Former NHL player sues team for alleged sexual assault by assistant coach

A former Chicago Blackhawks player is suing the team alleging he was sexually assaulted by his then-assistant coach, multiple news outlets reported Thursday.

Chicago public radio station WBEZ obtained a May lawsuit filed against former Blackhawks video coach Bradley Aldrich in which the unidentified player is referred to as “John Doe”. 

The suit claims that during the team’s 2010 Stanley Cup championship run, Aldrich used to masturbate and watch pornography in front of the player and threatened to “physically, financially and emotionally” hurt the player if he didn’t engage in sexual acts with him. 

According to the lawsuit, the player reported various incidents to then-mental skills coach James F. Gary, who allegedly told the player that it was his fault he was getting sexually assaulted. 

Gary told WBEZ that he was unaware of the claims, saying since he retired “he’s out of the picture.” 

“I don’t know anything about this. You’d be better off talking to the Blackhawks attorney,” Gary told WBEZ. “I don’t have much knowledge of this at all. Plus, I’m retiring. I’m out of the picture.”

This new allegation comes after Aldrich, who used to coach at Miami University, was convicted of fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct involving a student of his in 2013, according to The Associated Press. 

Susan Loggans, the attorney for both the player and the student, told WBEZ that the Blackhawks organization helped enable Aldrich. 

“This entire man’s life has been destroyed,” Loggans said, referring to the former NHL player. “These professional athletes have to function at the top of their game at all times in order to be competitive, and these things are really debilitating.”

The Hill has reached out to the NHL and the Chicago Blackhawks for comment.