Paul Bissonnette, a former NHL player and current hockey analyst, was assaulted by six men at a restaurant in Arizona on Sunday night. The incident occurred after Bissonnette allegedly intervened when a group of “drunk golfers” were causing a disturbance and refused service.
According to Bissonnette, who released a video statement on social media, the incident took place at a restaurant he frequently visits, Houston’s, in Scottsdale. He claimed that one of the drunk golfers became physical with the restaurant’s manager, and when no one else in the restaurant intervened, he decided to step in.
“I went over, I just grabbed the guy’s arm that was on the manager,” Bissonnette said in the video. “I said, ‘Sir, if you continue to harass and assault the staff, we’re gonna have problems.’ And then they just started chucking. So, it escalated extremely quickly.”
Bissonnette claimed that the fight spilled out into the street and that he was kicked in the head several times. He was taken to the hospital as a result.
The Scottsdale police arrested six men involved in the fight on charges of assault and disorderly conduct, with five facing misdemeanors and one facing a felony. However, their identities have not been released by law enforcement.
Bissonnette, 39, played in the NHL from 2008-2014, spending his final six seasons with the Arizona Coyotes. He currently hosts a podcast on Barstool and is a frequent commentator on TNT.
