Former NHL player Paul Bissonnette found himself in the middle of an intense altercation with six disruptive men at a restaurant in Scottsdale, Arizona, on Sunday night.
Paul Bissonnette fights off drunk golfers
The 39-year-old left-wing’s past as a fighter in the NHL served him well when he was out to dinner at his favorite restaurant last weekend.
Sharing his version of events in a video posted to X, Bissonnette explained, “The bar where I normally sit was packed. I sat in the dining area, and at one point, there was a bit of a ruckus going on in the bar.”
“It was a bunch of drunk golfers. Things obviously continued to escalate. They asked one guy to leave, and then one guy kept getting in the manager’s face, put his hands on him,” he noted.
Bissonnette described the ordeal, which lasted around 30 to 45 seconds, during an episode of his Barstool Sports podcast, “Spittin’ Chiclets.”
Thanks for your calls & messages. Love you fuckers. Had a blast getting to record @spittinchiclets today and share some laughs with the gang. See you tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/5WOxkxARvx
— Paul Bissonnette (@BizNasty2point0) November 26, 2024
Reflecting on the moment when he intervened, he said, “I walk over, I grabbed the guy’s arm, I said, ‘Listen, buddy, if you keep harassing and assaulting the staff here, we’re going to go outside and have some problems.'”
NHL star Paul Bissonnette protects restaurant employees
“The minute that left my mouth, the guy beside him starts throwing punches, and the next thing you know there was about four guys start swinging at me,” he noted.
The former Pittsburgh Penguin said that the brawl broke out in the middle of the bar and “punches were being thrown left and right.”
Throughout the brawl, his shirt was torn, his shoes flew off, and at one point, he ended up on the ground.
He revealed that while down, he endured being “boot f***ed,” taking three kicks—one to the neck and two to the head.
Despite the rough night, Bissonnette remained defiant, saying, “I’ll get their names, and this is gonna be a thing.”
Bissonnette was incensed about how the situation affected the restaurant’s staff, a team he referred to as “respectful and talented.”
According to Scottsdale Police, who largely verified Bissonnette’s story, the altercation began with the group of men creating issues with the restaurant’s management.
“Reportedly, Paul Bissonnette tried to help management calm the men and get them to leave,” Scottsdale Police Sgt. Allison Sempsis told Fox 10 Phoenix,.
“The situation escalated to the men assaulting Paul Bissonnette both inside and outside of the restaurant,” she noted.
Drunk golfers charged by authorities
The individuals involved in the incident have since been charged by authorities.
Danny Bradley faces charges for misdemeanor assault and disorderly conduct, with John Carroll accused of misdemeanor disorderly conduct, and William Carroll facing two counts of misdemeanor assault and disorderly conduct.
Both Edward Jennings and Henry Mesker have been charged with misdemeanor assault and disorderly conduct.
Sean Daley was charged with more serious felony aggravated assault, felony forgery, and misdemeanor disorderly conduct charges.
The felony charge against Daley reportedly stems from an allegedly forged military ID found in his wallet.
The professional hockey player was hospitalized briefly after the incident, but has since been released.
“Got taken down a couple times. Luckily, didn’t get knocked out. I did go to the hospital, so that’s probably what everybody is reading about.”
“All is good guys, it sucks,” he said in the video. “Could have been a lot worse.”
Bissonnette played six seasons in the NHL, spending one year with the Penguins before being traded to the Phoenix Coyotes, where he remained until 2014.
