NHLPA voting on potential investigation into union's response to Kyle Beach

The NHLPA issued a statement following Monday's executive board meeting.

"On the NHLPA's Executive Board call today, Don Fehr recommended that an independent investigation be commenced by outside legal counsel in order to review the NHLPA's response to the Kyle Beach matter. The Executive Board is currently voting on this matter."

Voting will likely commence on Tuesday as some players on the call had to leave for their Monday games, ESPN's Emily Kaplan reports.

The call, which featured roughly 80 players and lasted over two hours, was focused on how the NHLPA handled the sexual assault allegations Beach made toward then-Chicago Blackhawks video coach Brad Aldrich in 2010, Kaplan added.

Beach never played an NHL game, but since he was a Black Ace for the Blackhawks' 2010 Stanley Cup run, he was part of the NHLPA membership.

Fehr was contacted twice about the allegations against Aldrich, according to Jenner & Block's 107-page report. He told investigators he couldn't recall the conversations but didn't deny their occurrence.

Upon identifying himself as "John Doe" in the lawsuit, Beach said he reported all details to the NHLPA.

"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. "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."

There were no discussions during the call about removing Fehr as the union's executive director, Kaplan added.

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