Youthful Hawks enjoying strong team camaraderie
The Blackhawks had their annual Christmas party on the United Center ice Monday, but there were a few things missing from years past.
Wives and kids.
That's what happens when you are the youngest team in the NHL with only five players who are married.
"There are kids all around the room," joked Nikolai Khabibulin. "They're just a little older."
The 35-year-old Khabibulin is one of only four Hawks 30 or older along with Cristobal Huet (33), Craig Adams (31) and Brent Sopel (31). Only Khabibulin, Huet, Adams, Sopel and Matt Walker are married.
A total of 15 Hawks are 25 or younger, including 20-year-old stars Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews.
"I think Edmonton might be the only other team with so few players married," James Wisniewski said. "They're young, too."
This is the tightest Hawks team in recent memory, and a big reason is the fact so many of them are single and hang out off the ice and on the road.
"Everyone always stays light, and we're always having fun," Wisniewski said. "We can go out and have dinner together or hang out with each other and it makes us closer as a team."
On some past Hawks teams the players couldn't wait to make an escape after a game or practice, but this group lingers in the dressing room long after they need to be there mostly talking with each other.
"On and off the ice we get along, and that's one of the best things about being in this locker room," Toews said. "We have a ball away from the rink. Then we're all excited to play and go out there and win when we come to the rink.
"We've got a young team, and I guess there's no issues. Everything is pretty smooth in here and all we've got to do really is worry about showing up and playing every night."
Hawks coach Joel Quenneville marvels every day at the young makeup of his team.
"It's definitely young and it's unique in that there's not as many kids," Quenneville said. "I think when we skate on New Year's Eve at Wrigley (Field), I think Detroit has all their family and kids coming.
"I think they can probably suit up a couple teams with all their kids. We might not even have a roster. Our kids will be on the ice during our practice.
"It's a little different and it will all change over the course of time. But right now we are young and it's fun to be around these guys."
The Hawks practiced early Monday before the party and get rewarded with a day off today in addition to the NHL players union-mandated days off on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
Many players were heading out of town for the holiday.
"We've got some days off here, and I told them to get away and enjoy it and spend some time with their families," Quenneville said. "But let's remember how we played to go into this break and let's come out of it with the same enthusiasm."
The Hawks will take a seven-game winning streak into Friday's game against Philadelphia at the United Center.
"We've got a little break here and then that's another dogfight to look forward to," Toews said.
<p class="factboxheadblack">Classic Countdown: 9 days until faceoff</p> <p class="News">The neighborhood around Wrigley Field will be hopping on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day. Starting on Dec. 31 through Jan. 1, the day of the Winter Classic between the Blackhawks and Red Wings, the corner of Waveland Avenue and Clark Street will turn into the NHL's Winter Classic spectator plaza. It will be a free outdoor hockey and entertainment festival featuring live music and interactive hockey attractions. Fans also will have a chance to win tickets to the Classic and to the Jan. 25 All-Star Game in Montreal.</p> <div class="infoBox"> <h1>More Coverage</h1> <div class="infoBoxContent"> <div class="infoArea"> <h2>Stories</h2> <ul class="links"> <li><a href="/story/?id=260047">How cold is it? Too cold to make ice at Wrigley </a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div>