Latest update on Brad Aldrich’s name being removed from the Stanley Cup

On Friday morning, Chicago Blackhawks owner Rocky Wirtz wrote a letter to Lanny McDonald, chairman of the Hockey Hall of Fame, asking for Brad Aldrich’s name to be removed from the Stanley Cup.

For fans, it only makes sense. Blackhawks draft pick Kyle Beach came forward as Brad Aldrich’s victim from the team’s sexual assault scandal, revealing how he sexually abused him as he was called up by the Hawks as a Black Ace during the postseason.

Aldrich served nine months in prison and was convicted for sexually assaulting a teenage boy in 2014, just four years after he was dismissed from the Blackhawks. But, as we now know, the Blackhawks allowed Aldrich to remain on staff for nearly a month after the team was made aware of his assault on Beach. The team included Aldrich in its Stanley Cup celebrations that offseason, even inviting him to a team party where Beach was also present. If that’s not enough, he had his name engraved on the Stanley Cup for all eternity.

“Names have been engraved and then for years. Taking a stand on the unforgivable behavior of Aldrich should include erasing his name from the Cup,“ Wirtz wrote as part of his letter.

It has now been reported in this latest update that McDonald has communicated with commissioner Gary Bettman to see how to proceed with this demand, which they find appropriate. Per Kelly Masse:

“HHOF Chair, Lanny McDonald spoke w/NHL Bettman & Daly today re: the request from the Blackhawks to have Aldrich’s name removed from the Cup. The parties agree this request is appropriate & will have further dialogue, incl w/ Cup trustees, on how best to effectuate this request.”

Aldrich’s name could be X out like we saw happened back in 1984, but for very different reasons. There’s a precedent for this of course from when infamous Edmonton Oilers owner Peter Pocklington included his father’s name on the Cup without merit. Once the NHL discovered that the senior Pocklington had no part in the team’s championship run, his name as covered in “XXXXXX”.

Let’s remove that dirty name from the prestigious trophy!