'Every word matters': Reaction to Jets' Cheveldayoff's apology in Chicago Blackhawks sexual assault investigation
CTV
Sexual assault survivors are speaking out after Winnipeg Jets' general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff and Truth North Sports and Entertainment chairman Mark Chipman spoke publicly about the sexual assault investigation within the Chicago Blackhawks organization.
Sexual assault survivors are speaking out after Winnipeg Jets' general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff and Truth North Sports and Entertainment chairman Mark Chipman spoke publicly about the sexual assault investigation within the Chicago Blackhawks organization.
Both Cheveldayoff – who was an assistant general manager for the Blackhawks when the alleged assault occurred – and Chipman apologized on Tuesday to Kyle Beach, who was the John Doe listed in the investigation, for what he had to go through while with the Blackhawks.
The NHL determined that Cheveldayoff was not responsible for how the Blackhawks mishandled the sexual assault claim, saying he was not in a position of power to do anything.
CTV News spoke with Greg Gilhooly, a sexual assault survivor of a former hockey coach, and now a lawyer, about what he thought about what was said during the more than an hour-long news conference on Tuesday.
Gilhooly said it was wonderful to hear what the Jets will do going forward to address the issue of sexual abuse within the organization, but he noted not enough of the conference was focused on Kyle Beach.
"I don't think the press conference did Kevin Cheveldayoff any good and in fact, I think it really hurt him. I think Cheveldayoff came off as exceedingly defensive and unwilling to accept responsibility," said Gilhooly.
He added that Cheveldayoff had ample time before the entire investigation was started to notify the NHL that there was a meeting with top officials in the Blackhawks organization regarding the situation and even if he didn't know all the details, he could have been a leader by bringing what he knew forward beforehand.
