Jets GM Cheveldayoff says system 'failed' Kyle Beach after alleged sexual assault

The Winnipeg Jets' general manager Kevin Cheveldayoffsaid he's sorry about what happened to young Chicago hockey prospect Kyle Beach, in his first public comments since the league announced it wouldn't discipline him over his former team's mishandling of sexual assault allegations against a former video coach.

"No one should ever have to go through what he went through," Cheveldayoff said at a news conference in Winnipeg on Tuesday.

"Kyle was failed by a system that should have helped him but did not. I am sorry that my assumptions about that system were clearly not good enough."

Following a meeting between NHL commissioner Gary Bettman and Cheveldayoff on Friday, the league said its investigation found the Jets GM was "not responsible for improper decisions" made by Chicago management in connection with Brad Aldrich.

The former Chicago video coachallegedly sexually assaulted Beachduring the team's Stanley Cup run in 2010.

WATCH | Kevin Cheveldayoff'sfull news conference:

Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff speaks about the Chicago sex assault allegations

3 years ago

Duration 1:09:12

Winnipeg Jets' GM Kevin Cheveldayoff and Jets owner Mark Chipman speak at a news conference about the sexual abuse allegations made in 2010 regarding the Chicago NHL team.

A report commissioned by the Chicago team inresponse to two lawsuits found that the team failed to act for three weeks after leadershipincluding Cheveldayoff, who was the assistant GM at the timediscussed the allegations at a meeting on May 23, 2010.

At the time of thatmeeting, which Cheveldayoff said was held to discuss "harassment allegations," the Jets' GM said he didn't know the full extent of what had happened.

"I left that meeting believing that the allegations would be dealt with by those above me," he said."Three weeks later, upon learning that the individual was no longer with the organization, I further assumed that the situation had been addressed."

GM, chairman vow action

During the often-emotional news conference thatlasted more than an hour, Cheveldayoff and Jets ownerMark Chipman vowed to take action to prevent future assaults.

Speaking before Cheveldayoff, Chipman choked up as he said that the issue of sexual abuse was one that had affected people close to him.

"I need Kyle to know how very, very sorry I am and how much I admirehis courage,"he said.

Chipman also defended his team's general manager, saying that had he known the truth about what happened to Beach, "the Kevin Cheveldayoff that I know would have acted and would have done whatever it took to make sure that Kyle received incredible levels of support."

WATCH | Bettman discusses Cheveldayoff's 'minor' role in Chicago:

Bettman on Cheveldayoff's role in NHL Chicago scandal

3 years ago

Duration 2:34

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman explained why Kevin Cheveldayoff's role as assistant general manager during the Chicago team's sexual assault scandal was minor. (Credit: THE CANADIAN PRESS/John Woods)

In its release, the NHL saidCheveldayoff'sparticipation at the meeting was "extremely limited in scope and substance," and notedthat most people didn't initially recall his presence.

The league says Cheveldayoff, who has been theGM of the Jets since the team relocated to Winnipeg from Atlanta in 2011, was the lowest-ranked official in the room and "essentially an observer to the discussion of possible next steps."

WATCH | Chicago reporter discusses NHL's decision not to discipline Jets GM:

Jets GM Cheveldayoff won't be disciplined over mishandling of 2010 sex assault allegations

3 years ago

Duration 10:09

NHL beat reporter Ben Pope of the Chicago Sun-Times discusses the fallout from the Chicago NHL team's mishandling of sexual assault allegations against a former video coach, including news that then Chicago assistant general manager and current Winnipeg Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff won't face discipline from the league.