Old Time Hockey - Joe’s Blog

Hey Chicago sports fans. Thanks for stopping by. I’m new at this writing stuff, so give me a shout out when I do or say something you don’t like, which might be often. If I accidentally get it right once in a while let me know that too. I don’t follow the rest of the NHL a lot, just the Hawks. The same goes for the Wolves. So if you expect to read about Crosby, Iginla, Luongo, or Ovechkin, sorry. Unless the Hawks are playing against them, or they impact the Chicago sports scene in some way, you probably won’t ever see their names in my stories. I’ll probably showcase the Hawks more than the Wolves, not because they aren’t a class act, but because I’m a bigger fan of the Hawks.

Here’s what you can expect from me. I’m an unabashed homer. I’m not dumb enough to think the Hawks or Wolves are the best teams out there. I just don’t care to give another team their props. For instance, I might have to tell you if the Red Wings outplayed the Hawks in the Western Conference finals some day, but I won’t be there to congratulate the “Dead Things” if it comes to that. Let their fans do that, not me.

Don’t expect me to provide a play by play account of games. Do expect to get my opinions and comments. I’ll boost the Blackhawks and Wolves as long they give an honest effort. I might not be happy with a losing team, but I can respect a team that might be short on talent but puts their heart into the game. Win or lose I’ll still cheer for them. I’ll probably tell you if I spot trends, like a player that seems selfish like Havlat was at times, or a player that seems to get better in crunch time, like Seabrook’s play lately.

I’ll also do my best not to get personal or mean-spirited towards a player. I’ll also stay away from commenting on salaries for the most part. I don’t begrudge a guy getting what the market will bear, but I will say that the high salary guys like Khabibulin have to produce in proportion to their worth, or they won’t be starters for long. I’ll give kudos to ownership when they warrant it, and I’ll tell you when I think they stub their toes. I hope you’ll like my lack of style, and my enthusiasm for Chicago hockey. I fervently want the Wolves to keep winning, and I especially want the Hawks to beat their string another 28 or more Stanley Cup playoff appearances together, that ended with the 1996 season.

Here’s a story about the kind of old time hockey I appreciate, and hope you do too:

In the 1961 season one of Bobby Hull’s goals came in the third period of a game with the Rangers. Bobby was battling for the puck along the boards when he was sticked in the face. The tip ripped through his lower lip and jammed between two of his lower teeth. There was a chunk of wood, in his bloodied mouth. Later, Hull was sitting in the first-aid room at Chicago Stadium. “Just get the wood out for now,” Hull told the doc. “You can put the stitches in later. The game’s almost over anyway.” Hull returned to the ice and he scored his third goal of the night to beat the Rangers, 3-2. Later nine stitches were needed. Hull’s comment after the game? “It hurt–but hell, we get paid to play.”
-Source

That’s what I’m talking about! Old Time Hockey Chicago Style!

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