Major update regarding Stan Bowman’s return to the NHL!
WOW! He gets an important letter of recommendation to be hired:
It has recently been reported that the Edmonton Oilers would look into the possibility of hiring Stan Bowman as their next general manager. The team (or any other interested in getting Bowman as GM) could be closer than ever as the former Chicago Blackhawks’ general manager has received the support and recommendation from none other than Sheldon Kennedy, Co-founder Respect Group.
As you remember, Bowman resigned his position in 2021 after revelations came to light about the cover up involving the sexual assaults of Kyle Beach that went unaddressed by the team. Bowman was recently re-instated by the NHL and is free to seek official employment starting on July 10.
In a letter shared on social media on Wednesday, Kennedy states that Bowman is ready to return to the NHL after he got help to learn more about the issues of sexual abuse and the critical role of bystanders in confronting and addressing maltreatment effectively. As a sexual abuse victim in a case that rocked the hockey world in the 1990s, Kennedy has spent the past 20-plus years of his life helping to reshape the grassroots of hockey and make the sport a safer place. In his letter he says:
"I was immediately struck by Stan’s genuine care and concern for Kyle, and what could have been done differently. During that period, we spoke almost daily about the seriousness of sexual abuse from the victim’s perspective. We didn’t talk about hockey at all. We focused on what went wrong, what he could have done differently and, most importantly, what could be done to prevent this from happening again.
“Stan exemplifies this to me. During our many conversations he took accountability for his actions and genuinely wanted to learn how to do better. His desire to acknowledge his mistakes and make amends with Kyle was sincere.
“Stan understood this and agreed completely. I invited him to work with our team to help us build on our vision of the Respect Charter. He accepted and volunteered nearly full-time hours to help develop the program.
“So why am I writing this piece? I believe Stan would be a valuable asset to an organization due to his acknowledgment of past mistakes and his relentless efforts to make the locker room/game safer for everyone. He possesses the insights, knowledge, and confidence needed to lead in this area. I feel building a strong and healthy culture within an organization and practicing it on an ongoing basis will be a top priority for Stan. I also believe Stan will carry this message within the hockey eco system, which can only help. Lastly and most importantly I feel that Stan will do everything in his power to make sure what happened to Kyle Beach (who is a hero in my opinion) will not happen to anyone else. “
Insider Frank Seravalli recently explained how Bowman would be considered to become the next GM in Edmonton, and Kennedy’s letter would surely help him to get the job.
Seravall said, “Bowman will become a top candidate for Oilers GM vacancy. Believe he was on Edmonton’s radar when Jeff Jackson was hired last summer though still ineligible then.”
Earlier this month, the NHL lifted its ban on long-time coach Joel Quenneville and executives Bowman and Al MacIsaac, and today’s letter of recommendation from Kennedy could seal the deal for Bowman.
(The original post from Respect Group has since been deleted.)
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