|
|
Bloggers 
My HockeyBuzz
Cap Central
Fantasy
Rumor Chart
Forums
Store
Chat
RSS
|
Season Ticket Login Free Registration! |
Wanna blog? Start your own hockey blog with My HockeyBuzz. Register for free today!
 |
 |
|
Chicago Blackhawks Blogger •
It’s Lake Ontario versus Lake Michigan. Mike Myers versus Vince Vaughn. Deep Dish pizza versus TimBits. Dave Keon versus Bobby Hull.
Tonight at the United Center, two of the league’s Original Six Franchises face off for the first time this year: Toronto at Chicago.
There are many, many similarities (and a few striking differences) between the two cities and teams. Clearly, the Leafs have been the more successful franchise over the years. And in Toronto, as well as most of Eastern English Canada, they are the pre-eminent sports franchise. The Blackhawks had basically become a laughingstock in Chicago and in professional sports until their recent miraculous turnaround.
I remember the near ice level camera angles and black and white broadcasts of the games at Maple Leaf Gardens between the two teams in the 1960s.
Who could forget the vicious playoff series’ between the two teams when they both occupied the Norris Division in the 1980s and early 90s?
I commuted to Toronto virtually every week from 2003-2006 and remember many a night, watching the Leafs over a cold Stella at Gabby’s.
With all due respect to Detroit, Montreal and Boston, Toronto is the center of the Hockey World.
Both teams had dinosaur owners who many would argue held their teams, if not the league back, Bill Wirtz and Harold Ballard.
The Blackhawks were essentially run throughout the 80s and 90s by a career Maple Leaf, Bob Pulford.
Steve Thomas, Doug Gilmour, Bryan McCabe and Wendel Clark have worn both team’s storied crests (arguably the two best in hockey). As have the regrettable Alexander Karpovtsev and Igor Korolev.
The last goal ever scored in an NHL game at Maple Leaf Gardens was by a Blackhawk. Bob Probert.
But what really, to my mind, links these teams is both a past steeped in hockey memories and a future that hopefully the NHL will be able to build around.
The Original Six are not just a part of hockey history. Each team also encompasses huge fan bases in and around large markets. When these teams do well, the league does well.
So here’s a shout out to all my friends in Toronto (Brian Carey, Katherine Fera, the whole gang from Canadian Tire and Doner Canada, Heikki, Danny and Kali, Eric Harry, Steve, Jeff and Michael at the InterContinental on Bloor, Sushi Inn, Giancarlo, Joso’s and Beck Taxi), and the rest of Leaf Nation.
Welcome to Chicago and game on!
JJ
Tonight at the United Center, two of the league’s Original Six Franchises face off for the first time this year: Toronto at Chicago.
There are many, many similarities (and a few striking differences) between the two cities and teams. Clearly, the Leafs have been the more successful franchise over the years. And in Toronto, as well as most of Eastern English Canada, they are the pre-eminent sports franchise. The Blackhawks had basically become a laughingstock in Chicago and in professional sports until their recent miraculous turnaround.
I remember the near ice level camera angles and black and white broadcasts of the games at Maple Leaf Gardens between the two teams in the 1960s.
Who could forget the vicious playoff series’ between the two teams when they both occupied the Norris Division in the 1980s and early 90s?
I commuted to Toronto virtually every week from 2003-2006 and remember many a night, watching the Leafs over a cold Stella at Gabby’s.
With all due respect to Detroit, Montreal and Boston, Toronto is the center of the Hockey World.
Both teams had dinosaur owners who many would argue held their teams, if not the league back, Bill Wirtz and Harold Ballard.
The Blackhawks were essentially run throughout the 80s and 90s by a career Maple Leaf, Bob Pulford.
Steve Thomas, Doug Gilmour, Bryan McCabe and Wendel Clark have worn both team’s storied crests (arguably the two best in hockey). As have the regrettable Alexander Karpovtsev and Igor Korolev.
The last goal ever scored in an NHL game at Maple Leaf Gardens was by a Blackhawk. Bob Probert.
But what really, to my mind, links these teams is both a past steeped in hockey memories and a future that hopefully the NHL will be able to build around.
The Original Six are not just a part of hockey history. Each team also encompasses huge fan bases in and around large markets. When these teams do well, the league does well.
So here’s a shout out to all my friends in Toronto (Brian Carey, Katherine Fera, the whole gang from Canadian Tire and Doner Canada, Heikki, Danny and Kali, Eric Harry, Steve, Jeff and Michael at the InterContinental on Bloor, Sushi Inn, Giancarlo, Joso’s and Beck Taxi), and the rest of Leaf Nation.
Welcome to Chicago and game on!
JJ
Join the Discussion:  |
 |