Rocky Wirtz, the man who as owner of the Chicago Blackhawks engineered perhaps the most remarkable turnaround in professional sports history, passed away yesterday after a short illness.
Wirtz was 70 years old.
Wirtz’ improbable remaking of the the Blackhawks, dubbed in 2004 by ESPN as “The Worst Franchise in Professional Sports,” began after the death of his father, Bill, in 2007. Rocky took the reins of the franchise after his brother Peter, who had been far more involved in the organization, declined the position.
Wirtz immediately began to transform the franchise, finally securing radio and TV deals (something his father had inexplicably refused to do) and hiring away then Cubs President John McDonough to take the leadership role with the Blackhawks.
Using draft picks to acquire the now-legendary duo of Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane, the Blackhawks skillfully built around them with the likes of defensemen Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook. Suddenly, the perennial “sick man” of professional hockey was challenging for a Stanley Cup.
The addition of star forward Marion Hossa, signed to a 12-year, $63 million deal before the 2010 season – a deal Rocky’s father would likely never have considered – completed the picture, leading the Hawks to their first Stanley Cup since 1961.
The Blackhawks would go on to win two more Cups in the next 4 years, establishing a dynasty that would have been unthinkable just 7 years earlier.
“Rocky almost immediately restored the passion and following of this storied Original Six franchise,” NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said in a statement Tuesday. “Rocky’s focus on connecting with the club’s fans and improving the team’s performance on the ice rekindled Chicago fans’ love affair with their hockey team and built a modern dynasty.
“On a personal level, Rocky was a dear friend whose counsel I consistently sought. 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.”
