BLACKHAWKS OPEN TRAINING CAMP: City Rejoices
The Chicago Blackhawks opened training camp on Saturday with their first-ever Training Camp Festival, where fans had the opportunity to play a street hockey tournament, play in a bags (aka "Corn hole") tournament, hear live music, and watch the Hawks scrimmage. The city responded in jubilant fashion.
"Central Division Champs! Woo!" One ecstatic North Sider was heard yelling after the Festival was over, presumably feeling the Blackhawks have the talent to overtake the Detroit Red Wings as the top team in the standings.
"We're going all the way!" another ecstatic fan was yelling in Wrigleyville hours after the Festival had concluded.
Lincoln Park was also abuzz, as many ecstatic young men and women were milling about, and screaming out the windows of passing Volkswagens.
The offseason acquisitions of Brian Campbell and Cristobal Huet certainly gave Hawk fans cause for optimism, nobody expected the celebrations that seemed to be isolated to the North Side.
"This is next year! The waiting is over!" one fan was heard yelling, obviously in reference to the Blackhawks' NHL-longest drought of 47 years without a Stanley Cup.
Part of the excitement was apparently also a result of the Winter Classic, scheduled to be played on New Years' Day between the Hawks and Detroit. "Wrigley Field will finally be home to a World Champion!" one fan yelled, not aware of the fact that even if the Blackhawks do manage to win the Stanley Cup, it won't be until after the Detroit game.
Some fans were so excited that they were spraying champagne, a ritual usually reserved to the celebration of the winning of a championship, rather than the beginning of training camp.
While optimism is certainly warranted, in part due to the aforementioned offseason acquisitions, also in part due to the expected improvement of young stars like Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews, Dustin Byfuglien (who scored two goals in the second scrimmage on Saturday) nobody could have expected the celebration that broke out, or could they?
The Chicago Police Department had apparently expected a celebration on the North Side, as they had a larger-than-usual presence in the Wrigleyville area, and when the celebration broke out in the afternoon, the police seemed to expect the celebration would not only take place, but would happen in the area around the intersection of Clark and Addison Streets.
The fans seemed to be generally well-behaved, and the police seemed to be prepared for more celebratory outbreaks in the same area in October, possibly around the time the Blackhawks open against Nashville on October 13.
"Central Division Champs! Woo!" One ecstatic North Sider was heard yelling after the Festival was over, presumably feeling the Blackhawks have the talent to overtake the Detroit Red Wings as the top team in the standings.
"We're going all the way!" another ecstatic fan was yelling in Wrigleyville hours after the Festival had concluded.
Lincoln Park was also abuzz, as many ecstatic young men and women were milling about, and screaming out the windows of passing Volkswagens.
The offseason acquisitions of Brian Campbell and Cristobal Huet certainly gave Hawk fans cause for optimism, nobody expected the celebrations that seemed to be isolated to the North Side.
"This is next year! The waiting is over!" one fan was heard yelling, obviously in reference to the Blackhawks' NHL-longest drought of 47 years without a Stanley Cup.
Part of the excitement was apparently also a result of the Winter Classic, scheduled to be played on New Years' Day between the Hawks and Detroit. "Wrigley Field will finally be home to a World Champion!" one fan yelled, not aware of the fact that even if the Blackhawks do manage to win the Stanley Cup, it won't be until after the Detroit game.
Some fans were so excited that they were spraying champagne, a ritual usually reserved to the celebration of the winning of a championship, rather than the beginning of training camp.
While optimism is certainly warranted, in part due to the aforementioned offseason acquisitions, also in part due to the expected improvement of young stars like Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews, Dustin Byfuglien (who scored two goals in the second scrimmage on Saturday) nobody could have expected the celebration that broke out, or could they?
The Chicago Police Department had apparently expected a celebration on the North Side, as they had a larger-than-usual presence in the Wrigleyville area, and when the celebration broke out in the afternoon, the police seemed to expect the celebration would not only take place, but would happen in the area around the intersection of Clark and Addison Streets.
The fans seemed to be generally well-behaved, and the police seemed to be prepared for more celebratory outbreaks in the same area in October, possibly around the time the Blackhawks open against Nashville on October 13.
So, Savard is thinking of Kane at center.
Hawks are also looking at purchasing Nylander...which would mean Khabi would have to be disposed of. Which kind of stinks...would have been nice to get something for him. If Tallon would've played his cards right he could've traded Khabi after the season for something, AND gotten Nylander..but, alas. Good game last night.
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