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A current Blackhawks player offers some thoughts on the findings of the investigation

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Mike Armenti
October 27, 2021  (12:31)
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With Tuesday's release of the findings of the investigation on the 2010 Chicago Blackhawks sexual assault allegations against former video coach Brad Aldrich, along with the aftermath that followed and the resignation of GM Stan Bowman, many within the Blackhawks organization have been rocked just as hard with the information contained in that release as the rest of us.

While ownership has excised anyone within the organization who was with the team in 2010, it will certainly prove difficult to remove the stains left behind by a regime who placed more importance on winning a championship and burying the truth than in doing the right thing and holding a sexual predator accountable for his actions and dealing with a very serious situation properly.

On Wednesday, a member of the current Blackhawks - defenseman Connor Murphy - touched on the intense situation and shared some sympathy with the victims in all of this.

"It was a very sad day... Your heart goes out to the victims, and it definitely hits you hard," he said, empathizing with the pair of players who were victimized by Aldrich and also ridiculed, mocked and bullied by teammates after their traumatic experiences.

Murphy added that the current environment in Chicago is much different than it was, with he and his teammates in a far better situation than the team was in back in 2010 and likely the years that immediately followed.

"As present players, we're very lucky with the state of the organization the past few years," said Murphy of the current culture and atmosphere with the Blackhawks.

The attention will now turn to Gary Bettman and the NHL as meetings with Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff and Panthers head coach Joel Quenneville, each of whom were named as members of the 2010 Blackhawks team and who were informed of the allegations at the time. Those meetings are set to take place this week.