In an official written statement released Thursday, Corey Perry “sincerely apologizes to the entire Chicago Blackhawks organization, including the owners, management, coaches, employees and teammates.”

“I would also like to apologize to my fans, and my family. I’m embarrassed to have let you all down,” he adds, without specifying the nature of the actions committed.

Perry has been at the heart of hockey news for a week, since the Blackhawks sent him home without explanation. A few days later, the team announced in a press release that the veteran had behaved in an unacceptable manner and that an internal investigation had shown that he had violated the NHL’s player code of conduct as well as that of the ‘team. As a result, his contract was terminated and Perry was released.

In the meantime, rumors had had time to form within the community of hockey fans. These rumors, unfounded, took on disproportionate proportions; the principal wanted that Perry had had a relationship with the mother of one of his young teammates. The attacker addressed the situation in his statement.

“My actions have given rise to speculation and rumors. I am disgusted by the impact this has had on others, and I want to make it clear that this situation never involved any of my teammates, nor their families, he wrote. Even more importantly, I want to apologize directly to those who were negatively affected and I am sorry for the additional impact this has created on others. My behavior was inappropriate and unacceptable. »

Perry also indicates that he began working with “experts in mental health and substance abuse to discuss [his] difficulties with alcohol”. “I’m going to do whatever it takes to make sure this never happens again,” he adds. I hope to regain the trust and respect of all those who believed in me during my career. »

“Once again, I am deeply sorry,” the 38-year-old Canadian concluded.