Ex-Blackhawks forward Corey Perry released a statement Thursday apologizing for his actions and adding that he has begun seeking help for alcohol abuse.
“I would like to sincerely apologize to the entire Chicago Blackhawks organization, including ownership, management, coaches, trainers, employees and my teammates,” Perry said in the statement. “I would also like to apologize to my fans and my family. I am embarrassed and have let you all down.
“I have started working with experts in the mental health and substance abuse fields to discuss my struggles with alcohol, and I will take whatever steps necessary to ensure this never happens again. I hope to regain the trust and respect of everyone who has believed in me throughout my career.”
The Hawks terminated Perry’s contract Wednesday after a team investigation found he committed workplace misconduct last week — on a road trip in Columbus, Ohio — that violated the team’s “internal policies intended to promote professional and safe work environments,” according to a Hawks statement Tuesday.
Perry, in his statement, also addressed blatantly false rumors that spread on social media Monday and Tuesday about the specific misconduct that occurred.
“I am sickened by the impact this has had on others, and I want to make it clear that in no way did this involve any of my teammates or their families,” Perry said. “Most importantly, I want to directly apologize to those who have been negatively affected, and I am sorry for the additional impact to others it has created. My behavior was inappropriate and wrong.”
That echoes the same message that Hawks general manager Kyle Davidson emphasized in his news conference Tuesday: No other Hawks or their families were involved.
Since Perry would have to sign off on any contract grievance filed by the NHL Players’ Association, this apology and acceptance of blame seemingly decreases the likelihood such a grievance will be filed, although it’s certainly still possible sometime before the late-January deadline.
It’s also unclear if Perry will, after undergoing treatment, seek to renew his hockey career by signing with another team.
Given he will turn 39 in May, he was probably nearing retirement already. When he signed his one-year contract with the Hawks back in the summer, he talked about how his career had seemed to fly by.
“This game goes by fast,” Perry said July 7. “I still remember walking into that [2005-06 Ducks] dressing room, and they said, ‘Don’t take it for granted. Make sure you remember everything and soak it all in because it goes by fast.’ I didn’t really understand what they were talking about, but you really do — you really take it in, and you see what they’re talking about.”
Perry was last with the Hawks on the afternoon of Nov. 22, snapping a photo with a fan outside the team hotel in Columbus before walking to Nationwide Arena.
He was abruptly made a healthy scratch hours later — after Davidson and Hawks management were notified of the alleged misconduct — and he had not been seen or heard from since until his statement Thursday.
The Hawks lost to the Red Wings on Thursday without Anthony Beauvillier, who was acquired from the Canucks on Tuesday in part to replace Perry on the forward depth chart, because Beauvillier is still going through the process of obtaining a U.S. work visa. Coach Luke Richardson said Beauvillier is expected to join the team for practice in Winnipeg on Friday.
