Remembering Rocky Wirtz and the official end of the "One Goal" era. An editorial by Alex B. Smith (@axsmithsports)
Trigger Warning: This article includes a brief mention of Sexual Assault,
and the subject of death and parental loss.
I'm sitting here just after 11pm on Tuesday, July 25th, 2023, writing this from Saint Paul, Minnesota while staring across from two flags that proudly hang on my apartment wall. To the right, the City of Chicago Flag, and to the left, the championship banner for the 2010 Stanley Cup Champion Chicago Blackhawks. Bordered in red, with the traditional flat black font and the Indian Head logo in front of Lord Stanley's Cup.
June 9th, 2010 is one of those nights I'll never forget. Forward Patrick Kane forever became "PATRICK FUCKING KANE!!!" in the most loving and respectful way after he slid the puck past goaltender Michael Leighton to eliminate the Philadelphia Flyers in overtime of Game Six to bring that Stanley Cup title to Chicago for the first time since 1961. I screamed, I cried, I drank and sang and danced in the streets, as did many of Chicago that night. Did I mention I turned 21 the night before that?
A lot of events took place to lead up to that winning moment. Before Kane scored in Game Six in Philly. Before Dustin Byfuglien became the hero in both the Vancouver and San Jose series. Before Marian Hossa earned his quick redemption in OT (with help from Sir Patrick tying the game late) against Nashville. Before the great regular season run, before the Playoff push in 2009, before Joel Quenneville replace Denis Savard, Before Patrick Kane made his Hawks debut and Jonathan Toews became captain after his rookie season. Before "One Goal" and all the commercials, before All Home Games on Television. We have to go to another date, one dark day for the family members that run the organization.
September 26th, 2007.
It's 4:30am in the morning, on a Wednesday. I'm an 18-year old kid waking up early despite being on my break after graduating High School. When I would wake up that early, I used to watch "Barely Today", which was a local morning show on NBC-5, hosted by longtime former sports anchor Bruce Wolf. Reading the news crawl at the bottom of the screen, I see the report that longtime Chicago Blackhawks owner Bill Wirtz had passed away.
Now, as with most people, when you hear of someone death, you tend to think of how sad that moment is for the family of the deceased, and their sorrow and mourning. However, for Hawks fans who had witness their beloved franchise whittle down into the laughing stock of not just the National Hockey League, but all of sports when ESPN named the team "The Worst Franchise in Sports" and Wirtz one of the "Greediest Owners" for his many stubborn business decisions that compromised chances for the club to win, along with alienating former and current players along with the entire fan base. Not showing home games on television, refusing to budge on ticket packages and tiers until the squad was so bad, people would buy lower-level seats and move to the front row by the middle of the 2nd Period. Wirtz had become Enemy #1 to Hawks fans, and his death brought more elation than sorrow amongst us. I woke up my father, who would normally get up around that time to go work in the Emergency Room over at South Shore Hospital. I ran into his room, and calmly woke him up. "Dad, guess what? Bill Wirtz died."
Now my father, who became a fan of hockey because of me, reacted to this like a normal person, replying "I'm sorry to hear that" as he wakes up to put on his glasses. "This might be the turnaround this franchise needs." I said back. Now, I don't question you for seeing this as cold and callous. Quite frankly, it is. But I knew deep down in my soul, that with the old regime finished, this magnificent franchise could rise to power once again amongst the elite in the National Hockey League.
That week, the power of ownership & control of the Chicago Blackhawks, which had been left to son Peter Wirtz, who then handed over the keys to his brother, W. Rockwell Wirtz, who everyone knew as "Rocky"
Under Rocky's controls, things began to change overnight with the organization. Bob Pulford, longtime member of the club under many titles and capacities, and the most loyal member of the dubbed "Wirtz Army", was demoted and John McDonough was brought in from the North Side Baseball Club to bring new vision to a group that had been set in their ancient ways. A new promotional campaign was rolled out. No more "Restore the Roar" or "Cold Steel on Ice", It was now "One Goal". And that one goal, specifically, was to bring a championship back to 1901 West Madison Avenue.
All games were to now be shown on television. For just two seasons prior, one of the first highlight-reel goals scored by Johnathan Toews, was only seen by people living in the Chicagoland area after the game ended, on newscasts and later replays on the team's website. Now, Blackhawks fans could follow their team even if they didn't have the time or means to go to the United Center.
Cut to ten days later. My Dad and I are at 1901 West Madison. He, in his black 3rd jersey and me wearing my new #88 jersey for the rookie making his home debut, Patrick Kane. Not only are we opening the year against our most hated rival, the Detroit Red Wings, but there's the pre-game ceremony to start the season, which now includes a brief tribute and a moment of silence to honor the departed owner's passing. Well, with a packed crowd of 22,000+ people (which at those times, only happened whenever Detroit came to town) that tribute wasn't exactly well received by many fans and while my father and I both stood and watched in silence, we heard the boos rain down from the 300 level to the club sections all the way to the ice level. And in that moment, I remember looking at the faces of Rocky Wirtz and John McDonough, and saying to my dad, "I think they knew this was to be expected." Chicago won that game in a shootout by a final score of 4-3. The winning tally in that extra frame was scored by none other than the rookie, Patty Kane.
That season, the Blackhawks made big strides and improved to one of their best records since the 2001-02 season, but missed the postseason again. Cut to the next year, when the club continued to grow in popularity, rolling in the right direction, reaching the playoffs, beating the Calgary Flames in the Conference Quarterfinals and the Vancouver Canucks in the Conference Semis, where in Game Six, I was in attendance for my first ever playoff game with my mother, who had just started watching from the year prior. Patrick Kane scored a hat trick and the Hawks won 7-4. To hear the United Center that loud for the first time in person, a building that was filled with no more than 5,500 people on most game nights when I attended, and to see the majority of the crowd in their red, white and black jerseys waving the red rally towels, it brought me to tears. Things were finally on the right track.
Unfortunately, there's always a bump in the road, and that one was, the Detroit Red Wings, who knocked the Hawks out in 5 games of the Western Conference Final. Despite the elimination, we all were waiting for next year to roll around, thinking we can reach that higher level and at least get to the Stanley Cup Final.
Moving away from Chicago to Saint Paul in 2009, officially leaving home on January 2nd, the day after the Hawks lost to Detroit in their first ever appearance in the NHL's Winter Classic outdoor game, I got to catch games on TV whenever I had the time thanks to digital cable. Once the club made the playoffs (and winning the Central Division, no less) I spent nearly every minute of every postseason game on my couch, watching while talking on the phone with my mom.
Nashville eliminated in Six Games.
Vancouver eliminated in Six Games.
San Jose Swept in Four Games.
The Chicago Blackhawks won the Clarence Campbell Bowl for the first time since 1992 and were going to meet with the Philadelphia Flyers in a best-of-seven series for the chance to end the drought and complete the One Goal.
Hawks win games 1 and 2 at home, Flyers take games 3 and 4 at home before the Hawks beat Philly 7-4 in Game 5.
Arrive back to June 9th, 2010. Overtime, Patrick Kane along the short side, skating around the back of the net. Where's the puck? Is it? it's in the net??
The goal counts. Hawks Win and the celebration is on in full effect. Jonathan Toews does his grand duty as Captain and lifts the Stanley Cup over his head. As each member of the team gets their moment with the trophy and with all of the crying and hugging and celebrating, nearly everyone basking in this moment was unaware of a heinous crime that had taken place in the midst of this playoff run. It would be over a decade later before the world knew about Kyle Beach, a draft prospect, who had been harassed and later, sexually assaulted by the team's video coach, Brad Aldrich. Rather than disrupt the motion of the club, the few members who knew of this incident kept quiet on the matter and after the season, gave Aldrich a chance to resign, which he did. Three years later, Aldrich is arrested in Michigan for sexual contact with a minor while working as a coach with a High School team. This led to him serving a feeble nine months in prison and five years of probation. Meanwhile, Kyle Beach's career was ruined, along with having to carry the pain of being victimized and no one seemingly knowing or caring about the incidents that took place, along with the young child who was abused in Michigan and an incident that cost him his job in 2012 with Miami University of Ohio, where a player came forward with complaints of sexual misconduct.
In the shadows of victory, came this darkness that the team glossed over as a "Cost of Doing Business". As time went on, the Blackhawks continued their work on the ice, making the playoffs in each of the next seven seasons, winning two more Stanley Cups in 2013 and 2015 and cementing the "One Goal" era as a true Dynasty in the National Hockey League. Patrick Kane had morphed into a legendary superstar, Jonathan Toews into an natural leader, and the franchise was on top of the Hockey world.
All while this took place, atop the concourse in section 119, sat Rocky Wirtz. He didn't hide in a luxury box or in an office, he sat with the fans, always willing to say hello or shake a hand. From the reports that surfaced in 2021, it was said that Wirtz was not one of the people alerted of the incident in 2010 at that time, which can not be said for head coach Joel Quenneville, assistants John Torchetti and Mike Havland, along with general manager Stan Bowman and assistant GM Al MacIssac.
As time went on, the Salary Cap crunch, which hits all teams in the NHL, would eventually fall down hard on the Hawks. Players left, with their replacements not being able to reach the same level of competition, and the winning eventually came to an end around 2018-19. Save for a random playoff berth awarded to the Hawks in 2020 after the COVID-19 pandemic shut down the world, and a qualifying round series win over Edmonton before losing to Vegas in the "First Round", the "One Goal" dynasty was fading, and when the news of the report and scandal broke on October 26th, 2021, Bowman and MacIssac were fired from the organization, Quenneville, who had moved on to the Florida Panthers head job, was let go, and Brad Aldrich's name was carved out of the Stanley Cup in a row of XXXXXXX's, permanently putting a stain on what had been a pivotal moment in Blackhawks history.
Another change that had been made was the increased role of leadership up front by Danny Wirtz, Rocky's son. He handled the microphone when questions came flying about the incident, and Rocky, who notably refused to talk about it during a "Town Hall" meeting on the state of the franchise, had seemingly become a dark figure, despite the reports stating he had no previous knowledge of the incident. Many, including myself, find it very difficult to believe that someone in the chair of power with an professional sports team would be left in the dark on any company business.
Cut to today. Well, tomorrow. It's now July 26th, 2023.
The Chicago Blackhawks are looking to restore their glory on the ice once again, while needed a fresh start and change in their front office. The team landed the first overall pick in the 2023 NHL Draft, selecting highly-touted superstar Connor Bedard. He's the first Blackhawks pick at #1 since 2007, when the team selected Patrick Kane. And just months before the start of the season, the team's owner passes away. Rocky Wirtz was 70 years old when he died at NorthShore Hospital, in Evanston.
As someone who lost their father in 2021, I feel the pain for anyone who has been through that ordeal, and when I think about that late fall day in 2007, I don't have regrets about what I said regarding the organization. I knew things needed to change with the team, and it was quiet clear that despite the Wirtz family losing millions and millions over the years, they were never going to relinquish the franchise. What I do regret is the lack of compassion I had in my heart at that time for the surviving family members, and for that, while I cannot change it, I can express the true sadness that I feel now with the passing of Rocky Wirtz.
From a fan to an owner, I got to personally say "Thank You" to Rocky at a game after the 2010 season. He flashed his trademark smile and nodded as I headed on to the concession stand. Looking back now, from one grieving son to another, I should have also said, I'm Sorry.
I don't know exactly what will take place on October 21st, when the Blackhawks play their first Regular Season game back at 1901 West Madison. I do know that the Hawks will take the ice, in their trademark Home Red jerseys, with a patch to honor their late owner with the #1 overall pick making his home debut.
People rightfully have mixed emotions on Rocky's passing, in the same way people had when Bill passed. I don't know if someone will boo during the moment of silence or ignore the ceremony altogether. I don't know if this change will signal the same rise to power we once saw a decade ago.
What I do know is that whenever you walk into the United Center, and you sit in any seat in that building, when you look at the rafters, you see the banners.
Chicago Blackhawks 2010 Stanley Cup Champions.
Chicago Blackhawks 2013 Stanley Cup Champions.
Chicago Blackhawks 2015 Stanley Cup Champions.
Three Championships that I never thought would ever come to fruition when I was growing up watching the team lose night after night in front of 5,000 fans. And Three Championships that thankfully, my father got to see before he died.
I guess when you look at it, I saw things on that day in 2007 as "The Cost of Doing Business", the same way this franchise saw it during 2010. I don't say that to absolve anyone, least of all myself, for viewing things in that shallow of a light. I will not boo Rocky Wirtz at his memorial, the same way I didn't boo on October 6th, 2007. But I think people would understand for the folks who might voice that displeasure. Just don't lose sight of the fact that he had a family, who loved and cared for him, regardless of this game we love called Hockey.
Rest In Peace, William Rockwell "Rocky" Wirtz.
October 5th, 1952 - July 25th, 2023.
