Ex-player sues Chicago Blackhawks, alleging 2010 sexual assault

A former member of the Chicago Blackhawks’ “Black Aces” squad and teammate of Kyle Beach has filed a lawsuit alleging that former video coach Brad Aldrich groomed, harassed, threatened, and assaulted him during the 2009-2010 season. The lawsuit also claims that the Blackhawks suppressed the complaint in order to protect their Stanley Cup championship run. The negligence lawsuit was filed by Chicago-based law firm Romanucci & Blandin on behalf of their client, who is named anonymously as “John Doe.” The suit names the Blackhawks as the sole defendant and seeks a jury trial. Antonio Romanucci, a founding partner of the law firm, spoke exclusively to the Tribune about the case, emphasizing the need for accountability in sports teams regarding sexual abuse. The Blackhawks responded to the allegations, stating that they take workplace misconduct seriously and have implemented improvements to ensure the safety and well-being of their players and employees.

Attorneys from Romanucci & Blandin confirmed that their client is the witness “Black Ace 1,” who spoke to independent investigators from Jenner & Block. The independent investigation accused the 2010 Stanley Cup champions of a cover-up. Kyle Beach, another teammate of John Doe’s, also filed a lawsuit against the Blackhawks based on his own alleged sexual assault by Aldrich. The fallout from the investigation led to the dismissal or resignation of several senior leaders from the 2009-2010 Hawks, including then-general manager Stan Bowman and coach Joel Quenneville. The NHL fined the Blackhawks $2 million in response.

John Doe’s lawsuit contains allegations similar to Beach’s claims, including instances of explicit and aggressive sexual behavior by Aldrich. The suit also states that Aldrich threatened John Doe’s career to prevent him from reporting the alleged conduct. One allegation in the lawsuit matches a witness account from the Jenner & Block report, in which Aldrich sent John Doe a text message with a picture of his penis. The lawsuit alleges that John Doe showed the text to “Employee A,” who reported the incident to Hawks management. However, there were delays in reporting the allegations, and Aldrich was given the option to resign or face an investigation. He ultimately resigned and received severance and benefits.

The lawsuit aims to hold the Blackhawks accountable and ensure that teams across the country understand that such behavior is unacceptable. The case highlights the need for stronger measures to prevent sexual abuse in sports teams and prioritizes the mental and physical health of players. Aldrich, the former video coach, has been previously convicted of criminal sexual conduct and is a registered sex offender.

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Sarah Anderson

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