Blackhawks flag to fly at Government Center

Don your Blackhawks gear and show your support Thursday in honor of Patrick Kane County Day.

The Kane County Government Center will fly the Blackhawks’ championship flag in place of the county flag in honor of their Stanley Cup win.

“It shows that all of Kane County is part of Blackhawk Country,” said Scott Hajek, water resources manager for Kane County, who proposed the resolution in July to honor Kane and the team.

Hajek said he hopes other communities will raise the flag, and fans will wear their Hawks gear.

He wished Kane would be able to celebrate with the community in person, but the team’s public relations staff did not have Kane’s schedule when initially contacted by the Daily Herald.

When asked if the number of Blackhawks fans on the county board had anything to do with the passage, Melisa Taylor, who represents the 5th District, thought it passed for other reasons.

“I don’t think it’s based on numbers — it’s based on loudness,” she said with a laugh about the few board members who are die-hard fans.

Hajek came up with the idea in 2010 when the Blackhawks won the Stanley Cup.

Through encouragement from board members, including Taylor, he approached Chairman Chris Lauzen to get him on board and wrote the resolution.

The board approved it unanimously last month.

“We are truly excited and proud to honor Patrick Kane in this way because of his fantastic accomplishments as part of such a great team,” Lauzen said in a news release.

Hajek said he would love to personally thank Kane, the Stanley Cup Playoffs’ MVP.

But, he said, “If the end result was just getting the resolution passed, and we acknowledge the Blackhawks and Kane’s greatness, that would be enough. The rest is just icing on the cake.”