Blackhawks GLHL15 Champs!

(AP) Chicago, Illinois Yes!...as Hawk Harrelson of the ChiSox would say...the Blackhawks are once again GLHL Champions! The last one was GLHL 11. The finals were hard fought and went the full 7 games vs. the formidable New York Islanders club of GM John Hondronikolis before the 'hawks were able to prevail in front of the hometown fans at the United Center.
Leading the 'hawks to the Cup during the playoffs were Shanahan (18-8-26 +9), Jagr (8-18-26 +5), Parrish (13-12-25 +7) and Hrdina (12-13-25 +4). Parrish and Hrdina really stepped up during the playoffs and were big reasons for the Cup win. Shanny notched 2 goals, the game winner and 4 points in leading the 'hawks to victory in the finale. No other 'hawk posted more than one point in the finale.
Cristobal Huet posted a 2.64, .920, 11-4 record during the playoffs in backstopping the club to the Cup.

Windy City Ramblings
Yes, Jaromir Jagr was finally able to contribute in the playoffs after disappointing in the past couple. This, despite missing a few games in the finals due to injury.
Portsider Keith Tkachuk of the Isles lit the lamp an astounding 26 times during the playoffs with teammate Petr Nedved posting 30 helpers.
As far as the Conn Smythe, it'll be a tough call for the league office. Possibly Tkachuk. Unusual? Yes. Warranted? Probably. Or co-winners, Shanahan & Tkachuk.
'Hawks management was hoping to win this Cup before the inevitable dismantling of the franchise due to the GLHL retirement process. The mortgaging of the future is now considered well worth the cost by the brass with the GLHL15 Cup, President's Trophy and Conference Trophy on display at the United Center!

Hawks take Prez Trophy!

(AP) Chicago, Illinois

The improbable occurred a couple of days ago when in a home & away series vs. division and Conference rival Detroit Red Wings, the Blackhawks took both contests to take the division and President's Cup from the Red Wings on the last day of the regular season! What a GLHL15 season it has been to date so far! A 28 game winning streak and now this! They're dancing in the street outside the United Center!

The first contest at Joe Louis in Detroit saw the Wings outplay the 'Hawks in every statistical category except the score at the end of the game. The Hawks took the 4-3 squeaker despite the Wings three 3rd period tallies. Huet stood tall in net in stopping 41 of the 44 shots launched at him during the contest.
The 'Hawks tallies were netted by Ozolinsh (22), Korolyuk (27,28) and Darcy Tucker (16). Korolyuk netted the game winner at 18:22 of the 3rd assisted by Reinprecht & Liles.
Registering on the score sheet for the Red Wings were Smyth (51), Hejduk (60) and Kessel (3).
Marty Turco stopped 24 of 28 sog in taking the loss.

The second contest of the 2 game series, this one at the United Center home of the Blackhawks, saw the 'Hawks whitewash the Red Wings 3-0 behind Huet. Scoring for the 'Hawks were Hrdina (39), Holik (27) and Roenick (41). Both Holik's & Roenick's came on the power play.
Huet stopped 26 of 26 Wings shots while his counterpart Turco turned in a fine performance in stopping 39 of 42. At the end of the game the fan noise was unbelievable as the President's and Central Division Trophies were presented by Commish Chaiken to Captain Jaromir Jagr. The fans filed out of the Center to the refrain of High Hopes by Frank Sinatra being played on the public address system. The celebration spilled out into the streets around the United Center and the taverns nearby.
It went on until the wee small hours.

On the season the Blackhawks were led in scoring among the forwards by Jaromir Jagr (50g, 60a, 110pts +69), Bobby Holik (27g, 68a, 95pts +61), Shanahan (49g, 44a, 93pts +62), Roenick (41g, 38a, 79pts +46), Hrdina (39g, 40a, 79pts +52), Parrish (29g, 42a, 71pts +47)
and Korolyuk (28g, 21a, 49pts +36).

The leading scorers among the blueliners were Ozolinsh (22g, 42a, 64pts +41), Scott Niedermayer, part of his stats were with the 'hawks, (17g, 46a, 63pts +47), Liles (14g, 40a, 54pts +31), and Hill (14g, 29a, 43pts +48). Adam Foote logged a plus/minus of +59 with 35 points scored.

Cristobal Huet led the goaltender corps with 71gp, 54-10-3 record coupled with a 2.23 gaa and .925 SvPct.
Windy City Ramblings
Quite the regular season for the beloved Blackhawks of the Windy City. Now onto the playoffs with high hopes of success. Everyone is reported as healthy for he start of the playoffs. THe Blackhawks will open the playoffs at the United Center vs. the Columbus Blue Jackets.
It'll be a heckuva series vs. Eric Staal, Rick Nash, Jovo Cop & company.
Stay tuned!
Congrats to the Detroit Red Wings on one great season and to all the other franchises and GMs of the GLHL. Thanks to Commish Chaiken for another fine GLHL season!
Congrats go out to the New York Islanders on taking the Eastern Conference regular season crown and the Atlantic Division.

Blackhawks streak ends at 28!

(AP) Montreal, Que, Canada

Recently the Blackhawks winning streak ended at 28 games. What a streak! With starting 'tender Huet shelved with a tweaked groin, backup Jaroslav Halak lost to the Habs in Montreal 5-3 on Day76. The Habs were backstopped to the win by Tim Thomas. Not a bad goalie to end what forever will be known as "The Streak" in the annals of the Chicago Blackhawks and season GLHL15.











Through 76gp the 'hawks sports a 59-13-4 record good for 122 points. They have a good shot at not only the Central Division title but the President's Trophy as well. 40 or so games ago this didn't seem possible. Player moves were made by the GM that brought in several key pros who have meshed well the 'hawks roster. This has resulted in a meteoric rise up the standings.
Those players include blueliners Scott Niedermayer, John-Michael Liles and Frantisek Kaberle along with forwards Nils Ekman and Mark Smith. In addition, forward Alex Korolyuk (25 goals), who was picked up in the waiver draft, has been a pleasant surprise playing on the checking line with Reinprecht and Tucker.












Leading the 'hawks in scoring is the top line of Jagr (106pts), Shanahan (90pts) and Holik (89pts). Both Jagr and Shanhan lead the club in goals with 49.
There are currently 14 'hawks with double digits in goals scored, so scoring is spread throughout the lineup. Ekman, playing on the 4th line, has 10 goals in 8.9 mpg of ice time.
Cristobal Huet is the stalwart in goal with 65 games to date while posting a 2.26gaa, .923SvPct along with a 49-9-3 record.

The Blackhawks hope to come away with the Central Division title and the President's Cup in the few remaining games. Certainly the Red Wings and Islanders will have something to say about that!