The Blackhawks announced yesterday via the IceHogs that they have renewed their affiliation with the ECHL’s T0ledo Walleye for two more years. The 2012-2013 season will be the fourth season of the affiliation, which has seen players such as Peter LeBlanc and Rob Flick suit up for both teams.

The Walleye are owned by Toledo Arena Sports, Inc., which is presided over by GM Joe Napoli. They also operate a Triple-A team, the Toledo Mud Hens. The Walleye had a 28-38-2-4 last season under the coaching of Director of Hockey Operations Nick Vitucci. They finished last in their division and 11th (out of 12) in their conference, mostly due to an inconsistent season that ended in a 7-game losing streak. Part of this inconsistency can be blamed on the goaltender switch, as Carter Hutton was called up to Rockford and he impressed there, so we’ll have to see how this season goes.

Having lost the Chicago Express, we’ll have to travel farther to see them, however. Road trip to Fort Wayne to see the Komets, anyone?

Time for the Blackhawks to share some of their more hilarious, yet audience-friendly, anectdotes. Here’s one of my favorites:

Also, Happy Birthday Duncan Keith!

Photo: Benjamin Reed/flickr

Today is a special day on Runs On Duncan — for our namesake, Duncan Keith is celebrating his 29th birthday. You’re nearly at the top of the heap! It’s all downhill from here!

I kid, of course. We love Duncan Keith around here, so let’s all sit down and watch him be awkward and nearly put us all to sleep with his soothing voice.

» Continue reading “Happy 29th Birthday To The Blackhawks’ Duncan Keith!”

Spoiler Alert: Red gets the big, shiny trophy. (Photo Credit: Kim Wrona)

Blackhawks prospect camp finished with a thriller of a scrimmage on Friday. The goals came early and fairly often in this one.

» Continue reading “Campin’ With The Hawks — Day 5″

Kent Simpson during the scrimmage. (Photo Credit: Kim Wrona)

Thursday’s scrimmage at Blackhawks prospect camp featured some big prospect names that were absent from Wednesday’s game–and a skills competition.

» Continue reading “Campin’ With The Hawks — Day 4″

So today we got a whiff on Twitter that some news regarding Big Edzo were on the way from, well, Little Edzo:

» Continue reading “Eddie Olczyk Inducted Into The U.S. Hall Of Fame”

Teuvo’s in the middle of it all. (Photo Credit: Kim Wrona)

Blackhawks prospect camp on Wednesday featured the first scrimmage of the week after Team A/the Red Team practiced for about an hour beforehand.

» Continue reading “Campin’ With The Hawks — Day 3″

One more year of Wade! (Photo Credit: milwaukeehockey/flickr)

The IceHogs announced today that the team has re-signed veteran Wade Brookbank to a one year AHL contract.

» Continue reading “Brookbank Re-signs With Rockford”

Welcome back, Darren!

The Chicago Wolves have announced today that they have re-signed Darren Haydar, who led the team in assists with 36 and clocked in second in goals (21) and points (57). This was the tenth time in as many years — so, his entire professional career — that Haydar surpassed 50 points, and the ninth he scored more than 20 goals.

Not bad for a 32-year-old, right?

» Continue reading “Wolves Keep Haydar!”

Brandon Saad returns to prospect camp. (Photo: the_mel/flickr)

The Blackhawks have released a general preview for camp that looks at the numbers. It’s full of interesting and sometimes quirky facts, and it offers a great opportunity for me to open my own preview  by looking at some numbers of my own. Out of the 27 forwards attending prospect camp, 14 are Free Agent Invitees–which means the remaining 13 are in the Blackhawks’ system. 14 of those 27 have been playing college hockey, 2 played in the USHL, 1 in the WHL, 2 in the OHL, 1 in high school, 1 in the QMJHL, and the remaining 6 come from European Leagues (1 SM-Liiga, 3 MHL, 1 SEL, 1 SUI-JR). Of the 6 Illinoisans attending camp, 4 of them are forwards. The forwards have one of the notable legacy attendees–right wing Chris Calnan, the Blackhawks’ 79th overall draft pick this year, who just happens to be Jeremy Roenick’s nephew.

Now let’s take a look at the forward attendees one-by-one:

» Continue reading “Prospect Camp Preview: Forwards”