BREAKING : Blackhawks Chairman Rocky Wirtz Passes Away At 70
Chicago Blackhawks Owner and Chairman Rocky Wirtz has died at the Age of 70.
Rocky Wirtz Passes Away At 70
Wirtz took over as the Blackhawks Owner after the passing of father Bill Wirtz. The Wirtz family has held ownership of the Blackhawks since 1951, after Grandfather and Wirtz Corporation Patriarch Arthur Wirtz helped a successful 1946 bid to purchase the then-lowly Blackhawks, taking control of them 5 years later after sitting on the Detroit Red Wings Board of Governors. Wirtz gained majority ownership of Chicago in 1966.
Under Rocky's leadership since Bill's passing in 2007, Rocky oversaw a dynasty in Chicago, with the Blackhawks winning 3 titles throughout the 2010s with a young star core group of Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane & Duncan Keith, who blossomed from talented and promising youngsters to superstar talents in their time in the Windy City.
Wirtz's end of tenure was marred in controversy following reporting about sexual assault allegations against Blackhawks massage therapist Brad Aldrich by former Forward Kyle Beach, who alleged being assaulted by Aldrich in 2010 as a member of the Blackhawks, which Beach claims was a known fact by members of the organization. Wirtz helped lead the initiative to remove Aldrich's name from the team's 2010 Stanley Cup, strongly condemning Aldrich, while showing public support for Beach.
Chicago, who had the First Pick in the 2023 NHL Draft, selected superstar prospect Connor Bedard, heralded as one of the top prospects since Connor McDavid.
It has not been made clear in reports as to what will happen with the Blackhawks with Wirtz's passing, or who will take over, if ownership will be kept in the family another generation or sold.
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