Sawt Falasteen - NHL Ducks name Quenneville as coach after probe into sex assault scandal

The 66-year-old was reinstated by the NHL last July after a 2021 independent investigation found Quenneville and other Chicago Blackhawks front office leaders decided to delay any action on sexual assault allegations within the team until after the 2010 Stanley Cup playoffs.

Quenneville resigned as coach of the Florida Panthers in 2021 after the NHL launched a probe into claims former Chicago video coach Brad Aldrich sexually assaulted Blackhawks prospect Kyle Beach during the 2010 playoffs.

The report said witnesses placed Quenneville in a meeting where Aldrich's actions were discussed after the Blackhawks had reached the 2010 Stanley Cup Final, which they won for the team's first crown since 1961.

Quenneville had denied being aware of the alleged assault before the findings of the probe were released in 2021, but after meeting with NHL commissioner Gary Bettman, he resigned as coach of the Panthers the next day.

The Ducks said they looked into Quenneville's actions.

"Over the last two weeks, we conducted interviews with many outstanding coaching candidates while simultaneously conducting a comprehensive review of what took place while Joel was head coach of the Blackhawks in 2010," Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek, a 20-year NHL player, said.

"We spoke with dozens of individuals, including advocates for positive change in hockey and leadership of the NHL, which last July officially cleared Joel to seek employment in the league.

"Our findings are consistent with Joel's account that he was not fully aware of the severity of what transpired in 2010.

"It is clear that Joel deeply regrets not following up with more questions at the time, has demonstrated meaningful personal growth and accountability and has earned the opportunity to return to coaching."

Verbeek called it a "great day" for the club and described Quenneville as "a proven winner and one of the top coaches in NHL history."

The Ducks, who have not reached the NHL playoffs since 2018, fired coach Greg Cronin last month after two seasons with the club, setting the stage for Quenneville's hiring.

"We believe this is a major step forward in our process of being a perennial playoff contender," Verbeek said.

- 'Actions over words' -

Quenneville guided Chicago to NHL crowns in 2010, 2013 and 2015, becoming one of only 11 coaches to win the Stanley Cup three times and the only one to do so in the salary cap era of the past 20 years.

"I'm excited to join the Anaheim Ducks," Quenneville said. "This is the organization I wanted to restart my career with and am truly grateful for this opportunity.

"In nearly four years away from the game, I have learned from my prior mistakes and realized it will be actions over words that demonstrate my commitment to being a better leader."

Quenneville has a career regular-season record of 969-572 with 77 drawn and 150 overtime losses with Florida, Chicago, Colorado and St. Louis. His 969 wins rank second all-time for NHL coaches. He was the NHL Coach of the year in 2000 with St. Louis.

R.Shaban--SF-PST