A year ago January, the Blackhawks trumpeted their signing of a five-year affiliation agreement with Hampton Roads, Va., that would have the team’s prospects playing for one organization in the American Hockey League, considered the better minor league for developing players.
Hawks prospects are currently split between the Wolves and Cleveland of the International Hockey League.
But less than seven months before the AHL season is to begin, the situation is in disarray and the hope for a more streamlined minor-league system is dwindling.
“There needs to be some things done and done very quickly,” manager of hockey operations Mike Smith said. “We’ve made it clear that we will not put a team into a building that is substandard.”
At issue is the building in Norfolk, Va., where the expansion franchise was scheduled to play. AHL President Dave Andrews has given the city of Norfolk until the league’s winter meetings March 20-21 to agree on a new lease.
If no agreement is reached, Norfolk will be made inactive and the Hawks will look elsewhere. Smith said the building needs substantial upgrades to improve the cramped locker rooms and old rink with poor ice conditions.
“We’re getting pretty close to the point where we’re going to have to do something too,” Smith said. “Cleveland has something else in mind next year, so we’ll have to figure out something if [Norfolk falls through]. I don’t think the situation will stunt development, though. Our top two prospects are [Steve] McCarthy and [Mark] Bell [in juniors]. Plus, you can share affiliation, putting four players on three different teams. There’s lots of things we can do. But we’d prefer to have this situation resolved.”
Fight club: Players and coaches were still buzzing about Ryan VandenBussche’s first-period slugfest with Tampa Bay’s Kyle Freadrich on Friday. Conceding 7 inches and 55 pounds, the 6-foot, 200-pound VandenBussche cut his hand to the bone while knocking out two of Freadrich’s teeth. VandenBussche needed five stitches to close a gash near his eye as each player bloodied the other in a fight that featured countless hard punches to the face.
“That guy [VandenBussche] has more courage than anyone I’ve ever seen,” Tony Amonte said. “He will fight anybody. He just doesn’t care. That’s one of the best fights I’ve ever seen. It was all offense, no defense at all.”
Said Lorne Molleken: “That’s the best fight I’ve seen in the game of hockey.”
Walking wounded: Doug Gilmour, Eric Daze and Jean-Yves Leroux missed practice Saturday. Gilmour’s sore ribs will keep him out of his second straight game, Sunday against Phoenix. Leroux broke his right pinkie finger in Friday’s victory and also will sit out. Daze is doubtful with back spasms. The Hawks likely will activate Ed Olczyk, who has been out with a sore groin. If Daze can’t play, they will have to recall somebody, likely Kyle Calder from Cleveland.
