Rocky Wirtz, the owner of the Chicago Blackhawks and a three-time Stanley Cup champion, has passed away at the age of 70 after a brief illness. The team announced his sudden death in a press release.
The Wirtz Family has owned the Blackhawks since 1954, and Rocky Wirtz took over as owner in 2007 following the death of his father, William. Under Rocky’s leadership, the “Original Six” franchise experienced a turnaround and won the Stanley Cup in 2010, 2013, and 2015.
NHL commissioner Gary Bettman expressed his condolences, stating, “The National Hockey League family is deeply saddened by the sudden passing of W. Rockwell ‘Rocky’ Wirtz. Devoted to family and the Chicago Blackhawks, Rocky was a native son of Chicago and an accomplished businessman. Rocky took over control of the Blackhawks in 2007 and almost immediately restored the passion and following of this storied, Original Six franchise.”
During Wirtz’s tenure, the Blackhawks were led by star players Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews, who played crucial roles in their three championship victories. In 2014, the team also reached the Western Conference Final but lost to the Los Angeles Kings in a seven-game series.
While Wirtz’s ownership saw significant success, it was not without controversy. In 2021, an outside investigation found that the team mishandled a situation involving former player Kyle Beach, who was sexually assaulted by then-video coach Brad Aldrich during the 2009-10 season.
The investigation did not uncover any evidence suggesting Rocky or Danny Wirtz were aware of the allegations prior to Beach filing a lawsuit. The Blackhawks ultimately settled with Beach, and Aldrich claimed that his encounter with Beach was consensual. Another lawsuit filed by a former high school student, who Aldrich was convicted of assaulting in Michigan, was dismissed.
The NHL fined the Blackhawks $2 million for their inadequate internal procedures and delayed response. General manager Stan Bowman resigned, and Wirtz successfully had Aldrich’s name removed from the Stanley Cup.
