Hello everyone!
I am sorry it has been so long since I have posted. It has been a long few weeks for me and I didn't feel like my head was in the right place to write a blog for you guys. I am back now and will be giving you all regular updates on my season. Thanks for understanding!
About 3 weeks ago, the Blackhawks informed me that they had placed me on waivers and sent me down to their American Hockey League affiliate in Rockford, Illinois. For those who are unfamiliar with the AHL, it is the hockey equivalent of AAA baseball. Younger players who are hoping to crack an NHL lineup play in the AHL until they get the call from their parent club. Although it isn't as good as the NHL, the AHL is quite a competitive league with tons of good players looking for their chance to break into the NHL.
I was pretty upset getting demoted to the minors after only getting a chance to play in one game with the Hawks, playing a position I never really felt all that comfortable in. I was frustrated with the situation when I got sent down, and still am. All I thought about growing up was playing for the Blackhawks, and helping them win. Now that I am unable to do that, it stings a little bit. The silver lining is that I am now back playing my natural position and playing a lot every game.
When playing in the minors, you have to have a different attitude than you do in the NHL. In the NHL, you play for one thing: to help your team win every night. I keep that attitude in the AHL, but I realize that I am not only playing to help my team win, but I am working to catch the eye of 29 other teams in the NHL, hoping they have enough interest in my to trade for me and use me with their NHL club.
Now that I got that out of the way, let me tell you some of the big differences between the NHL and AHL off the ice. The main difference for me so far, has been the travel. In the NHL the travel is very nice. We have our own chartered jet every game and have great meals on the plane both before and after games. In the minors, we either fly or take the bus to away games. Instead of chartered jets, we fly commercial. While playing for the Hawks, every player pretty much gets their own row, so it is pretty easy to spread out and make yourself comfortable on the flight. In the two flights we have taken so far in the minors, I have been crammed in the middle seat of the back row. That wouldn't be so bad except the seats in the back row don't recline! Not very comfortable.
While flying with the Hawks, we just drive our cars to a private hanger and walk right up to the plane. It is painless and very nice. In the minors, we have to go through the whole check-in and security process everyone else does.
Flying in the minors is a bit of a pain, but the bus on the other hand, is a little more enjoyable. Our team bus in Rockford is very nice. There are about 20 bunk beds, a couple couches, tables and satellite TV. Most of the guys sleep on the way to road cities, but a few of us sit in the back couches and play cards. The game of choice is Schnarples, which is similar to spades. The card games always pretty interesting with everyone shouting at each other getting fired up.
I hope this gives everyone a little insight on what life is like in the AHL.
Post game meals on the Hawks jet are very nice. We usually get our choice of a nice steak or chicken of some sort. In the minors, it is a totally different story. We place our orders from a sandwich shop as soon as we get to the rink for the game. They usually deliver the sandwiches during the second period. The perfect amount of time for them to become cold and soggy! It is pretty hard to choke those down, so I usually rely on about half my sub and big protein shake. Yummy!
We have a pretty good team here in Rockford and there are a great group of guys down here who will be ripping around on the United Center ice in no time. I encourage any Blackhawk fans to make the drive to Rockford and check out the future of the Hawks. It isn't that bad of a drive from the city to Rockford, I do it every morning :)
Hope everyone is enjoying the holiday season, and as always, bring on the questions.
Take care,
Richie
I am sorry it has been so long since I have posted. It has been a long few weeks for me and I didn't feel like my head was in the right place to write a blog for you guys. I am back now and will be giving you all regular updates on my season. Thanks for understanding!
About 3 weeks ago, the Blackhawks informed me that they had placed me on waivers and sent me down to their American Hockey League affiliate in Rockford, Illinois. For those who are unfamiliar with the AHL, it is the hockey equivalent of AAA baseball. Younger players who are hoping to crack an NHL lineup play in the AHL until they get the call from their parent club. Although it isn't as good as the NHL, the AHL is quite a competitive league with tons of good players looking for their chance to break into the NHL.
I was pretty upset getting demoted to the minors after only getting a chance to play in one game with the Hawks, playing a position I never really felt all that comfortable in. I was frustrated with the situation when I got sent down, and still am. All I thought about growing up was playing for the Blackhawks, and helping them win. Now that I am unable to do that, it stings a little bit. The silver lining is that I am now back playing my natural position and playing a lot every game.
When playing in the minors, you have to have a different attitude than you do in the NHL. In the NHL, you play for one thing: to help your team win every night. I keep that attitude in the AHL, but I realize that I am not only playing to help my team win, but I am working to catch the eye of 29 other teams in the NHL, hoping they have enough interest in my to trade for me and use me with their NHL club.
Now that I got that out of the way, let me tell you some of the big differences between the NHL and AHL off the ice. The main difference for me so far, has been the travel. In the NHL the travel is very nice. We have our own chartered jet every game and have great meals on the plane both before and after games. In the minors, we either fly or take the bus to away games. Instead of chartered jets, we fly commercial. While playing for the Hawks, every player pretty much gets their own row, so it is pretty easy to spread out and make yourself comfortable on the flight. In the two flights we have taken so far in the minors, I have been crammed in the middle seat of the back row. That wouldn't be so bad except the seats in the back row don't recline! Not very comfortable.
While flying with the Hawks, we just drive our cars to a private hanger and walk right up to the plane. It is painless and very nice. In the minors, we have to go through the whole check-in and security process everyone else does.
Flying in the minors is a bit of a pain, but the bus on the other hand, is a little more enjoyable. Our team bus in Rockford is very nice. There are about 20 bunk beds, a couple couches, tables and satellite TV. Most of the guys sleep on the way to road cities, but a few of us sit in the back couches and play cards. The game of choice is Schnarples, which is similar to spades. The card games always pretty interesting with everyone shouting at each other getting fired up.
I hope this gives everyone a little insight on what life is like in the AHL.
Post game meals on the Hawks jet are very nice. We usually get our choice of a nice steak or chicken of some sort. In the minors, it is a totally different story. We place our orders from a sandwich shop as soon as we get to the rink for the game. They usually deliver the sandwiches during the second period. The perfect amount of time for them to become cold and soggy! It is pretty hard to choke those down, so I usually rely on about half my sub and big protein shake. Yummy!
We have a pretty good team here in Rockford and there are a great group of guys down here who will be ripping around on the United Center ice in no time. I encourage any Blackhawk fans to make the drive to Rockford and check out the future of the Hawks. It isn't that bad of a drive from the city to Rockford, I do it every morning :)
Hope everyone is enjoying the holiday season, and as always, bring on the questions.
Take care,
Richie
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