Chicago Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews more clearly expressed his support for former teammate Kyle Beach on Wednesday.
“I can’t undo what happened, I’d just like to know more and more about what Kyle feels and what he wants and what he envisions for the future,” Toews said, according to The Athletic’s Mark Lazerus. “Maybe someone like me in my position can make a difference.”
Toews was criticized last week for being perceived as not more forcefully taking Beach’s side after the news broke that Beach was the “John Doe” accusing former Blackhawks video coach Brad Aldrich of sexual assault. His support of former GM Stan Bowman and executive Al MacIsaac, neither of whom are still with the club, came off as inappropriate to some observers.
“To me, Stan and Al, make any argument you want, they’re not directly complicit in the activities that happened,” Toews said.
“I just know them as people, and I’ve had a relationship and friendship with them for a long time as part of the Blackhawks family. People like Al and Stan have made coming to the Blackhawks … one of the special places to play hockey.
“Regardless of mistakes that may have been made, for someone like Stan, who has done so much for the Blackhawks — and Al, as well — to lose everything they care about and their livelihoods, as well … I don’t understand how that makes it go away, to just delete them from existence and [say], ‘That’s it, we’ll never hear from them again.’ ”
[relatedlinks]
