The United Center was emotion central on Sunday night. It was the retiring of Chris Chelios’ #7 and the return of Patrick Kane to the UC in a Detroit Red Wings uni. Wow.
I caught some of the pre-game festivities, and watched highlights of other parts. Seeing another number raised to the rafters for the Blackhawks was really cool. Being reminded of how Chelios won 3 Stanley Cups during his career but none with the Blackhawks, not so much. Why didn’t the Hawks win a Cup with Cheli? The Hawks did make the playoffs 7x in the 9 years Chelios spent in the Indian Head sweater, losing in the Conference Finals in 1995 to the Red Wings, and in the Stanley Cup Finals in 1992 to the Pittsburgh Penguins. Chelios, along with Roenick and Belfour, were the most popular Hawks during that timeframe. Again, I didn’t get to watch a whole hell of a lot of hockey in that timeframe because Dollar Bill kept the TV rights hostage, but we knew who they were; I followed along as best I could. Of course, outside of his final year with the Atlanta Thrashers (remember them?), Chelios finished his career with the Red Wings, after starting it with the Canadiens. Those were the two teams he won the Cups with. It would have been nice if he could have been part of one Cup team here, but still… great, great player for the Hawks; congrats for this honor!
Of course, the guy I’m a little bit more familiar with, was the other focal point of this matchup on Sunday vs the Wings. Patrick Kane… #88… how many great memories he has provided. With Toews, the dynamic duo of the Stanley Cup core, helping bring us 3 Cups. But, I guess we had no use for him anymore here in Chicago, huh? Anyways… he stepped on the ice for the first time in another sweater. The video they showed at the first timeout was something; I had tears in my eyes. 88 will most definitely be in the rafters one day… I still remember not wanting to celebrate when his goal went in against the Flyers because we weren’t sure… my Dad knew… we eventually let loose. It wasn’t just that one… the crowd gave him a long ass ovation, rightfully so; once action returned, it was a “Detroit Sucks” chant that started… things were going according to plan.
Up 2-1 in the 3rd period, the first ex-Blackhawk did his damage. Brinksy Cat scored to tie the game. I guess we didn’t need him any more either huh? Then, of course, it was Kane with the game winner in OT; the crowd cheered him. I don’t know about that… I was very happy to see the video; he deserved every ounce of that ovation he got. But once the video is over, and the Detroit Sucks chant started, it was back to business, and he was on the opposing team. I wish him well, always will, just not against us. And he rips out heart out? OK, maybe I’m being a bit dramatic, as he actually helped the Hawks Tank Mission Part 2 taking that 2nd point from us. OK, maybe I would have still cheered him… I don’t know. He beat our team, and although he was once ours, he’s not that any longer. And although I will always be thankful to him for his contributions on the team bringing the 3 Cups home… I don’t know. I guess you couldn’t have drawn it up any better? I don’t know… personally, I would have liked to see a Bedard game winner in OT, but hey… Hawks fan first, Kane and anybody else fan second…
Anyways, back to our regularly scheduled NHL bottom dwelling season; it WAS a nice break from that… this game felt like it had a lot of meaning. Congrats again to Cheli; Thank You again to Kaner, except that whole GW goal part… Ready to be back in the postseason, but that will have to wait… Go Hawks!
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