EVERETT — A former Everett Silvertips employee claims she was sexually assaulted while working at a hockey game in Everett, and that neither the team nor Angel of the Winds Arena took action to address the incident.
Kristin Ostrowski, the Silvertips’ team photographer from October 2021 until September 2023, took to X, formerly Twitter, saying she was groped by an arena employee.
She went on to say the situation was never addressed, and that the alleged assailant was fired for unrelated reasons, but later rehired by the arena.
“no. i’m done being quiet,” Ostrowski wrote in a series of tweets Nov. 9. “this is just one of many things that happened there, but it’s a place for me to start. i do not deserve what happened to me. i was sexually assaulted while photographing an everett silvertips home game last season.”
Ostrowski, reached via email in Chicago where she now works as a graphic designer for the Chicago Wolves of the American Hockey League, declined to comment further while she was in talks with Everett police about how to proceed.
Silvertips Chief Operating Officer Zoran Rajcic said he took the issue up with Angel of the Winds Arena when he was informed nine months after the incident reportedly happened, but learned no complaint had been filed with either the police or the arena.
An Everett Police Department spokesperson confirmed no report had been filed at the time, but that the department’s Special Assault Unit had since contacted Ostrowski.
An Angel of the Winds Arena spokesperson said via email: “While we don’t comment publicly on personnel matters, we take this matter very seriously and are looking into the situation.”
Ostrowski wrote on X the alleged sexual assault occurred at a game last season. Ostrowski told Rajcic it took place last November, Rajcic said.
“immediately after it happened, i told several other women on the team’s staff,” Ostrowski tweeted. “i told them i didn’t want to report it (for numerous reasons i’ll get into at a later time).”
Ostrowski said the incident came up this year during an offseason meeting with her boss to address issues in the organization. Rajcic confirmed a meeting took place in late August or early September 2023.
“(My boss) told me that he would speak with the general manager of the arena first thing the following morning to address it,” Ostrowski wrote. “he did not do that. it went unaddressed for another month.”
Rajcic said he spoke to arena officials, but no action could be taken without an official complaint.
“When she brought it up I was in shock,” Rajcic said. “I brought it to the attention of the facility, but they need somebody to file an official claim on the matter, and I was told I don’t have the authority to file something on her behalf. To this date, I still don’t know if she’s filed a public complaint to either the authorities or the facility.”
Ostrowski said in the thread that, at the time she reported the incident to her boss, she believed the employee had been fired by the arena for unrelated reasons. However, two weeks later she saw the alleged assailant working for the arena again.
Arena officials did not say whether the employee was still working there, nor did officials release information about any previous discipline.
In the thread, Ostrowski wrote that what she endured during her time with the Silvertips “goes so far beyond this,” citing the “culture that has been created” in the organization. She did not elaborate on social media.
Rajcic said he needed more context to comment on other issues.
Ostrowski resigned from the Silvertips in September.
This is not the first time this year the Silvertips organization has faced allegations of misconduct. In August, The Sports Network reported Dennis Williams, Everett’s general manager and head coach, was under investigation following allegations of misconduct reported to both the U.S. Center for SafeSport and the Western Hockey League, which is the league the Silvertips play in.
Those allegations included Williams using player showers, as well as Williams taking a photo of a player who lost consciousness following an endurance test.
Williams was cleared of wrongdoing by both organizations.
Nick Patterson: 425-339-3470; npatterson@heraldnet.com.
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