Joel Quenneville has resigned as head coach of the Florida Panthers ©Getty Images

Joel Quenneville has resigned as head coach of National Hockey League (NHL) side the Florida Panthers as the fallout to the Chicago Blackhawks sexual abuse scandal continues.

Quenneville quit his post following a meeting with NHL commissioner Gary Bettman regarding his involvement in the case, ESPN reported.

He is the latest official to resign after Stan Bowman left his position as general manager of the United States men’s ice hockey team following the publication of an investigation into the mishandling of sexual assault allegations against a former Blackhawks coach.

The investigation revealed Quenneville had been made aware of sexual assault and harassment allegations against former video coach Brad Aldrich during the Chicago club's 2010 Stanley Cup run.

Aldrich pleaded guilty in 2013 to fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct involving a high school student and remains on Michigan’s sex offenders registry. 

Stan Bowman stepped down as President and general manager of Chicago Blackhawks before resigning from his role with the US Olympic team in the wake of the publication of the investigation ©Getty Images
Stan Bowman stepped down as President and general manager of Chicago Blackhawks before resigning from his role with the US Olympic team in the wake of the publication of the investigation ©Getty Images

In the report, Bowman said Quenneville, after learning of the Aldrich allegations, "shook his head and said that it was hard for the team to get to where they were [the playoffs] and they could not deal with this issue now".

Kyle Beach, who came forward as the former Blackhawks player who filed a lawsuit against the team for failing to properly deal with his allegations, told TSN there was "absolutely no way that he [Quenneville] can deny knowing it".

"I want to express my sorrow for the pain this young man, Kyle Beach, has suffered," Quenneville said in a statement to TSN.

"My former team, the Blackhawks, failed Kyle and I own my share of that.

"I want to reflect on how all of this happened and take the time to education myself on ensuring hockey spaces are safe for everyone."