(TW: Sexual assault)
Twitter was in shock Tuesday night over the revelations regarding the Chicago hockey team investigation and the allegations of sexual assault.
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People wondered naturally who knew what and when. The report indicated that Joel Quenneville, a former coach, was a key instigator of the coverup. He should not coach again. But he was there Wednesday night, sitting on the bench.
Then, people began to talk about the key players of the team back then.
It was repeated over and over again, with thoughts like:
Jonathan Toews was just 22 years old. He was just a child. He wasn't responsible for doing something when adults were involved.
It is absurd to suggest that Toews was not responsible for covering up the sexual assault of Kyle Beach. Kyle Beach was only 20 years old and was referred to as the John Doe in the horrifying 107-page Jenner & Block report. Kyle Beach was just 20 years old and a child with dreams of becoming an NHL player. Beach, a former draft pick in the first round, was fresh from a 52-goal junior season. He joined Chicago's hockey team as a designated Black Ace. This is a prospect who travels with Chicago and can be called upon to help in the event of an injury. According to the report, Beach was then victimized by Brad Aldrich, Chicago's video coach.
Beach spoke on TSN about his struggles:
I survived. I kept it buried for 10 years, 11 year, and it destroyed me. I want everyone to know that they are not the only ones in this world.
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It was impossible to listen for more than 5 minutes of the 2010 playoffs and not hear Jonathan Toews' mature leadership skills.
Jonathan Toews does not consider himself a leader. Toews is a follower, a sheep and a coward. You don't deserve the C on your stupid sweater bearing the racist logo if you aren't responsible for the well-being and welfare of your team. Some schoolchildren are able to tell the difference between right or wrong and stand up for vulnerable children and fight bullies. Not Jonathan Toews.
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Did he know? Nick Boynton and Brent Sopel, who were Beach's teammates, knew.
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TSN's Tuesday interview with Sopel revealed that almost every player said "Holy shit" and was stunned by the statement. All of us were in the same dressing area. It was something that was discussed for at least two days.
Hmm
Toews claimed that he did not hear about the attack until the next year's training camp. According to the report Beach stated that he was asked by multiple players if he had missed Brad during training camp.
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Boynton and Sopel were closer to the bottom than the top. Beach claims he saw meetings in Coach Quenneville's office discussing the attack. It is hard to believe that the captain did not know what the scrubs and coach know. There's also the matter of Toews at 26 years old, still the captain of the team. He was reportedly ridiculed by Beach during practice in disgusting and homophobic fashion.
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His statements to the media followed. Although it is hard to believe that this could continue, Hockey Guys never fail to disappoint.
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Jonathan, they're not good men. You are 33 years old (still a child?) and you have spent most of your life in the toxic hypermasculine bubble of hockey. But, get the fuckup. Not complicit? This is complicity. Men who knowingly allow a suspect to continue to abuse children and ignore sexual assault are complicity. They should be shamed, punished and shunned.
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This shouldn't surprise someone who has stood by Patrick Kane. He also praised Stan Bowman, his former GM in a Zoom conference with the media.
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This stuff is too real.
It's difficult to discern if Kane and Toews were more offensive than Quenneville, who was still coaching the Florida Panthers as he waited for his meeting with NHL officials. We shouldn't be surprised after the NHLs $2 million fine for the Chicago hockey team. The NHLPA and its head Donald Fehr are responsible for the entire NHL and team management. The NHL is comprised of Hockey Guys and Gary Bettman, who has a history of hating hockey, is the largest Hockey Guy. What do Hockey Guys do? They lie, cover up and sweep it under the carpet. Sometimes they even blackball victims. The NHL and Chicago team tried to deal with the racial violence against Akim Aliu.
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They did the same to Kyle Beach, a first-round draft pick who was a 52-goal scorer and a first-round draft selection. He spent five years in AHL without ever getting into an NHL game. To pursue his dream, he had to travel to Austria. Quenneville, on the other hand, signed a $50-million contract with Florida. Since 2010, Toews has earned $60 million.
This entire goddamn league should be burned to the ground.
