Chicago Blackhawks Owner Rocky Wirtz Passes Away at 70

W. Rockwell 'Rocky' Wirtz, owner and chairman of the Chicago Blackhawks, has died at 70 years old, the team confirmed on Tuesday.

W. Rockwell 'Rocky' Wirtz, the principal owner and chairman of the Chicago Blackhawks, passed away at 70 years old on Tuesday.

Wirtz was the chairman of the Blackhawks since 2007, when he inherited the franchise from his father, Bill. His grandfather, Arthur Wirtz, purchased the franchise in 1954 when Rocky Wirtz was two years old. 

Wirtz passed away at NorthShore Evanston Hospital surrounded by his wife and children, according to a statement by the Wirtz Corporation.

"Our hearts are very heavy today," said Danny Wirtz, CEO of the Blackhawks and the son of Rocky Wirtz, 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."

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said the NHL family is deeply saddened by his sudden passing.

"Devoted to family and the Chicago Blackhawks, Rocky was a native son of Chicago and an accomplished businessman," Bettman said in a release. "Rocky took over control of the Blackhawks in 2007 and almost immediately restored the passion and following of this storied, Original Six franchise."

In the years before Wirtz became chairman, the Hawks were often near the bottom of the league for attendance, averaging around 13,000 to 14,000 fans per game. After he took the role, attendance jumped up to about 16,800 per game in 2007-08 and then a league-leading 22,247 per game in 2008-09. The Hawks also succeeded on the ice, winning the Stanley Cup in 2010, 2013 and 2015. They drafted faces of the franchise in Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane, and they rounded out their roster to become a Cup contender in the NHL for nine seasons.

In recent years, the Blackhawks under Wirtz faced heavy criticism of how they handled allegations of sexual assault of prospect Kyle Beach against former video coach Brad Aldrich during the 2010 Cup run. The NHL fined the Blackhawks $2 million as a result of an NHL-commissioned investigation into the handling of the allegations. Jenner & Block, the firm that conducted the independent investigation, said it found no evidence that Wirtz was aware of the allegations before Beach's lawsuit was brought to his attention ahead of being filed.

As the Kane and Toews Era ended this past season, a new era begins as the team rebuilds with new faces on and off the ice, including current GM Kyle Davidson taking on the role in 2022 and Chicago drafting 2023 No. 1 overall pick Connor Bedard. And as the Rocky Wirtz Era ends, people across the hockey world are sending their condolences to his family and loved ones.

“On a personal level, Rocky was a dear friend whose counsel I consistently sought," Bettman said. "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."