I just saw on the Chicago Tribune website that Bill Wirtz, the owner of the Blackhawks died this morning. The official cause is listed as complications arising from cancer. Wirtz was 77.
When I was a kid, hockey was my favorite sport and of course the Blackhawks were my favorite team. I remember having their schedule taped to my desk so I could see when their games would be on TV. That way I could get my homework done early to make sure I’d be able to watch the game without my parents nagging me.
We couldn’t afford to go to too many games when I was young, but my parents made sure to take me at least once a year — usually around my birthday. I clearly remember the best seats I ever had at a hockey game was when we went for my 11th birthday. We were in the second row in the corner behind the Hawks’ goal. During the pre-game practice, Ed Olczyk, Chicago’s No.1 draft pick that year, scooped up a puck and tossed it over the glass to me. You can imagine how thrilled I was when that happened!
Anyway, I know Wirtz had a bad reputation in Chicago for refusing to air Hawks home games and for refusing to go after big-dollar players, but I still have a lot of good memories of hockey and the Blackhawks.
I haven’t been a fan in years (that has more to do with the NHL in general than strictly with the Hawks), but am still saddened by this news.