The Edmonton Oilers have officially hired Stan Bowman as their new General Manager and Executive Vice President of Hockey Operations.
Bowman replaces outgoing Hall of Fame general manager Ken Holland, who agreed to part ways with the Oilers after being with them since 2019.
“I’m excited and pleased to welcome Stan to the Edmonton Oilers,” Oilers executive director of hockey operations Jeff Jackson said in a statement.
‘I believe his vast experience and demonstrated success in this role, coupled with the important work he has done during his time away from the game, aligns with our goal of being best-in-class in all facets of our organization.
‘Through our numerous conversations, we share a common vision of where we are as a team and what it takes to achieve another Stanley Cup title.’
Former Blackhawks general manager Stan Bowman has accepted a job with the Edmonton Oilers.
Bowman was suspended for his role in covering up a sexual assault against Kyle Beach
Bowman, 51, the son of legendary coach Scotty Bowman, is best known for being the architect of three Stanley Cup championship teams in Chicago in 2010, 2013 and 2015.
But he is equally well-known for being one of three men who were suspended by the NHL for their role in covering up sexual abuse by a video analyst amid the 2010 Stanley Cup race.
Bowman was reinstated to the NHL on July 1 along with former senior vice president of hockey operations Al MacIsaac and former coach Joel Quenneville.
‘While it is clear that at the time their responses were unacceptable, each of these three individuals (Mr. Bowman, Mr. MacIsaac and Mr. Quenneville) acknowledged as much and used their time away from the game to engage in activities that not only demonstrate sincere remorse for what happened, but also evidence a heightened awareness of the responsibilities held by all NHL personnel, particularly personnel in leadership positions,’ read an NHL statement at the time of their reinstatement.
‘In addition, each of them has made significant strides in their personal improvement by participating in numerous programs, many of which focused on the imperative to respond in effective and meaningful ways to address alleged acts of abuse.
‘The League looks forward to continuing this commitment in any future capacity with the NHL and/or one of our clubs.’
Bowman was reinstated again on July 1 along with Al MacIsaac (left) and Joel Quenneville (right).
Since his reinstatement, details have been released about Bowman’s work with Sheldon Kennedy, a former NHL player and co-founder of Respect Group, a Canadian company that was created to prevent harassment, abuse, bullying and discrimination through programs.
“Given the decades I have spent working not only in the field of sexual abuse, but all forms of abuse, harassment and discrimination, it seemed like everyone in the media and the hockey community at large wanted to know my reaction to this horrific news. I listened to Kyle Beach’s interview and felt it was as honest and raw as can be,” Kennedy said in a letter titled “My Work with Stan Bowman.”
“I clearly remember expressing that this was a terrible situation that had a significant impact on those involved. However, I also believed that it could serve as a great learning opportunity if faced with courage. I have always believed that no matter how terrible a situation may be, something good can always come out of it. This incident was no exception.”
The letter continued: “I was immediately struck by Stan’s genuine interest and concern for Kyle, and what could have been done differently. During that period, we talked almost daily about the seriousness of sexual abuse from the victim’s perspective. We didn’t talk about hockey at all. We focused on what went wrong, what could have been done differently, and most importantly, what could be done to prevent this from happening again.”
The letter also details that Bowman volunteered “almost full-time” to work with the company on drafting a bylaw.
Bowman’s work with Respect Group was detailed in a letter from the company’s co-founder.
“Stan’s acceptance, open-mindedness and understanding were key to developing this workshop. I was impressed by his insights, but more importantly, by his deep concern.”
Kennedy’s letter concluded: I believe Stan would be a valuable asset to an organization because of his acknowledgement of past mistakes and his tireless efforts to make the locker room and the game safer for everyone. He possesses the perspective, knowledge, and confidence necessary to lead in this area. I feel that building a strong, healthy culture within an organization and practicing it on an ongoing basis will be a top priority for Stan. I also believe that Stan will carry this message within the hockey ecosystem, which can only help.
‘Lastly, and most importantly, I think Stan will do everything in his power to make sure that what happened to Kyle Beach (who is a hero in my eyes) doesn’t happen to anyone else.’
On May 7, 2021, a former Blackhawks player (initially identified as John Doe but later revealed to be Kyle Beach) accused former video coach Brad Aldrich of sexually assaulting him during the 2010 Stanley Cup playoffs. Beach also alleged that Aldrich threatened him physically, emotionally, and financially.
A month-long investigation by law firm Jenner & Block found that executives held a meeting after sweeping the San Jose Sharks in the Western Conference finals to address the allegations.
However, the executives, who included Bowman, MacIsaac and Quenneville, decided not to address the allegations until after the Stanley Cup Finals. The report concluded that the matter was never brought up again.
Aldrich was given the option to resign or be fired by the Blackhawks’ director of human resources if the allegations were true. Aldrich chose to resign and was still allowed to participate in the celebrations after the Blackhawks won the 2010 Stanley Cup Final.
Brad Aldrich allegedly assaulted a college student and was convicted of assaulting a minor while working as an assistant coach at a high school in Houghton, Michigan.
Following an investigation, the NHL fined the Blackhawks $2 million after Beach came forward.
Aldrich worked for the University of Notre Dame and Miami University in Ohio before serving as a high school assistant coach in Houghton, Michigan.
He was charged with sexual assault at the University of Miami and later convicted of having sexual contact with a minor at his job at the high school. Aldrich served nine months in prison and was required to register as a sex offender in the state of Michigan.
In October 2021, Kyle Beach gave an interview on SportsCentre in Canada and confirmed that he was a John Doe, detailing his experiences with the Blackhawks.
Following the conclusion of the investigation, Bowman and MacIsaac resigned from their positions with the team on Oct. 26. Quenneville, who was the head coach of the Florida Panthers at the time, also resigned from his position two days later.
The Blackhawks were fined $2 million by the NHL after completing the investigation.
Beach and the Blackhawks reached a confidential agreement in December 2021.
In November 2023, another unnamed former Blackhawks prospect filed a negligence lawsuit against the Blackhawks for suppressing his allegations of sexual harassment and threats of physical violence by Aldrich during the 2010 playoffs.
