DERBY DAYS: Chicago Blackhawks v Detroit Red WingsIreland has connections with these two clubs that boost perhaps the most enduring and bitter rivalry in ice hockey, writes DAMIAN CULLEN
STARVED OF their most treasured post-season intercity rivalry for 14 years now, this week the Detroit Red Wings and Chicago Blackhawks are back battling in the ice hockey big time – in the Western Conference final, the prize being a place in the Stanley Cup final and, of course, serious bragging rights.
Whoever wins will be favourites to land the coveted Stanley Cup. On the Eastern front, the Carolina Hurricanes and Pittsburgh Penguins are the conference finalists, defeating top-seeds Boston Bruins and second-seeds Washington Capitals, respectively, in the last round.
It’s the culmination of a long, gruelling season in North America for a sport that generally provokes one of two set of emotions from sports fans – the first has its roots in a die-hard fanaticism, the second is based on indifference.
In Europe, naturally, the colder the climate the more ice hockey raises the temperature among the local population. Which should make it far more popular than it is in Ireland.
Still, Ireland has had a long relationship with ice hockey, and even has connections with two clubs that boost perhaps the most enduring and bitter rivalry in the sport.
The president of the Chicago Blackhawks is an Irish-American, John McDonough, the former president of the Chicago Cubs, who swapped sports 18 months ago and has led an impressive plan aimed at increasing the ice hockey team’s standing on the list of popular sports in the city.
And, a few weeks after the Red Wings became the NHL play-off champions last year, wing Daniel Cleary made good on his promise to bring the Stanley Cup to his home of Newfoundland – a place with unique Irish connections – where thousands greeted the returning hero with Danny Boy.
Last New Year's Day, Cleary was slammed by Blackhawks' Brent Seabrook, knocking the Red Wings star head over heels into the opposition bench (drop whatever you are doing and watch it at www.youtube.com/ watch?v=SD25FP1fdoc).
The tackle/frontal charge/ assault/attempted murder (delete to taste) was cheered wildly by 41,000 home spectators at the Winter Classic, an extraordinary game in which an NHL match was played for the first time at Chicago’s Wrigley Field – home of the Chicago Cubs baseball team.
The reigning Stanley Cup champions won the 701st game between the rivals, 6-4, despite the Detroit Red Wings falling 3-1 behind in the first period.
It was the first Winter Classic to feature teams from the “Original Six” and both sides wore vintage-style uniforms for the tie, with the Red Wings donning a jersey from the 1920s and the Blackhawks choosing a style first favoured by the club in the 1930s.
The “Original Six” refers to the the elite group that composed the National Hockey League (NHL) for the 25 seasons between the 1942-’43 season and the 1967 NHL Expansion, with the other members being the Montreal Canadiens, Toronto Maple Leafs, Boston Bruins and New York Rangers. It’s more than enough time for rivalries to brew.
In Canada, Montreal and Toronto conveniently took an instant dislike to each other on ice. In the USA, Detroit and Chicago obliged. In fact, there are only two words in the favourite chant of Chicago Blackhawks fans – “Detroit Sucks”.
Separated by only 300 miles, the cities have clashed in the play-offs 14 times since 1927. Before this week, however, the last post-season meeting was in 1995 – when Red Wings won 4-1.
Back in the early days of the NHL, the rivalry was encouraged by the stars of both sides.
Bobby Hull joined the Blackhawks in 1957, at 18 years of age, and during the next 15 seasons in Chicago – which included a Stanley Cup winning season in 1961, beating the Red Wings 4-2 in the finals – the “Golden Jet” built a reputation as one of the greatest players of all time. Where necessary, Hull could swap skill for aggression.
When the rivals met in the 1966 play-offs, Hull took offence to the close marking of Bryan Watson and, catching the Red Wings player unawares with his stick, left him needing 18 stitches to his head.
Long before Hull was even considered to be a future prospect, Gordie Howe was chewing up opposition players with Detroit. The four-time Stanley Cup champion, known simply as “Mr Hockey”, joined the Red Wings in 1946, also at 18 years of age, and stayed for an incredible 25 seasons – 14 of which overlapped with Hull’s tenure with the Blackhawks.
Both reknowned for their scoring prowess, meetings between the two were explosive affairs and compulsive viewing.
After a hiatus of 14 years, during which the Blackhawks generally refused to qualify for the post-season and so avoided a possible high-stakes clash with its neighbour, the rivalry is back at the business end of the season and game one of the Western Conference final began on Sunday, with Detroit beating Chicago 5-2 at home. The teams meet again this morning, before the carnival moves to Chicago.
In the play-offs, the pairings are best-of-seven, including the Stanley Cup finals itself – with the higher-ranked team having home advantage for games one, two and, if necessary, five and seven.
So now, it’s up to Chicago to inflict maximum damage on Saturday and Sunday, before returning to Detroit the following Thursday. Red Wings fans expect to be celebrating another Stanley Cup finals appearance at that game-five meeting, if not before.
But this is not expected to simply go to plan. Meetings between the Red Wings and Blackhawks have rarely followed the formbook. In fact, which team qualifies for the Stanley Cup finals may not be known until next month – after a game-seven meeting in Detroit on Monday week.
Friday:United Center, Chicago 8pm (2am, Sat, Irish-time)
Sunday:United Center, 3pm (9pm Irish-time)
May 27th*:Joe Louis Arena, Detroit, 7.30pm (12.30am, Thur, Irish-time)
May 30th*:United Center, 8pm (2am, Sun, Irish-time)
June 1st*:Joe Louis Arena, 7.30pm (12.30am, Tues, Irish-time)
(* games if necessary, best-of-seven series)
All matches live on ESPN
