CHICAGO — NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman was ready to talk about Chicago Blackhawks Chairman Rocky Wirtz, whose emotional outburst during a town hall Wednesday over questions about former Hawks prospect and alleged sexual assault victim Kyle Beach drew international attention and criticism.
But first Bettman asked to make a statement.
“I think it’s clear that what happened at the town hall was an emotional outburst — that’s the word the media has been using most — and I think it’s fair,” Bettman said Friday during a 10-minute phone interview with the Chicago Tribune. “It’s clear that this whole situation has been weighing on the Blackhawks and on Rocky in particular, and when he had a chance to reflect on what he said, he apologized because, frankly — and this is the ironic part — the franchise is doing the work.
