The Chicago Blackhawks saw a familiar face at the United Center on Sunday against the Anaheim Ducks. The one who comes with championships and controversies.
The evening started normally as fans took their seats for the Hawks' fourth home game of the season, booing the road team and cheering on the home team during the introduction of the starting lineup. The only difference was the elephant in the room.
Ducks head coach Joel Quenneville accepted the Anaheim job in Mayreplacing Greg Cronin.
Quenneville, the Hawks coach from 2008-2018, and Hawks executives Stan Bowman and Al MacIsaac were suspended from the NHL for nearly three years after independent investigation concluded that the team mishandled allegations made by former Hawks player Kyle Beach against video coach Brad Aldrich during the team's first Stanley Cup run. The trio were reinstated in July 2024.
While Quenneville's on-ice record was outstanding – winning Stanley Cups in 2010, 2013 and 2015 with teams that featured Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews – his off-ice behavior in 2010 ultimately led to his departure from the Florida Panthers in October 2021 and a lengthy exile from the league.
Prior to this season, Quenneville had not coached since resigning from the Florida Panthers on Oct. 28, 2021, just days after he was named in an independent investigative report.
Originally identified as “John Doe” Beach alleged that Aldrich threatened both physical and financial harm if he did not engage in various sex acts.
The Hawks hired the law firm Jenner & Block to investigate, which determined that senior Hawks officials did not report Beach's allegations until after they won the 2010 Stanley Cup. Additionally, the firm's report said the team paid Aldrich severance for his resignation.
In 2021 both sides came to an agreement in Beach's negligence lawsuit. The monetary amount was not disclosed.
When Quenneville was named head coach of the Ducks, he vowed to become a renewed and more humble man than he was before the coaching break. At his introductory press conference, he addressed the elephant in the room.
“For over four years, I spent time reflecting, listening to experts and advocates, and learning about the realities of abuse, trauma and how to become a better leader,” Quenneville said. “I hope others can learn from my inaction.
“I have spoken with Kyle on more than one occasion (and) I have apologized to him and expressed how much I regret not taking action.”
Speaking to the media before Sunday's game, Quenneville said he immediately reached out to the Ducks after being hired. He shared what he wished he had done differently during his time with the Hawks.
“I could have been more assertive, asked more questions, and been more involved in getting into the details of what happened,” Quenneville said. “The two takeaways were to apply these lessons to make sure this doesn't happen under our watch and to make sure the health and safety of the players is the number one priority.”
Hawks previously acknowledged his former coach in 2020 when Quenneville returned to Chicago as head coach of the Panthers, so further tributes are unlikely. But Quenneville said he has good memories of his time with the team.
“We had many wonderful moments and many evenings where we celebrated various events and achievements of the past,” Quenneville said. “I'm excited to be back in this building and hear how excited the crowd is and that the team looks like they're at the next level of trying to make the playoffs. It looks like they're on the right track.”
Quenneville said he and Beach have remained in contact since the settlement.
“I always have a positive conversation (with Beach),” Quenneville said. – I will leave conversations between us.
Fans at the United Center on Sunday made no effort to show their appreciation for the former Hawks coach, who led the team to three championships, other than a few timid applause and cheers. Will this change in the future?
“We’ll see,” Quenneville said.
