Kukla's Korner Hockey
Entries with the tag: chicago+blackhawks
Rocky Bringing the ‘Hawks into the 21st Century
by Alanah McGinley on 10/23/07 at 01:15 AM ET
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From Jay Mariotti at the Chicago Sun-Times,
I’ll never forget the hilarious day when Jim DeMaria, public relations boss of the least publicly relatable sports team I’ve known, tried to censor me with an ultimatum. If I wanted to cover a Blackhawks home game, I had to agree not to mention the forbidden words: No home TV.
Naturally, in either the first or second paragraph of my live column from the United Center, I wondered why the Hawks were the only franchise in the civilized world not to televise home games. It was such a gross miscalculation of the needs of 21st-century fans, the edict literally swallowed up what once was the crackling pride of every Chicago winter. Long before Michael Jordan, the Hawks owned the West Side, but as long as Bill Wirtz was lowballing his star players and making illogical decisions about TV marketing, they were doomed to plunge further in popularity and impact than any team in American sports.
Well, in the wee hours of a September morning, Mr. Wirtz passed away. And not a month later, in a Monday memo that melted the ice beneath the feet of the few local hockey fans that remain, his son moved quickly to rectify a decades-old blunder.
continued…
*Original press release from the Blackhawks about televising home games in the future is noted here.
Filed in: NHL Teams, Chicago Blackhawks, NHL Media | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: chicago+blackhawks, rocky+wirtz,
Blackhawks Home Games May Be Coming to TV
by Alanah McGinley on 10/22/07 at 04:27 PM ET
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From the Chicago Blackhawks,
Representatives of the Chicago Blackhawks met with Comcast SportsNet executives today to begin discussions about televising some home games this hockey season.
It’s important to understand that Comcast SportsNet’s current schedule was developed well over a year ago, so fitting the Blackhawks into that schedule cannnot be done overnight. No definitive agreement has been reached at this time, however, we are convinced that it is the appropriate next step to re-energize Chicago hockey fans and create new fans. We are also working on a long term strategy for televising additional home games in the future.
Wow.
Filed in: NHL Teams, Chicago Blackhawks, NHL Media | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: chicago+blackhawks, media,
Hockey Tunes on a 300,000 Watt Organ
by Alanah McGinley on 10/21/07 at 12:33 PM ET
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From Paul Ladewski at Daily Southtown,
At a time when live organ music has been drowned out by computer-programmed rock-‘n’-roll in most sports arenas, Blackhawks organist Frank Pellico is a survivor.
About half of the 30 NHL teams employ keyboard players, but Pellico is among the few who play an actual organ at the games.
What’s more, Pellico said, “to my knowledge, the Blackhawks are the only team that has an organ of this size and capacity. I mean, a real pipe organ.”
Filed in: NHL Teams, Chicago Blackhawks | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: arenas, chicago+blackhawks,
Hope For Chicago
by Paul on 10/20/07 at 08:17 AM ET
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from Damien Cox of the Toronto Star,
For those who understand what the Cubs mean to baseball, what the Bears mean to the NFL and what the Bulls came to mean to the NBA, it’s not too hard to comprehend that the disappearance of the Blackhawks as a successful team and popular drawing card at the same time the world of media has expanded and diversified has been a major, major problem for the NHL.
These days, there’s a least hope that change is on the way.
Filed in: NHL Teams, Chicago Blackhawks | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: chicago+blackhawks,
Toews Highlight Goal
by Paul on 10/20/07 at 06:45 AM ET
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from NHL.com,
Toews, the Hawks’ top pick in 2006, took Kane’s feed while speeding through the neutral zone, raced past a forward and burst between defensemen Scott Hannan and Brett Clark before beating Theodore.
“It happened so fast,” Toews said. “I was lucky their D-men were a little flatfooted. I don’t think they expected me to come in with that much speed. I was pretty pumped.”
Chicago coach Denis Savard, who scored dozens of electrifying goals as a Blackhawks center, was impressed.
“We’ve haven’t seen a goal like this in a long time,” Savard said. “It was the highlight tape goal of the week, highlight goal of the year.”
Watch the Toews goal about 33 seconds into the video…
Filed in: NHL Teams, Chicago Blackhawks | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: chicago+blackhawks, Jonathan+Toews,
Rehab For Havlat
by Paul on 10/17/07 at 11:24 AM ET
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from Bob McKenzie of TSN,
Chicago Blackhawks winger Martin Havlat will undergo rehabilitation on his injured shoulder and will be out of the lineup for about four more weeks.
Filed in: NHL Teams, Chicago Blackhawks | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: chicago+blackhawks, injuries, Martin+Havlat,
Change Is Good In Chicago
by Paul on 10/16/07 at 06:39 PM ET
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from the Chicago Daily-Herald,
It’s the question most Hawks fans are asking: Is the team going to be run differently with Rocky Wirtz in the big chair?
The answer is… it sure seems that way.
The fact that Rocky Wirtz recognized Pulford’s presence in the United Center gave the perception to the outside world that he was still making all the decisions was a critical moment in the recent history of the franchise.
According to a source close to Rocky Wirtz, physically removing Pulford from the building and moving his office across town was a symbolic move made to show Hawks fans that change is coming.
Filed in: NHL Teams, Chicago Blackhawks | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: chicago+blackhawks, rocky+wirtz,
Could Chicago Make A Comeback?
by Paul on 10/16/07 at 01:45 PM ET
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from Mike Chen’s Hockey Blog,
A long time ago (about, oh 15 years) in a galaxy far, far away (Chicago Stadium), the Chicago Blackhawks were considered one of the NHL’s best franchises. From the early-to-mid 90’s, going into Chicago meant a unique mix of speed, grit, and skill, led by a wide mix of players from Jeremy Roenick to Chris Chelios to Denis Savard to Steve Larmer; later on, that mix included Bernie Nicholls, Tony Amonte, and Gary Suter.
For about half of the 90’s, the Hawks were scary good, and the roar at Chicago Stadium let everyone know that they should fear making a trip into the Windy City.
Filed in: NHL Teams, Chicago Blackhawks | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: chicago+blackhawks,
Going Well in Chicago
by Alanah McGinley on 10/16/07 at 11:23 AM ET
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From Lacy J. Banks at the Chicago Sun-Times,
While Blackhawks coach Denis Savard is ‘‘quite concerned’’ about injuries sidelining Martin Havlat (right shoulder) and Rene Bourque (groin), there are three significant reasons why Savard is happy and why his team is off to a 3-2 start.
First, Robert Lang has opened the season with a bang, leading the teams in scoring with three goals and two assists.
Second, rookies Patrick Kane (four assists) and Jonathan Toews (one goal, two assists) have each made an immediate impact.
Third, the Blackhawks have better depth, especially on defense, with the contributions of such newcomers as Kevyn Adams and Yanic Perreault.
Filed in: NHL Teams, Chicago Blackhawks | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: chicago+blackhawks,
Havlat Will Not Require Surgery
by Paul on 10/14/07 at 08:52 AM ET
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from the Chicago Tribune,
While not quite official, it’s appearing more and more likely Blackhawks winger Martin Havlat will not require surgery on his injured right shoulder.
The team has the opinion of four doctors and awaits a fifth and final one before making a final decision, but coach Denis Savard said he expects his star forward back in a matter of weeks, not months.
Filed in: NHL Teams, Chicago Blackhawks | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: chicago+blackhawks, injuries, Martin+Havlat,
Dominoes Falling in Chicago
by Alanah McGinley on 10/12/07 at 01:59 AM ET
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From Barry Rozner at the Daily Herald,
The dominoes are starting to fall.
The housecleaning on West Madison began with the departure of Peter Wirtz last week and continued with the removal of Bob Pulford on Thursday, one of the most important moves the Blackhawks have made in years.
At this rate, new Hawks owner Rocky Wirtz will have home games on TV and a first-class hockey operations department by Christmas.
OK, that’s a stretch, but he’s moving fast and you have to give him time to clear up the more complicated matters.
Filed in: NHL Teams, Chicago Blackhawks, NHL Talk, NHL Business of Hockey | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: chicago+blackhawks,
A First Of Many
by Paul on 10/11/07 at 02:04 PM ET
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In case you missed the first NHL goal from Jonathan Toews of the Chicago Blackhawks.
Great goal and looking forward to more of the same…
Filed in: NHL Teams, Chicago Blackhawks | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: chicago+blackhawks, Jonathan+Toews,
More Head Office Action in Chicago
by Alanah McGinley on 10/11/07 at 12:10 PM ET
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via the Blackhawks,
The Chicago Blackhawks announced today that Bob Pulford has been named Vice President of Wirtz Corporation.
Bob Pulford has served the Chicago Blackhawks, the National Hockey League and the game of hockey for the better part of six decades. As a Hall of Fame player, a coach, and an executive, his passion for hockey, its players and its fans have made him a giant in the game.
Bob will transition from Senior Vice President of the Chicago Blackhawks to Vice President of Wirtz Corporation. In his new role, Pulford will serve as the Blackhawks liaison on NHL affairs. He will also continue in his role as Alternate Governor to the National Hockey League.
Filed in: NHL Teams, Chicago Blackhawks, NHL Talk, NHL Business of Hockey | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: chicago+blackhawks,
Toews Makes NHL Debut Tonight
by Paul on 10/10/07 at 07:02 AM ET
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from the Chicago Sun-Times,
The future begins tonight, when Toews plays his first NHL game against the San Jose Sharks at the United Center.
Hawks coach Denis Savard sees unlimited possibilities for Toews, 19 and only a season removed from college hockey at North Dakota.
‘‘He’ll play in every situation—power play, penalty kill, four-on-four—and he’ll be good at it,’’ Savard said. ‘‘He is our future. He’s going to make a difference. I’m not concerned about that.’‘
Filed in: NHL Teams, Chicago Blackhawks | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: chicago+blackhawks, Jonathan+Toews,
Havlat Status Still Up In The Air
by Paul on 10/09/07 at 07:15 AM ET
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from the Chicago Daily-Herald,
If the Blackhawks are fortunate enough to catch a break—and it’s still a huge “if”—they will be without top scorer Martin Havlat for the next 4-6 weeks.
But if the news is bad later this week after Havlat has several more doctors examine his injured right shoulder, he could be lost to the Hawks for the rest of the season.
Filed in: NHL Teams, Chicago Blackhawks | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: chicago+blackhawks, injuries, Martin+Havlat,
Chicago On The Right Track
by Paul on 10/07/07 at 10:14 AM ET
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from Len Ziehm of the Chicago Sun-Times,
Will the Hawks be better? Sure, but marginally. They aren’t playoff-bound just yet.
Will they be more interesting? Absolutely—and by a lot. This is a team worth watching, even if those watchers won’t see enough victories to put it in the playoffs. Optimistically, I see an 82-point season, which is notably up from the 71 of last season, which was up from the 65 of the year before, which was up from the 59 in the last season before the NHL lockout. Progress will be made, however slowly.
Filed in: NHL Teams, Chicago Blackhawks | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: chicago+blackhawks,
Havlat Status Undetermined
by Paul on 10/06/07 at 02:57 PM ET
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via Red Wings Corner,
Chicago coach Denis Savard said that Martin Havlat, who is out of tonight’s game against the Red Wings with an injured shoulder, isn’t skating, isn’t lifting weights. His only workout right now is the bicycle. Havlat’s status won’t be determined for another week.
I have also heard he is getting a 2nd opinion on his shoulder injury, and yes, it is the same shoulder he injured last season.
Filed in: NHL Teams, Chicago Blackhawks | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: chicago+blackhawks, injuries, Martin+Havlat,
Havlat Hurt
by Paul on 10/05/07 at 08:30 AM ET
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from the Chicago Daily-Herald,
Then Martin Havlat’s name came up and things soured.
Because when the Hawks’ go-to guy skated off the ice, bent over from the waist in obvious agony late in the third period after being sandwiched by a pair of Minnesota players in front of the Wild net, it suddenly didn’t matter that they had played so well in dropping a 1-0 decision in the season opener.
What mattered was that after the game Havlat’s right arm was in a sling and his right shoulder had already been X-rayed with results to be announced today.
Filed in: NHL Teams, Chicago Blackhawks | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: chicago+blackhawks, injuries, Martin+Havlat,
Kicking Around With Havlat
by Paul on 10/04/07 at 01:17 PM ET
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from Marcie Garcia at NHL.com,
There are times when the basement of the United Center, home of the Chicago Blackhawks, can feel like a soccer pitch. While going through the doors and into the corridors outside the dressing room, sounds of squeaky gym shoes and lively shouts warn of a game in progress.
Right wing Martin Havlat, the Hawks’ big gun, is one of the aspiring soccer stars.
“It’s just a good way for us to warm up,” says the 26-year-old Czech Republic native, by far the biggest soccer fan on the team
Filed in: NHL Teams, Chicago Blackhawks | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: chicago+blackhawks, Martin+Havlat,
Chicago Can Answer Questions With Quick Start
by Paul on 10/04/07 at 11:17 AM ET
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from the Daily Southtown,
Is this the season?
Is this the season the Blackhawks become a playoff team again?
Is this the season they stay healthy? Score some power-play goals? Go to the net?
Is this the season their long-suffering fans, many of whom no longer visit the United Center, are rewarded with more than a promise of a bright future?
Filed in: NHL Teams, Chicago Blackhawks | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: chicago+blackhawks,
Hawks Or Leafs
by Paul on 10/03/07 at 02:05 PM ET
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from Damien Cox at ESPN,
Well, the Hawks will surely hit the half-century mark without winning it all, while the Leafs were closer five years ago than they are now. The Leafs are likely to be better this season and in the immediate future, but the Hawks have a chance with Toews and Kane to be one of the game’s most talented young teams if they nurture the prospects they own.
So the answer, really, is neither team appears on schedule to win the Cup anytime soon. But if the Hawks have the right kids and a productive change in ownership direction is in the offing, they look like the better bet somewhere down the line.
read on for a comparison…
Filed in: NHL Teams, Chicago Blackhawks, Toronto Maple Leafs | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: chicago+blackhawks, toronto+maple+leafs,
Paying Their Respect To Bill Wirtz
by Paul on 10/01/07 at 06:32 PM ET
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from the AP via USA TODAY,
Hundreds of mourners from the world of hockey and sports gathered Monday for funeral services for Wirtz, 77, who died Wednesday of cancer.
Befitting Wirtz’s place in Chicago’s sports landscape, those in attendance included Blackhawks greats such as Stan Mikita and Chris Chelios, as well as NHL commissioner Gary Bettman, Chicago Bulls and White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf, and Detroit Red Wings owner Mike Ilitch.
“I came here as a young boy, to Chicago, and to be fathered and grandfathered by Mr. Wirtz was a privilege,” said Darryl Sutter, a former Blackhawks player and coach and one of several former players who recalled Wirtz’s role as a father figure.
Filed in: NHL Teams, Chicago Blackhawks | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: Bill+Wirtz, chicago+blackhawks,
Sopel Signed By Chicago
by Paul on 09/28/07 at 08:37 PM ET
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Listening to the Wings/Leafs game online, the Toronto announcers stated Brent Sopel was signed by Chicago today.
added 9:20pm, TSN link now available, believed to be $1.5M for 1 year.
Filed in: NHL Teams, Chicago Blackhawks | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: Brent+Sopel, chicago+blackhawks,
Chicago Dealing With Injuries
by Paul on 09/28/07 at 07:12 AM ET
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from the Chicago Sun-Times,
Martin Havlat, their leading scorer last season, felt pain in his groin in the first period of Tuesday’s exhibition game against the Florida Panthers and skated off the ice. He didn’t return in that game and didn’t take the ice when the Hawks resumed training camp Wednesday in Bensenville.
‘‘He’s day-to-day,’’ Savard said. ‘‘I’d like to have him play Sunday in the last exhibition game [at Minnesota]. I’d like the whole team to be available then.’‘
That won’t likely happen. Rookie center Jonathan Toews, who broke an index finger in the second preseason game Sept. 19, remains doubtful for the Oct. 4 opener at Minnesota, and Tuomo Ruutu, also listed as day-to-day, is nursing a sore knee.
Filed in: NHL Teams, Chicago Blackhawks | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: chicago+blackhawks, injuries, martin+havlat,
Following The Young Blackhawks
by Paul on 09/27/07 at 02:20 PM ET
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from Scott Burnside of ESPN,
Physically, personality-wise, and in their backgrounds, the two could not be more diverse.
Toews is a solid, quiet, Canadian boy from Winnipeg, Manitoba, who played on the backyard rink until he was too cold to go on. He honed his skills at the University of North Dakota and was selected with the third overall pick in 2006. Although he just turned 19 in April, there is nothing about Toews that says “boy.”
Kane is not quite scrawny, but definitely slight. Later, he’ll describe with a grin how he “bulked up” over the summer, jumping from 163 pounds in July to 170 at the start of camp.
Filed in: NHL Teams, Chicago Blackhawks | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: chicago+blackhawks, Jonathan+Toews, Patrick+Kane,
Chicago In Need Of “D”
by Paul on 09/27/07 at 08:59 AM ET
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from Tim Sassone of the Chicago Daily-Herald,
General manager Dale Tallon has been trying to trade for a veteran defenseman for weeks, and he still might be able to pull off such a deal using his surplus of forwards and prospects as bait.
There have been whispers of Tallon inquiring about Ottawa’s Wade Redden, who could be available because of his $6.5 million salary and impending free agency, but the price would be steep. You’d have to figure the Senators would want back another defenseman such as Seabrook or Keith, and maybe a pick and a prospect, or perhaps both.
Tallon might be better off keeping Seabrook and Keith and continuing his search for a top-four defenseman elsewhere.
added 12:57pm, Chicago claims Thrashers Dman Pilar…
Filed in: NHL Teams, Chicago Blackhawks | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: chicago+blackhawks,
William Wirtz Dies
by Paul on 09/26/07 at 06:12 AM ET
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from the Chicago Blackhawks,
It is with deep sorrow that the Chicago Blackhawks announce that team President, Mr. William W. Wirtz, 77, passed away early Wednesday morning at Evanston Hospital after a recent battle with cancer.
Mr. Wirtz is survived by his wife, Alice, five children, Rocky, Gail, Karey, Peter and Alyson, and seven grandchildren.
added 8:31am, from Chicago Business,
Wirtz often said his goal was for the team to win another Stanley Cup, but he was not known to spend lavishly on the team.
His steadfast refusal to get into bidding wars to acquire the services of the game’s best players earned Wirtz the nickname “Dollar Bill.” That image changed somewhat when the club signed goaltender Nikolai Khabibulin to a four-year, $27 million contract in 2005.
Filed in: NHL Teams, Chicago Blackhawks | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: chicago+blackhawks, William+Wirtz,
Savard Keeping His Promise
by Paul on 09/22/07 at 07:58 AM ET
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from the Chicago Tribune,
The obvious reason Blackhawks coach Denis Savard has taken Patrick Kane under his wing is to groom the 18-year-old into the marquee player the franchise craves. But the NHL Hall of Famer has a personal reason as well.
“I’m going to keep my promise — I told his dad I would take care of him,” Savard said. “He’s a great kid.”
Filed in: NHL Teams, Chicago Blackhawks | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: chicago+blackhawks, prospects,
Jonathan Toews Out With Broken Finger
by Paul on 09/20/07 at 12:43 AM ET
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from the AP via Sports Illustrated,
Rookie center Jonathan Toews, Chicago’s first-round pick in last year’s draft, broke his right index finger Wednesday night during the Blackhawks’ 4-3 preseason loss to Columbus and is expected to be sidelined two-to-three weeks.
Filed in: NHL Teams, Chicago Blackhawks | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: chicago+blackhawks, Jonathan+Toews, prospects,
No Matter What, Khabibulin Must Play Better
by Paul on 09/17/07 at 06:01 PM ET
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from the Chicago Daily Herald,
Maybe the Blackhawks will score more goals on the power play.
Maybe the pieces will fall into place on defense.
But for the Hawks to make the playoffs for the first time since 2002, it’s likely going to come down to whether they get consistently good goaltending from Nikolai Khabibulin.
Now halfway through his four-year, $27 million contract, the richest in team history, Khabibulin hasn’t lived up to expectations - though in his defense there hasn’t been a good team in front of him for those two seasons.
Filed in: NHL Teams, Chicago Blackhawks | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: chicago+blackhawks, goalies, Nikolai+Khabibulin,
Bringing Back the Blackhawks Fans
by Alanah McGinley on 09/12/07 at 02:01 PM ET
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From the CP via TSN,
It might be time for hockey fans in Chicago to come out of hiding.
The Blackhawks have consistently been among the NHL’s lowest-ranked teams in attendance in recent years, but they believe that could start changing this season thanks to a revamped roster.
“We get plenty of walk-ups for our games,” said GM Dale Tallon. “They’re there. They’re wanting us to succeed. They’re waiting for an excuse to come to the United Center.”
Filed in: NHL Teams, Chicago Blackhawks | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: chicago+blackhawks, hockey+fans,
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