Getting into the US Hockey Hall of Fame was special enough for Chris Chelios. Having the induction ceremony in his hometown makes it even better.
The former Blackhawks defenseman will join fellow former Blackhawk Gary Suter, Keith Tkachuk, Ed Snider and Doc Emrick at the US Hockey Hall of Fame inductions in Chicago on Monday night. For Chelios, its a chance to come full circle.
Not only am I saving all the plane fare and hotel (rates), but Ive gotten so many calls from my old neighborhood, Chelios said Sunday night. I wasnt aware of how many people followed that this was happening this weekend. Its just great to see all the families thats what its all about is the family thing. My whole familys going to have a great time this weekend.
Stay in the game with the latest updates on your beloved Chicago sports teams! Sign up here for our All Access Daily newsletter.
Theres a family feeling among the inductees, too. Chelios, Suter and Tkachuk are longtime friends and were part of that U.S. squad that beat Canada in the 1996 World Cup of Hockeys best-of-three final.
It was really special coming into Canada. You hear all kinds of different stories, but after we won that last game (in Montreal) the streets were empty. Nothing was going on, Suter remembered. Hockeys such religion up there, and to beat them at their own game was a special thing for all the guys lucky enough to be on that 96 team.
Chelios joked he didnt want to give away all of his speech for Monday night, but he also treasures that 96 tournament.
The memory of that is where we took the next step, actually, he said. We always came close, but we were always coming up short in the Canada cups and Olympics. That group, with the (Mike) Modanos and Tkachuks finally got over that hump.