In the wake of an investigation into his tenure as a coach with the Chicago Blackhawks, Joel Quenneville has resigned as the head coach of the Florida Panthers in the NHL.
Quenneville served as a coach and then head coach for the Blackhawks from 2008 to 2019 before joining the Panthers. The investigation revolves around his leadership of the team and staff in 2010, during which time the former assistant coach Brad Aldrich allegedly sexually assaulted Kyle Beach.
Following a meeting with NHL commissioner Gary Bettman in New York, Quenneville made the decision to step down. The discussions centered on how Quenneville handled the allegations brought forth by Beach while he was coaching the Blackhawks. Despite having three years and $15 million remaining on his contract with the Panthers, Quenneville expressed “deep regret and contrition” in a statement to TSN.
“I want to convey my apologies for the suffering endured by Kyle Beach,” Quenneville said. “The Blackhawks, my former team, failed Kyle, and I acknowledge my responsibility in that. I intend to reflect on the circumstances surrounding this and dedicate time to educating myself on how to ensure safe environments for everyone in hockey.”
Bettman mentioned that any potential comeback for Quenneville to the NHL would require league approval.
