NHL
Throughout the 2010’s, the Chicago Blackhawks were viewed as one of the NHL’s model teams, with three Stanley Cup championships in five seasons. However, the team came under fire in 2021 with the findings of an independent investigation into sexual assault by the team’s former Video Coach Brad Aldrich toward then-team prospect Kyle Beach and the team failing to properly address the situation during their 2010 run.
On Wednesday, during a team townhall meeting by executives within the organization to address the direction of the team, Blackhawks owner Rocky Wirtz had a heated exchange with The Athletic’s Mark Lazerus, who asked Team CEO Danny Wirtz (son of Rocky) how the team planned to support players in the future in a similar situation to Kyle Beach.
Rocky Wirtz very angrily berates me for asking about what the Blackhawks are doing to empower players in the future in Kyle Beach’s situation.
“We’re not going to talk about Kyle Beach. We’re not going to talk about 2010. We’re moving on.”
That is the WRONG answer.
— Mark Lazerus (@MarkLazerus) February 3, 2022
Here’s the full exchange between me and Rocky Wirtz.
I honestly thought it was kind of a softball question. pic.twitter.com/VeSUnuDnv5
— Mark Lazerus (@MarkLazerus) February 3, 2022
The townhall, which was broadcast on the team’s Twitter and YouTube accounts, had reportedly been moving along smoothly prior to the exchange.
Here’s the full segment/video. Just ridiculous from Rocky Wirtz. pic.twitter.com/9k9QxKW0gI
— Wally Maz (@WallMaz35) February 3, 2022
Amidst the settlement of two lawsuits from Beach and a second victim of Aldrich (whose name Wirtz requested – and subsequently granted – to have removed from the Stanley Cup), and overall team struggles this season, a follow-up question from Chicago Tribune reporter Phillip Thompson was met with a similar response.
Here’s the full segment/video. Just ridiculous from Rocky Wirtz. pic.twitter.com/9k9QxKW0gI
— Wally Maz (@WallMaz35) February 3, 2022
By Michael Fleetwood
