Big John & Ramblin’ Ray welcome Blackhawk great Troy Murray to preview the upcoming Blackhawks season. Troy touches on some of the biggest questions going into the season, including the health status of Corey Crawford and what the Blackhawks have to do to get themselves back in the postseason.
Tag Archives: blackhawks
Former Blackhawks players file a lawsuit against NFL
Big John and Ramblin’ Ray are joined by Bill Gibbs, of the Chicago-based law firm Corboy & Demetrio, who filed a lawsuit towards the NFL on behalf of the former Blackhawks players Nick Boynton and Daniel Carcillo, over brain injuries.
Must Read: Scott Darling’s ‘Goodbye, Chicago’
In his goodbye to his hometown Chicago Blackhawks, goalie Scott Darling opens up about his battle with alcoholism and the journey he took to get to the NHL. Darling was recently traded to the Carolina Hurricanes and signed a four-year contract to be the team’s starting goalie.
An excerpt via The Players Tribune:
On July 1, 2011, I ended up in a room with tubes and wires hooked up all over my body. There was a little machine beeping that showed my vital signs. It was my first day of rehab. I had been drinking every single day for eight months. I had just been released by a team in the Southern Pro Hockey League. I had no money, no hope. My dreams were effectively over. All I wanted, at that point, was to be a normal person again.
I remember opening my eyes. The ceiling was blurry, and my body ached, and I thought, How the f*** did this happen?
On, July 1, 2014, exactly three years to the day after I went to rehab, I signed with the team I’d rooted for my entire life. My hometown team. The Chicago freaking Blackhawks.
I remember thinking to myself once again, How the f*** did this happen?
You should get used to that phrase, because it’s going to appear quite a bit in this story. For the past few months, I’ve been trying to figure out how to say goodbye to Chicago, and I just couldn’t find the words. In writing this story, I got choked up four or five different times. Maybe that sounds ridiculous, but that’s only if you don’t know how low of a place I clawed my way up from.
The thing about alcoholism is that you never think you have a problem. That’s how it gets you. Because it always starts small. For me, it started as a way to cope with social anxiety. Ever since I was a kid, I kind of lived inside my own brain. I was an introvert, and I was so worried about what everyone thought about me at all times. Like if I walked into a room of 100 people, I wanted to make sure all 100 people thought I was cool. I was obsessed with being the best version of myself at all times.
PHOTO BY TODD ROSENBERG/THE PLAYERS’ TRIBUNE
World Class Cocktails Served at United Center
The Chicago Bulls, Blackhawks and Levy Restaurants present Chicago Pours, a bar experience bringing together some of the best bars and top mixologists in the world to United Center. Chicago Pours experience will present a dynamic menu of rotating cocktails at each game and event. The menu centers on hand-crafted cocktails using the freshest ingredients from a who’s who of Chicago’s critically-acclaimed bars and mixologists.
Our Bulls reporter Rachel Brady samples some signature cocktails from Longman & Eagle.
For more information on when your favorite Chicago hot spots are serving up at United Center go to http://chicagopours.unitedcenter.com.
NHL Suspends Blackhawks Andrew Shaw
By Jennifer Keiper, WLS-AM 890 News
(CHICAGO) The National Hockey League has suspended Blackhawks forward Andrew Shaw for one game for making a homophobic slur and directing an inappropriate gesture at the on-ice officials, during last night’s playoff game 4 against the St. Louis Blues.
He also has to pay a $5,000 fine and undergo sensitivity training.
On Wednesday, Shaw apologized for his actions, “I have no excuses for anything. I want to apologize to the gay and lesbian community. It’s not the type of guy I am.”
Andrew Shaw won’t be on the ice during Thursday night’s game 5 in St. Louis.
St. Louis leads the series 3-1 and can eliminate Chicago on Thursday.
16 men charged with counterfeit ticketing scheme for Bears and Bulls games
(CHICAGO) Sixteen men have been charged with a wide-ranging counterfeit ticketing scheme for Bears, Bulls and Blackhawks’ games, and other events and concerts, at Soldier Field, the United Center and the Allstate Arena in northwest suburban Rosemont.
The sixteen men were each charged with one felony count of forgery, according to a statement from Attorney General Lisa Madigan. Eight of the men were arrested by Chicago Police and FBI, but the other eight are still at a large.
Madigan alleged that the men made counterfeit tickets to Bears, Bulls and Blackhawks’ games, as well as WWE Extreme Wrestling and Disney on Ice, Madigan said.
The men then sold the tickets on Craiglist, meeting the buyers at area restaurants and coffee shops, Madigan said. The buyers found out the tickets were counterfeit when they tried to enter the events.
“Today is another great example of cooperation between federal and local partners working together and to remind the public to be cautious and vigilant when purchasing tickets,” said FBI Chicago Special Agent in Charge Michael Anderson.
Report: Charges against Patrick Kane unlikely
By John Dempsey, WLS News
It appears Chicago Blackhawks star Patrick Kane may escape prosecution, concerning allegations that he raped a woman in his Hamburg, New York home in August.
“The Buffalo News” newspaper is quoting three sources familiar with the Kane investigation in Erie County, New York, who say doubts have emerged about the woman’s allegations that make criminal prosecution highly unlikely.
One source told the newspaper, “This case is going nowhere,” while another added, “I was told … the case will be administratively dismissed” without being presented to a grand jury.
Erie County District Attorney Frank A. Sedita would not comment when WLS Radio called his office Monday morning. On September 25th, Sedita told reporters, “The question in my mind is not when this case will go to a grand jury, the question in my mind is if, this case will go to a grand jury”.
Kane told reporters on Sunday he could not comment on the Buffalo News report, but also said “Obviously you’re looking forward to any type of conclusion, whatever it may be”.
Kane’s attorney Paul Cambria told the newspaper he has had “no substantive discussions with the District Attorney’s Office” in several weeks.
Cambria and Kane have consistently denied the rape allegations. The case took a bizarre turn in late September when the woman’s former attorney accused someone connected with the prosecutor’s office with evidence tampering. That attorney later dropped the woman as a client when Sedita’s office revealed the woman’s mother concocted the evidence tampering allegation.
The woman has told police Kane raped her at his Hamburg, New York home, where the pair went after they met earlier that evening in a nightclub.
@ 2015 WLS News
Emanuel defends Soldier Field rally for Blackhawks after free tickets snapped up
(CHICAGO) Mayor Rahm Emanuel on Wednesday defended his decision to hold what he promised would be a civic celebration “worthy of a dynasty” for the Stanley Cup champion Blackhawks at a lakefront stadium that can hold just 61,500 fans, the Sun-Times is reporting.
And later in the day, the city announced that the original, planned parade route would be more than doubled to accommodate fans.
Free tickets to Thursday’s Soldier Field rally were gone in minutes — then quickly offered for resale at a profit. That put Emanuel under the gun to offer an explanation.
If Grant Park was too soggy for the rally after torrential rains, why not hold the rally on downtown streets, as the city did at Michigan and Wacker for the Blackhawks in 2010, at La Salle and Wacker for the World Series champion White Sox in 2005 and at Daley Center Plaza when the 1985 Bears won the Super Bowl?
If Emanuel was willing to close South Loop streets for days to make way for the NFL draft — and waive a $937,000 rental fee for the use of Grant Park — why not close a few downtown streets for a few hours for the Blackhawks?
“The normal place we were gonna do [it was] Grant Park. I’m not responsible [for the soggy conditions]. Only you and my mother would agree that I was responsible for the rain the other day. And it would rip it up in a way that would create millions and millions of dollars in damage,” Emanuel said.
“We’ve found the venue and also the screens we’re gonna have so people both in and out can appreciate the event and do it in a world-class way that . . . will be appropriate for both the team and more importantly for the fans throughout the area.”
Emanuel denied that the seating capacity of Soldier Field essentially discourages the Blackhawks burgeoning fan base from attending the civic celebration that has become like old hat after three Stanley Cups in six years.
“We’re gonna have screens out there so [the overflow crowd] can watch it. . . . We’re gonna do it in a way that everybody can participate,” the mayor said.
Viewing screens will be in the south parking lot outside Soldier Field.
“Given what happened weather-wise, which was an unusual event, this is a longer parade than we had a couple years ago. It provides more people an opportunity along the parade route. And this is a safe place to do it and will also provide people who don’t make it in the event to also experience the event as well.”
Although some fans are disappointed, it could be worse, the mayor said.
“The way I see it is, it’s better to have the event here in the city of Chicago than to watch it on TV in Tampa,” he said.
Emanuel defended the celebration as City Hall released more details of Thursday’s event.
The new parade route will now begin at Washington and Racine and head east along Washington to DesPlaines, then south on DesPlaines to Monroe, then east on Monroe to Michigan Avenue, where the parade will end.
Double-decker buses carrying the players and front office personnel will lead the parade, which will begin at 10 a.m. Drinking is strictly prohibited on the public way, City Hall said, promising a “zero-tolerance” policy.
The motorcade is expected to arrive at Soldier Field at 11 a.m., when the rally will begin. Soldier Field will be open to those holding free tickets beginning at 8 a.m. The parking lots will open at 5 a.m., but no tailgating will be permitted.
Ticketed fans were encouraged to arrive early for the mandatory security check. Fans carrying backpacks and large bags will undergo additional screening. Fans will be allowed to carry unopened water bottles into the rally.
Fans were encouraged to take public transportation, but expect large crowds and delays. The CTA and Metra are adding service to accommodate additional passengers.
Stanley Cup parade, rally on Thursday; tickets available at noon Wednesday
(CHICAGO) The city of Chicago will celebrate the Blackhawks’ Stanley Cup championship with a parade Thursday followed by a rally at Solider Field.
The parade will step off at 10 a.m. at Monroe and Jefferson streets. The parade will go east on Monroe to Michigan Avenue, the mayor’s office announced Tuesday afternoon.
The Soldier Field rally will be a free, ticketed event. Tickets will be available at www.Ticketmaster.com at noon Wednesday on a first come, first served basis. Individuals can receive 4 tickets each, and the tickets will be emailed to print at home.
Mayor Rahm Emanuel was at the United Center for the Game 6 clincher seated near the corner right behind the glass. He stayed late to watch the Hawks parade around the ice with the Stanley Cup and take in every minute of the delirious celebration.
On Tuesday, the bleary-eyed mayor joked about needing “nap time” because he was up so late celebrating the Hawks’ extraordinary achievement.
“We’re gonna have a parade worthy of a dynasty in the city of Chicago. To be able to win three times in six years is a testament. It’s a testament to all the players and the culture — from Rocky Wirtz all the way down to all the players on the team,” the mayor said
“This is a tremendous victory for the team, for the coach. It’s a tremendous victory in the sense that they were able to secure the Stanley Cup at home in Chicago for the first time since 1938. It meant as much for the players to win for their fans as it meant for the fans to be able to see it here in the city.”
Metra will offer a special one-day only $5 unlimited ride ticket to accommodate fans heading downtown for the celebration.
The special ticket will be available from all ticket agents, Metra said. It can be combined with Metra’s “Family Fares” program, which allows three children age 11 or younger to ride free with each fare-paying adult.
Anyone planning to take Metra to the parade and rally is highly encouraged to buy their fare ticket in advance, the rail agency said.
More than 425,000 took Metra trains the day of the Blackhawks rally after their 2013 Stanley Cup victory — the second highest daily total in Metra’s history, and about 46 percent higher than a typical Friday in June.
Metra will be adding “as many trains as possible” and expanding capacity to accommodate the crowds. Passengers should check Metra’s website beginning Wednesday morning for more details.
Heavy passenger loading could delay trains Thursday by 10 minutes, and bicycles and alcohol will be banned from all trains all day. Quiet car rules will also be suspended.
— Chicago Sun-Times, Sun-Times Wire
Business owner charged with selling lampshades with fake Blackhawks logos
(ELK GROVE VILLAGE) A northwest suburban business owner has been charged with selling unlicensed sports merchandise, including thousands of lampshades with fake Chicago Blackhawks logos.
Juff Huang, 61, was charged with five felony counts of unauthorized use of a trademark, according to a statement from the Cook County sheriff’s office.
The sheriff’s office began investigation along with Homeland Security after the NHL contacted the government about Huang’s business selling unauthorized merchandise, according to police.
On Tuesday, authorities executed a search warrant at Max International Trading Corp. in the 1500 block of South Elmhurst Road in Elk Grove Village, according to the sheriff’s office.
Investigators found more than 130,000 glass inserts used in lampshades featuring counterfeit team logos from the NHL, MLB, NBA, NFL and the Collegiate Licensing Company.
Several thousands of the lampshades had fake Blackhawks logos, according to the statement.
In court Wednesday, Huang, of Mount Prospect, was released on electronic monitoring.
© Copyright 2015 Sun-Times Media, LLC. All rights reserved.
Tampa Bay uses two goalies, beats Blackhawks 4-3, series tied
(Tampa, FL) The Tampa Bay Lightning evened up the 2015 Stanley Cup Final series at one apiece with a 4-3 victory in Game 2 over the Chicago Blackhawks on Saturday in Tampa. The Lightning prevailed despite having their regular goalie, Ben Bishop, leave the game twice in the third period, and was replaced both times by Andrei Vasilevsky, who has played just twice this post season.
Bishop didn’t appear to be injured and within two minutes of the goaltending switch, Tampa Bay scored what would be the e game-winning goal, giving Vasilevskiy and the Lightning the victory.
Oddly, after the go-ahead goal, Bishop re-entered the game but played just three minutes before leaving again. Vasilevskiyretruned to finish the game. .
According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Vasilevskiy is the first goaltender to win his first career playoff game in relief in the Stanley Cup Final since 1928.
Game 3 is back in Chicago on Monday,
@ Copyright 2015 WLS News
