Joel Quinville leaves Florida Panthers coach

The Panthers announced the decision Thursday evening.

With great pain and regret, I announce that I will be stepping down as coach of the Florida PanthersQuinville said in a written statement.

I am so saddened by the suffering that Kyle Beach has experienced. My old team, Black Hawks, failed to take charge and I am partly responsible for it. Now I want to think about how events will unfold, and I want to take the time to educate myself to make hockey a safe place for everyone.

Andrew Brunet, who was an assistant coach, will take his place temporarily. The Panthers 7-0-0 this season.

Quinville met with Commissioner Gary Bateman earlier on Thursday. The meeting was attended by its General Manager Bill Zito and Panthers President Mark Caldwell.

In a press release, the National Hockey League (LNH) said it supported Quinville’s decision. Quinville was among the CEOs who mismanaged the sexual assault complaint of Kyle Beach against coach Brad Aldrich. […] After a meeting with Mr. Quinville, all parties agreed that it was not appropriate for him to continue in the performance of his duties.

If Mr. Quinville wishes to return to the NHL, I will ask to meet him in advance to determine the circumstances in which this job can take place.Bateman explained.

Quinville said he knew nothing of Beach’s allegations, whose identity was unknown at the time, when the NHL announced an investigation.

In the weeks that followed, many Blackhawks players, La Brent Sobel And Nick Boynton, said the entire team, including the coaches and management, knows.

Beach said in an interview with TSN Wednesday night that the story caught on quickly. I firmly believe that everyone knows it. comments [à mon sujet] It was made in the dressing room, in front of other players, other employees, management, and members of the media.

I take Sobel and Boynton at their word, because I had nothing to do with them. I haven’t spoken to them since my last bootcamp. So, they take the trouble to defend my version of the facts, without having anything to gain… When I was alone, I was afraid, John Torchetti, Brent Sobel and Nick Boynton broke the silence and gave me the courage to go on. They are my heroes.

The Montreal Canadiens general manager, Mark Bergiveen, was Black Hawk’s director of personnel at the time. He denied knowing about it.

Hired by Blackhawks in 2008, Quinville led the team to three Stanley Cup championships.

He signed 452 wins in 796 games with Chicago. With 969 career victories, he is the second most successful coach in NHL history.

Returned November 2018, hired by the Panthers in April 2019 to Behind Bob Bogner.