Category Archives: Jon Fromi

Just Another Typical Parents Night at the BMO

Posted on January 20, 2013 by Jon Fromi| Leave a comment

By Jon Fromi

The fun thing about going to a hockey game is that you might get to see that puck bounce in any number of interesting directions. Saturday night at the BMO Center, it was pink ice, pink sweaters, and a charitable atmosphere that resulted in the IceHogs going Charlestown Chiefs on the Grand Rapids Griffins midway through the second period.

In full view of their parents no less.

I think back to the dustup last April 1 in Milwaukee and would have to say that this was probably several times more…er…interactive. Talk about Pink in the Rink… Read more »

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Waiting on Mikita: Frozen thoughts from outside the BMO

Posted on December 23, 2012 by Jon Fromi| 2 Comments

By Jon Fromi

With Stan Mikita gracing the Forest City (more specifically the BMO Center) Saturday, my pal and I made it our goal to be among the first go-getters to cue up in the signing line. I’ve found myself waiting outside the season-ticket entrance on occasion, most notably an extended wait on Tony Esposito last February. Three hours? No problem. Yeah, right.

Mother Nature provided an optimal day on that February afternoon, with sunny skies and spring-like temperatures. I didn’t expect to be so lucky Saturday, and of course the weather told a different tale.

Did we have to be there at 1:45 p.m. to wait for the doors to open at 5:45? Of course not, but think of all the conversation I would have missed.

The odyssey (or not, since we stood in the same place for the bulk of it) began with our arrival to find that five individuals had beaten us to the front of the line. As the line began to lengthen over the course of the afternoon, conversation naturally fixated on the IceHogs. Read more »

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Running commentary of Rockford’s 5-3 win at Peoria

Posted on October 6, 2012 by Jon Fromi| Leave a comment

By Jon Fromi

The Rockford IceHogs wrapped up their preseason with a nice offensive game, besting the Peoria Rivermen 5-3. I took it upon myself to purchase the AHL Live stream of the contest and share some observations along with my thoughts on the eve of what will hopefully be a successful season for the Hogs.

This is just me commenting as a fan, much as I will whenever I offer up thoughts from my seat at the BMO Center. Like you guys, I know what I do about the behind the scenes dealings mainly from what Chris Block reports. I’m not going to provide his sparkling brand of analysis-mostly because I’m watching from the opposite side of the rink. Read more »

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The Song Remains the Same; Coyotes take 3-1 series lead with 3-2 victory after Hawks battle back to force OT

Posted on April 19, 2012 by Jon Fromi| Leave a comment

By Jon Fromi

It was the same story for the Chicago Blackhawks at the United Center in Game 4 of their Western Conference quarterfinal with the visiting Phoenix Coyotes. The Hawks rallied back late, this time from a late two-goal deficit to send a fourth consecutive game into overtime. However, it was the Coyotes who once again found a way to pull out the game, prevailing 3-2. Phoenix now holds a commanding 3-1 lead in the series with a home game coming up Saturday.

As has been the case in this series, the Hawks were active early. Dave Bolland’s line had a nice shift in the second minute. Bolland got a puck on the doorstep thanks to a failed shot attempt by Bryan Bickell, but Mike Smith came up with a save. Shane Doan interfered with Patrick Kane at the 2:12 mark of the first, but couldn’t take advantage. Read more »

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Toews Returns but Coyotes Win Game 1 in OT 3-2

Posted on April 13, 2012 by Jon Fromi| 1 Comment

By Jon Fromi

Jonathan Toews made an impressive return to the lineup Thursday as the Chicago Blackhawks opened their Western Conference Quarterfinal in Phoenix, tallying a goal and assist. Despite Toews and a late surge to the tie the contest, the Hawks succumbed in overtime as the Coyotes bested Chicago 3-2.

The Coyotes tried to establish a physical tone from the opening faceoff, but it was Andrew Shaw who registered a bit hit on Radim Vrbata that sent Phoenix’s leading goal scorer to the dressing room. Shaw had an open look on a rebound on the ensuing trip down the ice, but Coyotes goalie Mike Smith turned it away.

Toews got the scoring started with his play in the fourth minute. Gaining control of the puck behind the Phoenix net, the captain attempted to center to Patrick Kane. Toews wound up gathering in the failed connection and shoveled a backhand that escaped the grasp of Smith. At the 4:04 mark, the Blackhawks led 1-0. Read more »

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Blackhawks Let Wild off Hook, Lose 2-1 in Shootout

Posted on April 6, 2012 by Jon Fromi| 3 Comments

By Jon Fromi

The Chicago Blackhawks controlled the first two periods in every way except for the scoreboard, allowing Minnesota to tie the score late in Thursday’s contest. For the second time in as many games, the Hawks fell to the Wild in a shootout 2-1 in the Xcel Energy Center.

Chicago was aggressive in the first period, getting some good passing and outshooting the Wild 7-1 until the 8:19 mark, when Patrick Kane made a nice move into the Minnesota zone. Dany Heatley committed a slash, which nearly allowed the ‘Hawks to score. Only a great save by goalie Josh Harding robbed Patrick Sharp. Once the Hawks started the actual power play, the shots dried up.

The fourth line put Chicago on the board with 8:23 remaining in the period following a faceoff win by Jamal Mayers at the right circle. Michael Frolik gathered in the puck, skated behind the net and fired a shot on Harding. The rebound came out in front of the net, where Mayers was around to bang it past Harding to put the Blackhawks up 1-0. Read more »

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Hawks Let Blues Off Mat But Prevail 4-3 In Shootout

Posted on March 29, 2012 by Jon Fromi| Leave a comment

By Jon Fromi

Despite watching a two goal lead evaporate in the last ten minutes of the contest, the Chicago Blackhawks were able to come away with a huge 4-3 shootout win over the St. Louis Blues Thursday night at United Center.

With the victory, the Blackhawks have taken four of six games from the top team in the Western Conference. They also move another step closer to locking up a spot in the postseason with a solid performance.

The pace favored the Hawks early, but Chicago didn’t get on the board until midway through the opening frame. Kent Huskins committed a high stick on Andrew Shaw a little over two minutes in. Although the Blackhawks got a shot on goal on the power play for the first time in nine attempts, a single shot was all Chicago could muster.

The first score came when Nick Leddy found Bryan Bickell in the neutral zone in the eleventh minute. Bickell entered the Blues zone with Dave Bolland, where he skated to just above the left faceoff circle before sending a wrist shot past Jaroslav Halak at the 10:38 mark. Read more »

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Hawks Score Early and Often, Sweep Season Series with Columbus

Posted on March 20, 2012 by Jon Fromi| Leave a comment

By Jon Fromi

The Chicago Blackhawks visited the doormat that is the Columbus Blue Jackets Tuesday night. The Blackhawks had not dropped a contest to the visiting Blue Jackets all season, and a strong effort in the opening minutes paved the way for an easy 5-1 victory.

Chicago took control of the contest in the fifth minute when Bryan Bickell went to the corner for a loose puck, won the ensuing battle, and threw the puck off of the appropriately positioned Andrew Shaw and into the Columbus net. Shaw got the credit for the goal and the ‘Hawks led 1-0 just 4:12 into the game.

Patrick Sharp doubled that lead two minutes later after Viktor Stalberg found him in the corner just short of the goal line. Sharp let fly with a shot that caromed off of goalie Steve Mason and in to make it 2-0 with just 6:17 gone in the opening period. Read more »

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Blackhawks Stick It to Stars in Big D, Win 4-1

Posted on March 17, 2012 by Jon Fromi| 2 Comments

By Jon Fromi

The Chicago Blackhawks came out with a pair of early tallies to establish control in Dallas Friday night. Up 2-0 before Stars fans knew what had hit their team, the Blackhawks won their third road game in four tries this month with a 4-1 triumph.

Chicago took little time in lighting the lamp. Just seconds after the faceoff, Bryan Bickell got control of the puck along the boards between the benches. Andrew Shaw got the pass as he came over the blue line and dropped it back to Dave Bolland, who snapped home the shot past Kari Lehtonen at the ten second mark of the opening period.

Ninety seconds later, after Corey Crawford turned away a redirected shot, the Hawks brought the puck to the other end. Viktor Stalberg’s attempt was blocked by Lehtonen, but Patrick Sharp got the puck out the corner. Looping into the left faceoff circle, Sharp fired for the opposite post. The shot got past Lehtonen and 1:42 into the game held a two-goal advantage. Read more »

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Wild Third Period Nets ‘Hawks 4-3 win over Rangers

Posted on March 9, 2012 by Jon Fromi| Leave a comment

By Jon Fromi

The Chicago Blackhawks erased a third period deficit with three goals in the final seven minutes. Johnny Oduya led the attack with a goal and an assist as the ‘Hawks prevailed over the New York Rangers 4-3 in front of the 180th straight sellout crowd at the United Center.

Chicago got a big scoring opportunity seconds into the game when Duncan Keith made an area pass that Marian Hossa caught up to. Hossa beat the Ranger defense to the net, but Henrik Lundqvist snuffed out the shot.

From there, it was back and forth hockey with both teams getting their chances. Lundqvist and Ray Emery kept both teams honest along with their defenses. The ‘Hawks killed off the only penalty of the period, a delay of game call that came when returning defenseman Niklas Hjalmarsson closed his hand on the puck late in the sixteenth minute. Read more »

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