Blackhawks GM Stan Bowman resigns, senior VP of hockey operations also out amid sexual assault investigation

Chicago Blackhawks general manager and president of hockey operations Stan Bowman resigned on Tuesday after investigators released their findings regarding how the organization handled sexual assault allegations in 2010. Senior director of hockey administration Al MacIsaac has been relieved of his duties as well, the team announced.

In late June, the Blackhawks commissioned an independent investigation into sexual assault allegations against former video coach Brad Aldrich during the team's 2010 Stanley Cup championship run. Per The Athletic, two lawsuits were filed against the Blackhawks alleging that Aldrich sexually assaulted a former Chicago player as well as a high school player.

According to ESPN's Emily Kaplan, the NHL also said Tuesday that it was fining the Blackhawks $2 million for the "organization's inadequate internal procedures and insufficient and untimely response in the handling of matters related to former video coach Brad Aldrich's employment with the Club and ultimate departure in 2010." Per Kaplan, half of the $2 million will go to local organizations that support survivors of sexual and other forms of abuse.

After the finding of the investigation were released on Tuesday, the released the following statement:

"It is clear the organization and its executives at that time did not live up to our own standards or values in handling these disturbing incidents," it read, in part. "We deeply regret the harm caused to John Doe and the other individuals who were affected and the failure to promptly respond. As an organization, we extend our profound apologies to the individuals who suffered from these experiences. We must — and will — do better."

The investigation found that one week following the team's Stanley Cup-clinching win against the Philadelphia Flyers, Aldrich met with the Blackhawks' director of human resource and was given the option to either undergo an investigation or resign. Aldrich resigned, no investigation was conducted, and in 2013 in Michigan, he was convicted of fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct involving a high school student. According to Kaplan, in 2014, Aldrich was sentenced to nine months in prison and five years of probation, which ended in 2019.

Kyle Davidson has taken over as the organization's interim general manager.