Chicago Blackhawks owner Rocky Wirtz dead at 70
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Chicago Blackhawks principal owner and chairman Rocky Wirtz died at the age of 70, the team announced Tuesday evening.
Wirtz passed away at NorthShore Evanston Hospital with his children around him following a brief illness, a team-issued statement said.
A report from the Daily Herald described the death as “sudden” and reported that Wirtz had not been dealing with any long-term health issues.
“Our hearts are very heavy today,” Wirtz’s son, Danny, said in a statement. “Our dad was a passionate businessman committed to making Chicago a great place to live, work and visit, but his true love was for his family and close friends. He was a loving father, a devoted husband to Marilyn, a brother, a nephew, an uncle and a doting grandfather to his six remarkable grandchildren. His passing leaves a huge hole in the hearts of many and we will miss him terribly.”
Wirtz took over ownership of the original six franchise in 2007 following the passing of his father Bill and kick-started a renaissance for the franchise that did away with many of the highly unpopular policies of his father. Wirtz allowed home games to be broadcast on television and began reconnecting with franchise greats.
He also hired John McDonough away from the Chicago Cubs to be the Blackhawks’ team president.
Wirtz made a concerted effort to remake the franchise and three years later the organization won its first Stanley Cup since 1961.
The Blackhawks also won the Stanley Cup in 2013 and 2015 under Wirtz’s stewardship while returning to their place among the NHL’s marquee teams by making nine consecutive playoff appearances from 2009-17.
“Rocky’s focus on connecting with the Club’s fans and improving the team’s performance on the ice rekindled Chicago fans’ love affair with their hockey team and built a modern dynasty – the Blackhawks won Stanley Cups in 2010, 2013 and 2015,” NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said in a statement.
“On a personal level, Rocky was a dear friend whose counsel I consistently sought. He was a highly respected member of the Executive Committee of the League’s Board of Governors whose wisdom and camaraderie were valued by his fellow owners.”
Wirtz’s legacy wasn’t without controversy, however, as he had been at the helm during a particularly troubling time for the organization.
The Blackhawks were heavily criticized for their handling of sexual assault allegations by two players against former video coach Brad Aldrich during the team’s championship run in 2010.
An investigation by the NHL in 2021 found that Wirtz wasn’t aware of allegations, but the league fined the club $2 million and several key hockey operations people resigned.
During a town hall with fans and media in 2022, Wirtz became testy with reporters when a panel he was on had been asked what the team was doing to prevent another incident like that from occurring.
“I don’t think it’s any of your business. You don’t work for the company. If someone at the company asks that question, we’ll answer it,” he said at the time. “And I think you should get on to the next subject.”
Wirtz later apologized for the outburst.
Danny Wirtz took over as CEO of the Blackhawks in 2020.
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