It was in the middle of the Stanley Cup playoffs in May 2010 that two players in Chicago reported video coach Brad Aldrich for sexual assault.
Leading club management, then-president John McDonough, head coach Joel Quenneville, vice-president Jay Blunk, assistant general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff and Bowman had a meeting on the matter but decided to darken it all so as not to disturb the chemistry of the team.
Team captain Toews admits that the whole thing "was not something that was taken very seriously at the time".
- I thought that Brad had been allowed to leave or that he resigned was the club's way of dealing with it, Toews told the press yesterday.
- For me it was investigated and clear.
Toews says he would love to rewind time and that winning the Stanley Cup that year is irrelevant if he could change what happened.
- We wish that this had never happened and that young players do not have to deal with situations like this.
Absolutely, says Toews.
- I think that if many of us had known more at that time, we might have been able to do something different.
But I do not know what we could have done to change the situation, says Patrick Kane.
Do not want to swear free
Kane also says he did not really know why video coach Brad Aldrich left the club.
- You remember that you heard some rumors, but no details about what actually happened and why he left, says Kane.
Toews also does not want him to swear off guilt.
He found out what happened the following year.
- I do not want to acquit myself by saying that I did not know.
But the truth is that I had not heard of it until the training camp the following year.
It does not change what happened.
That does not make it disappear, says Toews.
"Would like to reach out to him"
Both Kane and Toews say they feel strongly about Kyle Beach.
- I do not know if he wants to hear from us or not, but I would like to reach out to him and say that I wish I knew more at that time and that situation, if I could have done something to help him or not.
He has lived with this for a long time and it takes a lot of courage from him to go out and tell, says Kane.
- I know a lot about what Kyle went through and what he still has to deal with.
I do not know what to say more.
I think the guys who were part of that group, that everyone wishes they could have done something different.
Toews believes that this whole story blackens the memory of the Stanley Cup triumph that year.
- When you chase your dream of a Stanley Cup, it becomes the only thing.
They say that winning is everything and it is a special memory in many ways, but when something like this soils it all.
It definitely makes you realize that there is more to life than hockey.
- Winning the Stanley Cup that year is irrelevant.
I think whether we won or not, we wish this had been handled differently in some way.
We wish we could take it back and it never happened and that and young players would not have to deal with such a situation.
SEE ALSO: The Chicago Blackhawks Sex Scandal in 60 Seconds
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The sex scandal in the Chicago Blackhawks in 60 seconds