Stan Bowman steps down as Team USA's Olympic GM

This just in: Stan Bowman has stepped down as Team USA's Olympic GM for the Beijing Olympics in February.

“In light of what’s happened today, I think it’s in the best interests of USA Hockey for me to step aside,” Bowman said in a short statement. “I’m grateful to have been selected and wish our team the very best in Beijing.”

This came out hours after the Chicago Blackhawks announced their general manager and president had stepped down on Tuesday in the wake of an independent investigation into allegations that a then-assistant coach sexually assaulted two players in 2010.

The report, called “disturbing and difficult to read” by CEO Danny Wirtz, has been handed over to the NHL. The league has shortly after fined the Hawks $2-million for “inadequate procedures and mishandling” of 2010 sexual assault.

Bowman had been with the club for 20 years and was promoted to GM back in 2009. The son of Hockey Hall of Famer Scotty Bowman, the younger Bowman helped lead the Blackhawks to three Stanley Cup championships from 2010 to 2015. He was promoted to president of hockey operations last December upon the firing of John McDonough. 

Back in May, Bowman was named Team USA's general manager back in May, 2021 thanks to his experience. He had served as a member of the U.S. Men’s National Team Advisory Group since 2012 to help select players and staff for U.S. Men’s National Teams. Guerin, a three-time Olympian as a player who had an 18-year Hall of Fame NHL playing career, is in his second year as general manager of the Minnesota Wild after serving in a management capacity for the Pittsburgh Penguins since 2014.

As for the American team, USAH said it expects to announce his replacement "in the near future."