Bust A Move Adam / Photo by: the_mel

As most of you know by now, a selection of former and current Blackhawks, in addition to players from around the “World”, played a charity hockey game on Friday night at the Allstate Arena. The good news is over $300K was raised for the Ronald McDonald House near Lurie Children’s Hospital. The bad (or perhaps best) news was that the game was so beyond ridiculous that you had to laugh. And cry. It was better than “Cats.”

The World Team beat the team of assorted Blackhawks 16-15 in a shootout. Because we take journalism so seriously here at Runs On Duncan, I humbly present to you a summary of this game, courtesy of the most awful, silly and absurd photos I took while in the third row.

Warning – extremely photo-heavy post after the jump. If you still own a Blackberry, I’d hate for it to burst into flames if you try to view this.

» Continue reading “Champs For Charity – A Photojournal Of Epic Ridiculousness”

Photo: @RMHCCHI/Twitter

It’s Chicago versus The World, and it’s all for charity.

Members of the 2010 Stanley Cup-winning Blackhawks team — including Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane, Patrick Sharp, Adam Burish, and Brian Campbell — will be taking on various other hockey stars in “Champs for Charity” at Allstate Arena. This exhibition game will take place on October 26 at 7:30pm  and will benefit the Ronald McDonald House in Streeterville.

To get your tickets, go here. For a list of who will be there, check it out after the jump.

» Continue reading “Fresh Brew: Getting The Band Back Together For Charity”

Toews leads the team during practice. (Via @adamjahns/Twitter)

The NHL might be locked out, but that doesn’t stop the Blackhawks from getting a skate in.

Most of the team that has already made their way to Chicago — including Jonathan Toews, Jamal Mayers (who worked the whistle), Patrick Sharp, Dave Bolland, Steve Montador, Johnny Oduya, Niklas Hjalmarsson, Marcus Kruger, and Sheldon Brookbank — skated in an informal practice today at Johnny’s Ice House West. Ben Smith, Brandon Pirri, Adam Clendening, and Jeremy Morin also joined the group, along with ex-Blackhawks Brian Campbell, Ben Eager, and Troy Brouwer. (Chicago Sun-Times)

Funny thing about this lockout — the Blackhawks can go to Johnny’s Ice House West to practice, can wear their own practice sweaters — but they can’t use their locker room. (@TimSassone)

» Continue reading “Fresh Brew: Blackhawks Continue To Practice”

Who knew he'd be the one ex-Blackhawk left in the Stanley Cup Finals?

Before Colin Fraser was in the Stanley Cup Finals with the Los Angeles Kings, writing blogs and scoring goals — he was on the Blackhawks, mostly warming the bench. However, he did get a lot more time in front of the camera during Blackhawks TV, and his BHTV shining moment was probably this interview with some of the other Blackhawks on the subject of Mario Kart.

» Continue reading “From The Vault: Colin Fraser And Mario Kart”

Joey goes big-time.

Since last season, Blackhawks fans have been witness to a rising star in the journalism world — Joey The Junior Reporter. Whether it’s finding out how much money Duncan Keith got from the tooth fairy or making Brian Campbell admit his jealousy over Patrick Sharp‘s beauty, Joey hasn’t been afraid to ask the tough questions to Blackhawks players.

Now he has taken his talents to the NHL Network during the All-Star Game. Here are the videos.

» Continue reading “Joey The Junior Reporter: The Real All-Star”

Michael Frolik looks back on his years in Florida fondly. (Photo: Bridget Samuels/flickr)

• The Blackhawks take on the Florida Panthers tonight at 7:30pm. Previews: NHL.com, Committed Indians, Chicago Tribune, CSN Chicago, Cheer The Anthem
• Hey, did you know they have five ex-Blackhawks on their roster, as well as Dale Tallon as their GM? Huh, huh, did you, huh?

“It’s more than just another game. That place was close to me and a lot of players in this room,” Versteeg lamented. “It’s something I’ve been looking forward to. I want to see the banner, one a lot of us didn’t get to see get raised.  I still haven’t seen it.” (CSN Chicago)

• Remember when we got Michael Frolik for Jack Skille? Good times. I mean, it’s not like Frolik is scoring, but at least he knows how to backcheck like a mofo.
• Anyway, Ray Emery will be in net for the Blackhawks tonight. Jose Theodore will be in net for the Panthers. (Left Wing Lock)
• Patrick Sharp is expected to rejoin the team during the Disney On Ice seven-game road trip in Western Canada. (@TramyersCSN)

It's so close! (Photo: Jed Sullivan/flickr)

Tomorrow at 10am, Blackhawks regular-season tickets will go on sale via Ticketmaster, and, trust me — it will be a mad scramble. But what games will give you the most bang out of your 45 bucks (at least)? I’ve decided to help you out with the ten game tickets you should try to get your hands on tomorrow, given here in chronological order.

(You may find that this list is Eastern Conference-heavy — but this is because this will be the only chance to see these teams in the United Center this year. If you want to complain, blame Bettman.)

» Continue reading “Ten Blackhawks Games You Have To See Live”

We have some catching up to do when it comes to Blackhawks news (thanks to my little detour to the NHL Draft). So what better time to do so than tonight, on Free Agent Frenzy Eve?

The Dearly Departed

See ya later, guys. (Photos: Bridget Samuels/flickr)

The Blackhawks have said goodbye to three players — Brian Campbell, Tomas Kopecky, and Troy Brouwer.

Campbell has ended up in Florida with Dale Tallon and the Panthers. According to the Sun-Sentinel:

“I’ve had guys call me, guys I’ve played with before, saying, ‘Dude, you’re lucky, get me down there,”’ Campbell said on WQAM radio. “Dale said to me, ‘I’d like to bring you in to be the [pioneer], making this the place to be where everyone wants to play.’

“Obviously, with Dale there, I’ve had guys under contract and free agents say that to me … If it’s going to be a good situation guys want to be involved in it.”

Campbell played a similar role in the Blackhawks’ rebuilding — also thanks to Tallon. Let’s hope that it works out for the Panthers, as well. I always thought that Campbell never got a fair shake here in Chicago because of his inflated contract, but maybe his skills will be more appreciated down in South Beach since his contract is helping the Panthers make the cap floor.

Kopecky, too, has ended up on the Panthers. According to the Chicago Tribune, he was signed to a four-year contract worth $12 million. Wow, really? The Panthers really do need to make the floor, don’t they? (As of right now, they’re about $23 million below the floor, according to CapGeek. Jesus.)

Troy Brouwer, however, was dealt to the Washington Capitals in exchange for their first-round pick in this year’s draft. Though there was some controversy earlier this week when he claimed that Blackhawks players were “frustrated” by the recent moves, we still wish him the best of luck in Washington. He hopes to bring some leadership to the Caps, according to USA Today:

“Sometimes you need a little bit of outside views, just to come in and make sure that guys are doing what they need to do in important games,” Brouwer said. “There’s no boundary on leadership age. Whether you’re wearing a letter on a team, that doesn’t necessarily mean that you’re not a leader. I want to come in and help out with all the experience that I’ve had.”

The Capitals made him a qualifying offer on Monday.

» Continue reading “Your Daily Cup: The Free Agent Frenzy News Round Up”

At least SOMEONE was recognized tonight. (Photo: Cheryl Adams/flickr)

The Blackhawks may have gone home empty-handed tonight at the NHL Awards, but Corey Crawford was named to the 2010-11 NHL All-Rookie Team. Congratulations to Crawford for the well-deserved honor. (KuklasKorner)

Jonathan Toews finished a distant second in the Selke voting behind eventual winner Ryan Kesler. Kesler racked up 105 of the 127 first-place votes; Toews received 476 total points. Toews also finished fifth in Lady Byng votes and sixth in Hart votes. In other news, Duncan Keith finished ninth in Norris voting — a huge comedown from last year, I’m sure — while Brian Campbell finished 16th (he also finished 14th in Lady Byng votes). Stan Bowman finished 9th for the GM Award, while Crawford finished fourth in Calder voting. (Puck Daddy)

Finally, and most importantly, we turn our gaze toward next year. The 2011-12 schedule is due out tomorrow, but we do know that the Blackhawks will start off next season with a home-and-home against… oh. Oh dear God. Against the Dallas Stars? The Stars!? Ugh. Anyway, the Blackhawks open their season in Dallas on October 7 before coming home on October 8. This will give me just enough time to stock up on liquor (for the away game) and Tums (for the home opener). (CSN Chicago)

We here at Aerys have been able to check on our individual site’s analytics for almost two weeks now. It’s like crack. I check on my numbers two or three times a day, at least. My favorite part is the map. Countries turn green as you get visits from them, and I think it’s awesome when the site gets a hit from somewhere other than the United States (because I am a nerd).

Anyway, I got my first visit from Sweden yesterday, so I decided to say hello to my one reader there. Unfortunately, all I really know about Sweden is hockey and ABBA… hence, this:

My site has now been banned in Sweden.

Clockwise from the top, that would be Ludvig Rensfeldt (the Blackhawks’ second-round draft pick from last year — welcome to the team?), Marcus Kruger, Viktor Stalberg, and Niklas Hjalmarsson.

One day, I will use my Photoshop power for good instead of evil. Today is not that day.

In other news, someone left Brian Campbell around children. Why would you do this? Note his confusion as the kid in the last picture hugs him around the knees.

The newest Winnipeg NHL team rumor? Kevin Cheveldayoff, the Blackhawks’ assistant GM, might become the newgeneral manager of the team if Rick Dudley does not go with the team to Winnipeg.

After a Thursday meeting with True North chairman Mark Chipman and hockey senior vice-president Craig Heisinger at the NHL’s scouting combine, current Atlanta Thrashers GM Rick Dudley does not appear to be a slam-dunk to move with the club to Winnipeg. Nobody at True North will talk about it and there are strong rumblings here that Dudley will either be re-assigned or dismissed, that True North wants to go in another direction with its own people.

If you remember, Rick Dudley left the Blackhawks last year to become the GM of the Thrashers. Cheveldayoff was his replacement.

Cheveldayoff has his own connections to the Thrashers — he was the GM of the Chicago Wolves from 1997 to 2009, through their two Calder Cup-winning seasons in the AHL. The Wolves were the AHL affiliate of the Thrashers until the end of this season.