Bowman spoke at length Wednesday during an introductory press conference in which he took ownership of his role in the coverup, something he said he’s already expressed to Beach.

“I can tell you in this room and everyone watching, as well as something I’ve said directly to Kyle Beach, that my response was inadequate back in 2010,” he said. “I didn’t handle things properly, I should’ve done more, and that’s something I regret and something that I’ve had a chance to reflect on and try to learn from.”

An independent investigation by Jenner & Block returned a report in 2021 led to Bowman’s resignation as the Blackhawks’ general manager, and the organization facing a $2-million fine. As a result of the months-long investigation, Jenner & Block’s 107-page report which included interviews with 139 witnesses, found the organization “failed to promptly and throughly investigate the matter” and that as a result of no action being taken until three weeks after the allegations were first brought forward, there were consequences.

Bowman’s role in the coverup, according to the report, saw him as a middle-man in the information chain. The allegations brought forth by Beach were first reported to Jim Gary, the team’s mental skills coach and team counsellor, on May 23rd, 2010, and a meeting occurred later that day between Bowman, head coach John Quenneville, as well as other executives that included John McDonough and Al MacIssac.

Bowman told Jenner & Block’s investigative team that while he didn’t recall “anyone explicitly referencing the notion that the issue should be tabled until after the playoffs,” he rather recalled a discussion about more information needed to be further found out.

“Bowman stated that when the meeting ended, Bowman believed the issue was in McDonough’s hands and everyone else should focus on the upcoming Stanley Cup Finals,” the report read.

During Wednesday’s press conference, Bowman, who has worked with Sheldon Kennedy and his Respect Group since his departure from the league, elaborated on the dangers of hockey’s culture of silence.

“I think the biggest thing I learned from Sheldon… is the negative power of silence and not taking a bigger role,” he said. “I think that’s what, when I look back, is what I reflect on.

“You don’t want to assume other people are doing things, and you want to take an active role to make sure that things happen that are supposed to happen. That’s a learning experience… and Sheldon said there’s a bystander effect, and you want to make sure you do what you can to play a part and an active role in those situations.”

Since stepping away from the Blackhawks and while under his indefinite suspension, Bowman began working with not only Kennedy but Beach, as well. Last week, Kennedy endorsed not only the work Bowman has done with him, but that he feels he would be able to continue it moving forward.

“I was immediately struck by Stan’s genuine care and concern for Kyle, and what could have been done differently,” Kennedy said of meeting Bowman. “During that period, we spoke almost daily about the seriousness of sexual abuse from the victim’s perspective. We didn’t talk about hockey at all. We focused on what went wrong, what he could have done differently and, most importantly, what could be done to prevent this from happening again.”

Bowman began volunteering “nearly full-time hours” to help develop the organization’s Respect Charter, where he “showed incredible leadership by helping craft the workshop cirriculum, using his experience as a compelling real-life example, and facilitating the sessions along with a colleague from Chicago,” Kennedy wrote.

The Charter was piloted with Western Hockey League partners in Edmonton, Red Deer and Calgary in 2023, later expanding to every WHL team, one OHL team and the USA World Junior Men’s Team. It later expanded to include University hockey and volleyball teams, as well as the USA’s U17 and U18 National Development teams, as well as AAA teams in those age brackets in Calgary.

Bowman said he reached out to Beach not long after he left the Blackhawks, but didn’t hear anything back from him for some time. He then began working with Kennedy, and later began speaking with Beach, and working with him at Trinity Western University, where he’s now an assistant coach.

“My goal with reaching out was to apologize and to let him know that I felt for everything he had went through,” Bowman said of the conversation that lasted 90 minutes. “We covered a lot of different things. We certainly talked about 2010, and that situation, but then things shifted.

“We started talking about his family, he had a young son recently, he’s married, he’s talking about his playing career ending, and now as a coach. He asked me what I was working on and I shared the work I was doing with Sheldon and the Respect Group.

“When I explained what it was all about, he said sort of off-hand, ‘Wow, that sounds great. We sure could’ve used it on our team.’ And I said ‘Well, we are working with teams. If you’re really interested, I’d be really happy to come work with your team.’

“I think it was a big moment for both of us.”

He also spoke with Beach Tuesday, he said, giving him a “heads-up” of Wednesday’s news.

Oilers fans have expressed their displeasure with Bowman’s hiring, but both he and Oilers CEO Jeff Jackson said they respected the fans opinions

“I think fans are entitled always to their opinion,” Jackson said. “I think Stan’s work over the next few years here will dictate how they respond. I think give him a chance, and I think some of the facts that haven’t been out there are now getting out into the public.

“I’m not worried about it. My job is to try and make an elite organization and have people that are collaborative and progressive and are good people, and I think Stan is all those things.”

Bowman, meanwhile, said he realizes it’s his job to win the fanbase over.

“I respect people’s opinion and one thing I’ve learned over time is it’s very difficult to try and talk people into things,” he said. “I’m not going to try to make an argument on why they should feel a certain way.

“I respect the way that they feel. It’s going to be my job to try to win them over and I think the goal is to try and do it through your actions, as opposed to what you’re saying. I understand where they’re coming from, and I want to try and earn their respect over time.

“It may not come right away, and that’s okay. I’m going to stick with it and I’m here to make a difference not only to make this team better on the ice, but to bring change and a positive environment around the whole team.”