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35 Reasons It's Great To Be A Blackhawk Fan

August 3, 2013, 8:07 AM ET [255 Comments]
John Jaeckel
Chicago Blackhawks Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
Follow me @jaeckel

My most vocal critics will not know what to make of this, arguably my most rah-rah blog EVER. But you know what, these are heady times for Blackhawk fans—and in spite of BieberGate, losing some forward depth this summer and a few other peccadilloes (there, I said it) of the organization, Hawk fans should enjoy this while it lasts.

So here goes.

1. It could last a long time
2. The best logo and colors in pro sports. Period.
3. A fantastic home ice experience at the UC
4. The anthem, Jim Cornelison, enough said
5. One of the game's better play by play guys in Pat Foley
6. Jonathan Toews, maybe the best captain in the NHL, heart and soul, blood and guts
7. Patrick Kane, a human highlight film in big playoff games
8. Duncan Keith, wherever he went after 2010, he appears to be back
9. Joel Quenneville, now clearly proven as one of the game's best strategists and motivators
10. Patrick Sharp, a leader, a fierce competitor and a pretty good hockey player.
11. Niklas Hjalmarsson, the Hammer is becoming one of the league's premier shutdown d-men
12. History
13. Hull, Mikita, Pilote, Savard
14. A terrific 2011 draft that produced Brandon Saad, Andrew Shaw, Philip Danault (if you like Marcus Kruger, you're gonna LOVE this guy) and Mark McNeill
15. Global scouting that is producing winners in every draft
16. Textbook three-zone hockey—a Chicago system—that is exciting as hell to watch
17. Marian Hossa, the elder skatesman is still bringing it, playing the game with grace, dignity and smarts
18. Brent Seabrook, need a big goal, he's got one for ya
19. Kruger, this guy is not going to be just a penalty killer, there is upside there, maybe a lot
20. Teuvo Teravainen, an electrifying prospect out of Finland who is sort of a smaller version of Hossa, with some Kane thrown in
21. Bryan Bickell, after years of patience, the Hawks have themselves a premier power forward in the top 6
22. Shaw, part Brad Marchand, part Theo Fleury, all warrior (and all F-bombs) all the time
23. Nick Leddy, another guy with worlds of promise who can be given time and room on this great team to develop
24. Michal Handzus, who seems to save his best hockey for the Indianhead
25. A front office that seems to have achieved—finally—the appropriate balance of hockey vs. marketing
26. Rocky Wirtz, an owner who is all about doing the right things on and off the ice—the track record is stunning
27. The Ice Girls
28. "Mother" by Danzig
29. The goal horn from the Blackhawk VI
30. Nesterenko, Wilson, Magnuson
31. Antti Raanta, testament to the draw of the Blackhawks, the best netminder in Finland last year chose to sign with Chicago over numerous other NHL teams
32. John Weideman's radio calls are quite good
33. Dirk Graham, Dustin Byfuglien (who both wore # . . . )
34. Banner going up in October
35. Tony Esposito


All for now,



JJ
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