SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Former Coyote Paul Bissonnette was hospitalized after being assaulted by six men, according to the Scottsdale Police Department.
SPD told 12News that the incident happened at the Houston's restaurant near Scottsdale Road and McDonald Drive at about 7:30 p.m. on Sunday.
Six men were inside the restaurant arguing with management when Bissonnette stepped in to try and help calm the situation down and get the men to leave, police said.
"The situation escalated to the men assaulting Paul Bissonnette both inside and outside of the restaurant," SPD said.
Bissonnette was taken to the hospital to be treated for the injuries he suffered in the assault. Police did not say how severely Bissonnette was hurt, but did say the injuries were non-life-threatening.
The six men involved in the incident have been arrested and are facing assault and disorderly conduct charges.
Dave Portnoy, the founder and owner of Barstool Sports, which owns the "Spittin; Chiclets" podcast, posted a screenshot of a text conversation with Bissonnette on X (formerly known as Twitter) where Bissonnette said he was okay and "Took some but gave more."
Bissonnette, who was nicknamed "Biz Nasty," played for the Coyotes from 2009-14, appearing in 187 games. He had seven goals and 14 assists while playing in the Valley and was known for his toughness and willingness to get into fights.
Since retiring, Bissonnette has made a name for himself in broadcasting as one on the hosts of the popular "Spittin' Chiclets" podcast. He made many appearances on Coyotes' television broadcasts over the years before their departure for Salt Lake City and also works for Turner Sports as an analyst on their national NHL broadcasts.
>> Download the 12News app for the latest local breaking news straight to your phone.
Watch 12News+ for free
You can now watch 12News content anytime, anywhere thanks to the 12News+ app!
The free 12News+ app from 12News lets users stream live events — including daily newscasts like "Today in AZ" and "12 News" and our daily lifestyle program, "Arizona Midday"—on Roku and Amazon Fire TV.
12News+ showcases live video throughout the day for breaking news, local news, weather and even an occasional moment of Zen showcasing breathtaking sights from across Arizona.
Users can also watch on-demand videos of top stories, local politics, I-Team investigations, Arizona-specific features and vintage videos from the 12News archives.
Roku: Add the channel from the Roku store or by searching for "12 News KPNX."
Amazon Fire TV: Search for "12 News KPNX" to find the free 12News+ app to add to your account, or have the 12News+ app delivered directly to your Amazon Fire TV through Amazon.com or the Amazon app.
Arizona sports
The city of Phoenix is home to four major professional sports league teams; The NFL's Arizona Cardinals, NBA's Phoenix Suns, WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury and MLB's Arizona Diamondbacks.
The Cardinals have made State Farm Stadium in Glendale their home turf and the Footprint Center in downtown Phoenix is home to both the Suns and the Mercury. The Indoor Football League’s Arizona Rattlers play at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale.
Phoenix also has a soccer team with the USL's Phoenix Rising FC, who play at Phoenix Rising FC Stadium in Phoenix.
The Valley hosts multiple major sporting events every year, including college football's Fiesta Bowl and Guaranteed Rate Bowl; the PGA Tour’s highest-attended event, the WM Phoenix Open; NASCAR events each spring and fall, including Championship Weekend in November; and Cactus League Spring Training for 15 Major League Baseball franchises.
12Sports on YouTube
Get the latest news and stories from 12Sports on the 12News YouTube channel. And don't forget to subscribe!
