There are not enough words that describe the atrocities that have been revealed this week.
My heart goes out to Kyle Beach, the intern, the college student and anyone else who has been affected by this monster. Yes, monster. His name should now and forevermore be removed from this story.
But that will never happen, and I understand why. What I cannot understand though, is how I know that this story is only getting worse. And the NHL are not only allowing it to happen, they are actively encouraging it to get worse.
First, let's look at the fallout that has already happened.
Chicago fined $2M. WTF!!! Seriously!!! What a joke. While there is no amount large enough to cover this, let's remember that this is a league that fined a club $3M for trying to sign their best player to a lifetime contract. Clearly that's way worse than sexual assault.
Stan Bowman "stepped aside" from his position both with Chicago and the US Olympic team. The fact that the term "stepped aside" is being used is an indictment on the team, the league and USA hockey. An absolute embarrassment. Oh and MacIsaac stepped aside as well.
That's it. That's the list.
Now let's look at what should (but won't) happen:
Players from that locker room who are still active: 41 game suspension minimum. The report is out. You knew and now you're still lying about it. If you complain, suspended for life.
Management from the team who were involved in the meeting should never be allowed to hold any position in hockey again. Any hockey, anywhere, ever.
Chicago should be forced to continue to play all season for no points. They should also be ineligible for the lottery and all picks for the next draft moved to the end of each round. If they trade for any picks this season, they also get automatically moved to the end of the round. For example, if Chicago trades out players and ends up with 4 first round picks, they pick 29, 30, 31 and 32.
Florida and Winnipeg should be forced to play the rest of the season with no hope for playoffs because of their failure to take immediate action on their coach and GM respectively. They have continued in Chicago's footsteps in believing winning hockey is more important than sexual assault. They are disgusting and don't deserve the opportunity to win anything.
USA hockey should be banned from Olympic competition this year. Knowing this investigation was happening and what may come of it, they still chose Bowman as their GM and allowed him to pick a player actively involved. That is despicable.
I know none of this will happen, because powerful white men are involved and powerful white men will continue to do as powerful white men have always done. That is to lie and protect each other for as long as they can. But in doing so this time, they might just kill the league.
