contract with the school. Former NHL coaches Rich Tocchet and Jay Woodcroft were also considered. Quenneville is most well-known for being the head coach of the Chicago Blackhawks, where he won three Stanley Cups in 2010, 2013, and 2015. But it was during that first title run in 2010 where Quenneville knowingly covered up the sexual assault of a player, Kyle Beach, at the hands of video analyst Brad Aldrich. An investigation conducted by the NHL found that Quenneville and other members of the Blackhawks front office were made aware of the allegations prior to the Stanley Cup Final. In particular, Quenneville was concerned that addressing the sexual assault would be a 'distraction' to the team. On May 7, 2021, a former Blackhawks player - initially filing as John Doe, later revealed as Beach - accused Aldrich of sexually assaulting him during the 2010 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Beach also alleged that Aldrich physically, emotionally, and financially threatened him. A month's long investigation by the law firm Jenner & Block found that executives - including Quenneville, general manager Stan Bowman, and VP of Hockey Operations Al MacIsaac - held a meeting after sweeping the San Jose Sharks in the Western Conference Finals to address the claims. However, the executives decided to not address the claims until after the Stanley Cup Finals. The report found that the matter was never discussed again. Aldrich was given the option of resigning or being fired by the Blackhawks' human resources director if the claims were true. Aldrich chose to resign and was still allowed to participate in celebrations after the Blackhawks won the 2010 Stanley Cup Final. Aldrich went on to work for the University of Notre Dame and Miami University in Ohio before serving as a high school assistant coach in Houghton, Michigan. He was accused of sexual assault at Miami University and was later convicted of having sexual contact with a minor at the high school job. Aldrich served nine months in prison and was required to register as a sex offender in the state of Michigan. In October of 2021, Kyle Beach gave an interview on SportsCentre in Canada and confirmed that he was John Doe - detailing his experiences with the Blackhawks. After the investigation was completed, Bowman and MacIsaac resigned from their positions within the team on October 26, 2021. Quenneville, who was the head coach of the Florida Panthers at the time, also resigned from his post two days later. The Blackhawks were fined $2million by the NHL after the completion of the investigation. Beach and the Blackhawks reached a confidential settlement in December of 2021. In November of 2023, another anonymous former Blackhawks prospect filed a negligence lawsuit against the Blackhawks for suppressing his complaints of sexual harassment and threats of physical violence from Aldrich during the 2010 playoffs. Last July, the NHL reinstated Quenneville, Bowman, and MacIsaac - allowing all three of them to be employed by a team if they chose to do so. NHL commissioner Gary Bettman noted that the three men showed 'sincere remorse' for their 'unacceptable' response to the allegations. Weeks after that decision, Bowman was hired to be the general manager of the Edmonton Oilers. According to ESPN, the Ducks did 'an extensive look into Quenneville's role' in the scandal over the course of 'several weeks' - including speaking to Beach 'other advocacy groups that Quenneville had formed relationships with.' Ultimately, the team believed the coach 'had continued to put in the necessary work to understand how to reform the mistakes from 2010,' sources told the outlet. Quenneville is the second-winningest coach in NHL history - owning 969 wins across time with the St. Louis Blues and two stints with the Colorado Avalanche in addition to his time behind the bench with the Blackhawks and Panthers. Prior to his coaching days, Quenneville played 13 NHL seasons with the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Colorado Rockies (hockey team), the New Jersey Devils, the Hartford Whalers, and the Washington Capitals. Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek was a teammate of Quenneville's in Hartford for one season.
New York Times
08-05-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Joel Quenneville to be named coach of Anaheim Ducks: Sources
Joel Quenneville will be hired as head coach of the Anaheim Ducks, league sources told Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic on Thursday. Quenneville, a three-time Stanley Cup champion as a head coach, has been out of the NHL since 2021, when the league determined Quenneville had an 'inadequate response' to allegations of sexual assault within the Chicago Blackhawks when he was coach of the team. Advertisement Quenneville, 66, ranks second all-time among NHL coaches with 969 regular-season victories. He most recently coached the Florida Panthers from 2019-21 but resigned after a meeting with commissioner Gary Bettman regarding his role in the Blackhawks scandal, in which former player Kyle Beach alleged he had been sexually assaulted by Chicago video coach Brad Aldrich in 2010. A report from a law firm later detailed how the Chicago organization failed to properly address the allegations. Bettman subsequently announced that Quenneville, then Blackhawks general manager Stan Bowman and then-Chicago executive Al MacIsaac — all of whom left their roles in 2021 — would have to meet with him before returning to the NHL. All three were reinstated last July 1, and Bowman was hired as GM of the Edmonton Oilers that month but Quenneville has remained on the sidelines. Per league sources, the Ducks conducted 'an extensive review over the past two weeks of the Kyle Beach case' and will address their findings later Thursday when the hire is officially announced. The Ducks were in search of a replacement for Greg Cronin, whom they fired this month after two seasons. The Ducks made a 21-point improvement in the standings this season but missed the playoffs for a seventh consecutive year. Quenneville brings a long record of coaching success, which came after a 13-year career as an NHL defenseman. After he won the Stanley Cup as an assistant coach with the Colorado Avalanche in 1996, Quenneville became head coach in St. Louis and led the Blues to the playoffs in seven of his eight seasons. After being fired in 2004, Quenneville returned to Colorado as head coach for three seasons. Quenneville's biggest success came in Chicago. Hired in 2008, he coached the Blackhawks to a Stanley Cup championship in his second season, then again in 2013 and 2015. After the Blackhawks lost in the first round of the playoffs in 2016 and 2017, and missed the playoffs in 2017-18, Quenneville was fired 15 games into the 2018-19 season. He then moved to the Florida Panthers, with whom he spent parts of three seasons before his 2021 resignation.
