Friend's memory lives on for Blackhawks' Potulny

Ryan Potulny is like most hockey players whenever he gets a new order of sticks.

Potulny checks the weight and feel, cuts knob and tapes it his own certain way.

But before the stick is ready to be used, Potulny has one more thing to do.

The Blackhawks' forward writes the initials "MB" on the heel of the blade - his way of honoring boyhood friend Mike Bullinger, who committed suicide in 2004.

"I'll never stop putting the initials on there for him," Potulny said. "It's just in a little spot where I guess not a lot of people can see it, but I know it's there and he's up there and he knows it's there.

"It's just something I'll do for the rest of my life while I play, just knowing he's with me."

Potulny grew up with Bullinger in Grand Forks, N.D., where they did everything together, including playing high school hockey.

"We grew up together, played hockey together; he was pretty close to me in the neighborhood and kind of did everything together," said Potulny, who won't forget getting the tragic news about his friend while he was in Lake Placid, N.Y., trying out for U.S. team for the World Junior Championships.

"I called his father and said, 'I'm coming home, this is more important than hockey,' and he told me that if Mike was here he'd want me to stay there and make that team. It was pretty tough missing the funeral, but that's what I did."

Potulny always has been able to score goals and believes those initials on his stick have played a part of his success.

"Some of the goals I score aren't the prettiest goals, I guess, but somehow they find their way into the net," Potulny said. "Some of them I feel like he's up there guiding them in almost."

Now Potulny is in a roster battle to win a spot with the Hawks after signing a one-year contract as a free agent following a 15-goal season with the Edmonton Oilers in 2009-10.

Potulny scored a goal in Saturday's 4-2 victory over Detroit at the United Center and won 5 of 8 faceoffs centering a line for Jack Skille and Fernando Pisani.

The Hawks like Potulny's versatility (he can play center or wing) and his skill level.

"Ryan has a lot to offer in terms of his offensive capabilities," general manager Stan Bowman said at the start of training camp.

"We can use him in a couple different ways, as a guy to move up and play with skill players. He's one of those versatile guys Joel (Quenneville) likes to have in the lineup."

Potulny is taking nothing for granted, however, as far as earning a roster spot for opening night.

"I try not to look at it too much," Potulny said. "Some guys know their spots are secure, but there's some of us that are battling for some spots and I don't know if anyone feels comfortable.

"You just have to go out and play your game and do what you do best to try to help the team out."

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