Chicago Blackhawks assistant coach Marc Crawford will be away from the team as it conducts a “thorough review” of “recent allegations that have been made regarding his conduct with another organization,” the team said Monday.
The decision comes two days after the New York Post published a story in which former NHL player Sean Avery alleged that Crawford kicked him during a game in the 2006-07 season, when Crawford was coaching the Kings and Avery was playing for them.
“He kicked me after a too-many-men-on-the-ice call I took,” Avery said. “He didn’t have me serve it, we got scored on, and he let me have it. … You know how I stand at the end of the bench? He came down and gave me a kick (in the behind) that left a mark.”
Avery told the Post that he was on Crawford’s bad side after an incident in practice a few days earlier.
“This was right after I (messed) up a drill and dumped the puck into the wrong corner, and it landed on Crow’s head and cut him for six (stitches),” Avery said.
There has been increased scrutiny on the conduct of NHL coaches since allegations against Bill Peters came to light last week. Former player Akim Aliu alleged Peters directed racial epithets toward him when they were in the minors 10 years ago. Peters admitted to the incident in a letter of apology to Flames GM Brad Treliving, saying the comments were made in a “moment of frustration.” He resigned as head coach of the team Friday.
As the Flames were investigating Peters, more allegations of misconduct surfaced. Former Hurricanes defenseman Michal Jordan said that when Peters coached there, he kicked him and also punched an unnamed player in the head. Current Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour — then an assistant with the Flames — told reporters the incident “for sure happened.”
Crawford, 58, is in his first season with the Blackhawks. He coached the Colorado Avalanche to the Stanley Cup in 1996 and also coached with the Canucks, Kings, Stars and Senators.