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Retired NHL left winger Paul Bissonnette was hospitalized in Scottsdale, Arizona, after being attacked Sunday night, according to Fox 10 Phoenix.
De Welland, Ont. Native was reportedly attacked by six men at a restaurant called Houston’s in Scottsdale. Scottsdale police reportedly told Fox 10 that the situation started at the restaurant. Bissonnette tried to help restaurant staff during an altercation.
Police told Fox 10 that the situation escalated from there and that Bissonnette was allegedly assaulted inside and outside the building. As a result, the 39-year-old was injured and sent to the hospital. Although police have not released details of Bissonnette’s injuries, they believe his injuries are not life-threatening.
All six men involved in the attack have been arrested for assault and disorderly conduct. The men were not identified.
Bissonnette is currently a hockey media personality. He is co-host of the Chiclets spit podcast. He is also an analyst for NHL on TNT, which has been broadcast since October 2021. Bissonnette is also a regular on social media, especially X, where he posted several messages on Monday evening. (Warning: The following X message contains language that may not be suitable for all readers.)
The former enforcer played 202 games in the NHL and racked up a total of 340 penalty minutes. He played for both the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Arizona Coyotes. Bissonnette scored a total of 22 points in his six-season NHL career.
He spent most of his professional hockey career in the ECHL and AHL. His best season in terms of scoring came in the 2006-07 season with the Wheeling Wailers of the ECHL. He also won a Calder Cup as an AHL champion with the Manchester Monarchs in 2015.
Bissonnette played one season outside of North America during the partial lockout season in 2012-13. He played 10 games for the Cardiff Devils in the United Kingdom’s Elite Ice Hockey League. He scored 19 points during that short stint.
