In the wake of some “troubling incidents that occurred last season,” the Los Angeles Kings today announced a series of “conduct awareness training initiatives” to be implemented for 2015-16.
From the press release:
Highlighting today’s announcement is the Kings’ new partnership with Peace Over Violence, a violence prevention center headquartered in Los Angeles. As part of this new partnership, the Kings and Peace Over Violence (POV) will create a promotional campaign entitled “Kings Over Violence” in an effort to create a platform to significantly increase awareness against violence. Within this campaign, the Kings will seek to support the goals of POV, which is dedicated to building healthy relationships, families and communities free from sexual, domestic and interpersonal violence.
In addition to the POV / Kings Over Violence program, the club is adding:
--- The Herren Project, aimed at better educating players about the dangers of drug and alcohol abuse. --- Sexual harassment training. --- A conduct awareness program created by the Kings’ owner, AEG Sports properties. --- A new Player Assistance position, which will focus on the challenges of addiction and substance abuse, has been created. The Kings have hired former NHL player Brantt Myhres for this position.
“During the past year, we have been extremely diligent in developing an educational strategy and comprehensive programs in an effort to ensure that the troubling incidents that occurred last season are not repeated,” said AEG’s chief executive, Dan Beckerman, in the release. “We have conducted research, gathered information and forged partnerships that will better prepare our players and staff for challenges that could impact their behavior away from the workplace.”
Added GM Dean Lombardi: “These programs are now part of the development process for all of our players. No longer can we solely focus on their growth and education as just hockey players; we need to give them the tools to thrive as people, too.”
Related:
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