Jets' Cheveldayoff apologizes, says system failed Kyle Beach
Winnipeg Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff apologized to Kyle Beach during a press conference Tuesday.
The apology comes following the investigation into the Blackhawks' mishandling of Beach's sexual assault allegations in 2010, when Cheveldayoff was an assistant GM for Chicago.
"I want to begin by stating how sorry I am that this happened to Kyle and that he suffered as horribly as he did," Cheveldayoff said, per The Associated Press' Stephen Whyno.
"Kyle was failed by a system that should have helped him but did not," Cheveldayoff added, according to Jackie Spiegel of The Sporting News Canada. "I am sorry that my own assumptions about that system were clearly not good enough."
Cheveldayoff's comments to the media were his first since the NHL determined he wasn't responsible for the Blackhawks' inaction.
An independent investigation found that Blackhawks executives were told during a May 2010 meeting that then-video coach Brad Aldrich had behaved in a sexually inappropriate way toward a player, later revealed to be Kyle Beach.
However, per the investigation, the franchise didn't act on the information until reporting it to human resources three weeks later, days after the team won the Stanley Cup.
Cheveldayoff said "harassment allegations" were discussed in the meeting but he didn't know the full extent of what occurred.
"I left that meeting believing that the allegations would be dealt with by those above me," Cheveldayoff said, per CBC. "Three weeks later, upon learning that the individual was no longer with the organization, I further assumed the situation had been addressed."
Blackhawks president John McDonough, general manager Stan Bowman, and head coach Joel Quenneville were at the 2010 meeting as well, according to the investigation. Bowman and Quenneville resigned from their positions last week.
Cheveldayoff was asked Tuesday how it felt to retain his position with the Jets while his former colleagues lost their jobs.
"I think everyone is paying prices at different levels," Cheveldayoff said, per ESPN's Kristen Shilton. "I'm fortunate I have an opportunity to be someone who still has a chance to make a change in the game and help grow and learn and try to make this a better and safer place so there isn't another Kyle Beach."
Jets owner Mark Chipman, who also spoke at the press conference, pledged to do his part to address similar situations within the league.
"I commit to you today that I will use my influence within the National Hockey League to acknowledge that there are systemic problems that require systemic solutions," Chipman said, according to The Athletic's Murat Ates.
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