Sopel sacrifices body in key role for Hawks

Despite wearing an extra piece of padding here and there, Blackhawks defenseman Brent Sopel says it never fails.

Whenever Sopel blocks a shot, and he blocks plenty of them, the puck seems to find an exposed area of his body.

It wouldn't be a Hawks game without the sight of the 33-year-old Sopel hobbling back to the bench after taking a puck off his ankle, the back of the leg or his arm.

But Sopel always comes back for more.

"Obviously when you do that job, and not too many people do, pucks are flying a lot harder than they used to," Sopel said. "That's my role, and they're bound to hurt.

"I expect it every game. You can only wear so much equipment when you do that job and it finds spots where there isn't padding.

"Even where there is padding it still hurts. I'd like to wear armor, but obviously you can't. You've still got to be able to play the game and move out there."

Sopel ranks fourth on the Hawks in blocked shots with 94 behind Brent Seabrook (117), Duncan Keith (102) and Niklas Hjalmarsson (99), but he blocks more shots per minutes played than his three teammates.

Sopel averages 14 minutes a night compared to Seabrook's 24, Keith's 27 and Hjalmarsson's 19.

"You've got to want to do it, first off, and there aren't too many guys in the leaguer willing to do that," Sopel said. "You've got to know where you are. A lot of my game is all positional, so you've got to know where the net is and where your stick is and such. It's something I've learned over 10 years in the league."

Sopel is one of the Hawks' key penalty-killers due to his shot-blocking ability. The Hawks are fifth in the NHL in penalty-killing and coming off an impressive seven-kill performance in Saturday's 2-1 win at St. Louis.

"That's why we are where we are right now - you've got to sacrifice," Sopel said. "If the puck doesn't get to the net then it doesn't have a chance to go in. We try to help our goalies out by (blocking shots)."

Sopel might have the lowest profile of anyone on this wildly popular Hawks team, but he is certainly appreciated by his teammates for what he does.

"He's almost like a second goalie back there," Patrick Kane said. "He's got all the crazy equipment on to make sure he doesn't get hurt, but it seems like every piece of equipment he adds, he gets hit somewhere else.

"It's funny, but he's fun to watch out there on the penalty-kill. He gets down and blocks shots and he'll be limping around, then he'll block another one. He's a warrior, for sure. There's not too many defensemen out there who do what he does."

Sopel has missed only two games and is enjoying this season much more than last year when he sat out the final 51 games and all of the playoffs following elbow surgery.

"Nobody wants to be hurt because it's not fun sitting and watching," Sopel said. "It's a lot more enjoyable playing and having fun every time you come to the rink knowing you're going to be on the ice and not in the medical room."

<p class="factboxheadblack">Blackhawks game day</p>

<p class="News">Dallas Stars at the United Center, 7:30 p.m.</p>

<p class="News"><b>TV:</b> Comcast SportsNet</p>

<p class="News"><b>Radio:</b> WGN 720-AM</p>

<p class="News"><b>What to watch:</b> Dallas center Mike Ribeiro is expected to return after missing five weeks with a throat injury, but Steve Ott underwent an emergency appendectomy on Monday and will miss this week. Goalie Marty Turco has allowed just 3 goals on 101 shots in his last three games.</p>

<p class="News"><b>Season series:</b> Stars lead 2-0 and have scored 9 goals in the two victories.</p>

<p class="News"><b>Next:</b> Atlanta Thrashers at the United Center, 7:30 p.m. Saturday</p>

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<li><a href="/story/?id=357789">Sopel sacrifices body in key role for Hawks<span class="date"> [2/9/10]</span></a></li>

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