On Wednesday the Chicago Blackhawks celebrated the life and legacy of thᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚe late owner of the franchise, Rocky Wirtz. The stage was set with banners featuring𝓡 Rocky holding the Stanley Cup above his head in celebration on either side of the championship banners celebrating the 2010, 2013 and 2015 Stanley Cup victories.
The program included comments from Darren Pang, Pat Foley, Chris Chelios, Rob Johnson and Marian Hossa and Brent Seabrook spoke on 🃏behalf of the three teams that won the Stanley Cup while Rocky was the owner of the team.
Chelios got choked up talking about his daughter, Caley, living her dream in the booth. Panger was emotional remembering giving a young Danny Wirtz lessons as an aspiring goaltender. Johnson, a former news anchor in Chicago, shared stories about Rocky showing up as his son’s games when he was just in age level hockey as an eight and nine-year-old.
The story that caught me in the feels was when Brent Seabrook shared that they were celebrating the first Stanley Cup victory together and his parents were with him. His mom told Rocky that day was the best birthday she could remember, because they were celebrating on her birthday. A few minutes later a birthday cake miraculously appeared for Seabs’ mom. I know she passed away recently, so Brent sharing that story must have meant so much to him. I wouldn’t have been able to get through it as well as he did.
It was a beautiful ceremony that was about more than just a guy who owned a hockey team. It was about more than a guy who celebrated three championships. The players, broadcasters and friends shared personal stories. Because that’s how many fans will remember Rocky: a personal interaction.
