Plenty of smiles and laughs at Blackhawks' Training Camp Festival

Credit the Blackhaws for pulling out all the stops for their Training Camp Festival at the United Center on Saturday.

Outside, young fans tried scoring a goal or two on an inflatable hockey rink, and fans of all ages waited patiently for autographs and pictures with former Hawks Tony Esposito and Brian Campbell.

Inside, 20,000 strong were treated to a scrimmage that was mostly serious but turned awfully fun when Denis Savard and Steve Larmer hopped on the ice for the 3-on-3 portion of the game. The 56-year-olds tried their best to thrill the crowd with a goal - with Savard even attempting to score into his own net - but goalie Jean-Francois Berube was a serious party pooper and turned away both shots.

"Growing up in Chicago you know who those guys are," said Vinnie Hinostroza, who was on Savard's team and had no idea that the legends would be joining him on the ice. "You hear your parents, grandparents talking about them.

"The last few years I've gotten to know Savvy pretty well, so skating with him at the end was really special to me. He's the greatest guy. It's awesome to see those guys come out and I know it was fun for the fans."

"It was good entertainment," said coach Joel Quenneville, who added with an ear-to-ear smile: "They've still got it."

While the end of the scrimmage was all fun and games, there was no horsing around during first three periods. This was, after all, another day for everyone to impress the coaches.

Nick Schmaltz (goal), Patrick Sharp (goal), Brent Seabrook (goal), Patrick Kane, Hinostroza, defenseman Connor Murphy and goalies Corey Crawford and Jeff Glass were among those who stood out.

Murphy was paired with Duncan Keith and ripped off 3 shots in less than 30 minutes, one of which dinged off the post. The 6-foot-4, 223-pounder was acquired in the Niklas Hjalmarsson deal.

"I like him. He's a big, strong guy," Keith said. "I've always played my best hockey with a bigger, strong guy that's a right-handed shot.

"He brings an element of physicality to our team that I don't think we've had - especially on the back end - in a long time. I know a couple of the guys are already talking about how they're a little bumped and bruised from … him being physical on them."

As for Hinostroza - despite playing 49 games last season - he could get caught in a numbers game and be an odd-man out when the final roster is announced in October. And that's why every practice, every scrimmage and every preseason game is so important for the Bartlett native.

"I liked Vinnie today. Very noticeable," Quenneville said. "Had great energy, good speed. …

"That's what you get out of him. You get some speed where you can back people off. You keep guys where they're vulnerable to get beat 1-on-1. It's just that consistency that we talk about throughout the year. (Be) stronger in the puck area (and) add that to his game."

Saturday was the first time the Hawks skated in front of their home fans since Game 2 against Nashville in the opening round of the Stanley Cup playoffs. And while Keith enjoyed it and took note of the new lighting, it's always interesting to see the newcomers get so wide-eyed over the support this team receives day after day, month after month and year after year.

"This was insane," Murphy said. "When I heard them say (Friday) after the second game at camp that at 11 a.m. they're going to have a sold-out crowd and they'll be going crazy for the anthem, you don't find that anywhere.

"It speaks to how great this city is with the fans."

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