A law firm hired to investigate Fehr and the union’s actions in 2010 and 2011 ruled that miscommunication and misunderstanding were to blame for the inaction, after unnamed Kyle Beach, who was reportedly attacked by the video trainer who Brad Aldrich.

Ultimately, the inability to act on Beach reports stems from a lack of communication, firm Cozen O’Connor wrote Friday in a 20-page report released by the NHLPA. We cannot identify any individual misconduct or institutional misconduct by Fehr, NHLPA staff, or (NHLPA/NHLPA Substance Abuse and Behavioral Health Program) with respect to the handling of Beach reports.

The NHLPA board of directors saw the report last week. Players voted in favor of its publication.

The union launched the inquiry in November, after an independent inquiry into the Blackhawks ’wrongful handling of the allegations raised questions about what Fehr and others knew at the time and why they failed to act. . Aldrich told investigators that the meeting was consensual, but the scandal shook the Blackhawks and led to major changes in the team’s operations. It also had a ripple effect throughout the NHL.

The most recent investigation included reviews of approximately 20,000 email and phone records, from 2010 and 2011, and included interviews with 11 witnesses, including physician Brian Shaw, from the addiction and behavioral health program. Beach and an unknown player, who said he had an inappropriate conversation with Aldrich, both refused to be interviewed.

The company acknowledges the difficulty in rebuilding events from 11 years ago and said the conclusions are based to the obvious imperfect and incomplete recollection of some individuals, not substantiated by documentary evidence. The report also acknowledges the possibility that the memories of the witnesses were inevitably influenced through a separate report that examined the team’s role.

Officer Ross Gurney told investigators he was sure he described Aldrich as a pedophile or one sexual predator in a conversation with Fehr to warn him of Aldrich’s behavior after the coach was hired by USA Hockey to work on a tournament.

Fehr insisted he would remember, if it happened. He repeatedly told investigators that he does not remember being told about the incident when it happened. Investigators also identified some of Fehr’s comments about the allegations is consistent with his assertion.

Shaw argued with investigators that he thought his conversation with Beach was a privilege communication between a potential patient and a therapist and that he could not disclose the contents without the player’s consent, which he claims he did not receive.

The company said it has given NHLPA General Counsel a series of recommendations about additional measures, which could be put in place to better handle similar situations in the future. AJLNH did not immediately respond to a message requesting information on these recommendations, which were not included in the report.