Saturday, August 29, 2015

Blackhawk fans can see the Blackhawks Future in Chicago 6 Times this Year.


Chicago Blackhawk fans can check out their minor league affiliate, Rockford IceHogs in Chicago 6 times this year.  Because the IceHogs play in the same division as the Chicago Wolves, the IceHogs will play 6 games in Rosemont at the Allstate Arena, home of the Chicago Wolves.

Although the Blackhawks are still working on their roster, the IceHogs roster will still contain some exciting stars that fans will want to see.  Players like Viktor Svedberg, Mark McNeil, Ville Pokka, and Ryan Hartman are players that could be on the short list to make the NHL squad at some point.

If you have a chance, check out the future of the Blackhawks on these dates against the Chicago Wolves:

Saturday, 12/19/15 @ 7pm
Saturday, 01/02/16 @ 7pm
Saturday, 01/30/16 @ 7pm
Saturday, 02/20/16 @ 7pm
Friday, 03/18/16 @ 7pm
Wednesday, 03/30/16 @ 7pm

The entire IceHogs schedule can be found at www.icehogs.com.


LET'S GO HAWKS!!!
LET'S GO HOGS!!!

Friday, August 28, 2015

Blackhawks Family Lose Two Alumni From the 1961 Stanley Cup Team

The Chicago Blackhawks family lost two members of the 1961 Stanley Cup Championship team this week.  Ron 'Chico' Maki passed on Wednesday at the age of 76.  Today, Al Arbour passed away at the age of 82.

Chico Maki, (who doesn't love to say that name), was one of the longest tenured Blackhawks.  He played his entire 15-year career with the 'Hawks from 1961 to 1976, while playing in 841 games, gathering 143 goals, 292 assists, for 435 points.

Maki appeared in 3 All-Star games.  Although he only appeared in one game in 1961 as a rookie, he was still part of the Stanley Cup winning team.  Maki played a bigger role to help bring the Blackhawks back to the Stanley Cup Finals in 1962, 1965, 1971, and 1973.  Unfortunately, he couldn't help them bring home Lord Stanley's Cup during that time.


Al Arbour, played 626 games in the NHL.  Of those, he played 170 games, 3 seasons, with the Blackhawks, including the 1961 team.  Over his playing career, he won 4 Stanley Cups (Montreal, Chicago, Toronto (2)).  Arbour though is more known for his coaching career with the New York Islanders.  He coached a total of 1500 games in the NHL and led the Islanders to 4 straight Stanley Cups from 1980 to 1983.  He ranks 2nd All-Time in coaching victories with 782 only to Scotty Bowman (1244).

Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families of both, Chico Maki, and Al Arbour.

LET'S GO HAWKS!!!

Friday, August 7, 2015

Patrick Kane Investigation Puts Blackhawks Brass To The Test

Patrick Kane found himself in a familiar spot in June, hoisting the Stanley Cup for the third time in six years.  A little over a month later, he finds himself in a familiar place again.  This time, in trouble…again.

Kane finds himself in a police investigation for alleged rape.  To be clear, no charges have been filed, and no one has been put under arrest.  As of now, everything is accusations…only.

The problem is that the Blackhawks front office is once again trying to put out the fires caused by Kane.  Regardless, if Kane is guilty or innocent (and he should be considered innocent until proven guilty), he has found himself, yet again, in a place and a situation he should never have put himself into.  Yes, it’s possible that the alleged victim could have tried to get Kane into trouble, or she was truly a victim.  That is for the police to decide.  Either way, high-profile athletes are told, shown, and taught, to not get themselves into these situations.  The question 
is what do the Blackhawks do, if anything?

Kane has had a checkered past with taxi cabs, college Cinco De Mayo parties, and taking snapshots in the back of limos shirtless with women during a hockey season.  Yes, he is/was young and enjoying a rock star career.  He’s now 26.  Time to grow up and wise up.  Over the last two years though, Kane had matured.  Something that the Blackhawks organization could rest easy on…until now.  Blackhawks owner, Rocky Wirtz, President, John McDonough, and General Manager, Stan Bowman, have built a “brand” that they pride themselves on.  They’ve invested a lot into Patrick Kane over the years.  Bowman brought Kane into his home during his rookie year as Kane lived with him and his family.  When Kane got off from the cab incident, the Blackhawks too care of things with Kane, “internally”, and behind closed doors.  Now, these accusations, proven innocent or guilty, is NOT something that the Blackhawks brass is going to take lightly.  They’ve invested $84.5 million into Kane.  It would be interesting to know what kind of stipulation fine print may be inside that contract.

Time will only tell, but if the Blackhawks are sticking with their “brand” of hockey, then what kind of discipline will come of this incident, regardless if proven innocent or guilty.  One would think anything is possible at this point.  Let’s just hope that this investigation ends here and goes no further.


LET’S GO HAWKS!!!

Wednesday, August 5, 2015

Blackhawks Sign Two Of Their RFA's

Don't get too excited.  It's not Marcus Kruger.  It's not even Joakim Nordstrom.  But it is a good thing.  The Chicago Blackhawks re-signed two of their young defensive prospects, Viktor Svedberg, and Sam Jardine.  Both receive one year contract extensions.


Svedberg, 24, has played the last two years with the Rockford Icehogs accumulating 5 goals and 18 assists in 84 games.  At 6'9", he's a young, big, defenseman that the Hawks would like to see become a force on the defensive line.  He has the size, and his defensive game has gotten better.  He was a +14 last year with the Icehogs.  He was recalled during the Blackhawks playoff run and practiced with them throughout the playoffs.

Jardine, 21, was a 6th round pick (#169 overall) for the Blackhawks in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft.  He spent the last 3 years playing with the Ohio State Buckeyes totaling 3 goals and 29 assists in 97 games.  Jardine participated at this year's Blackhawks Prospect Camp and was one of the bright spots coming out of it.

With the defensive crop being a bit thin after the trades of young defensemen, Stephen JohnsAdam Clendenning and Klas Dahlbeck, Svedberg and Jardine are now near the top of the Hawks' defensive prospects.

LET'S GO HAWKS!!!