Chicago Blackhawks Notes: The Surge of the HurriKane

Author's Note:

This article was originally meant to be written with a minimum of cheerleading, but it ended up coming out as the pleadings of a fan obsessed with the idea of the hockey renaissance in Chicago taking another step forward.

I apologize for the sharply partisan tone of this piece...who am I kidding? This site is all about fans showing their passion for the stories of the day, and this definitely qualifies. I'll return to a more traditional approach in my Hawks-Oilers recap tomorrow night, so until then, enjoy and GO HAWKS!

All-Star Voting Updates

Last week, I wrote an article updating the balloting results for the All-Star game. Here is an excerpt from that piece:

-"Patrick Kane is currently running in fifth place among forwards with234,852 votes, which is less than 20,000 votes behind fourth place Henrik Zetterberg, and less than 30,000 behind third place Pavel Datsyuk. If Kaner can get into the top three, he will start the All-Star Game in Montreal!"

Well, it ain't over until the fat lady sings, but as far as I'm concerned, she is warming up her vocal chords.

Less than a week later, Patrick Kane has picked up over 80,000 votes and has catapulted from fifth place in voting to...wait for it...

FIRST PLACE!

That's right Blackhawks fans! Patrick Kane is now the leading vote-getter among Western Conference forwards with 316,748 votes. He has cleared the Detroit twin wonders in Marian Hossa and Pavel Datsyuk, and also passed the Flames' Jarome Iginla to position himself to be the first Blackhawk to start the All-Star Game since Chris Chelios.

Chris freaking Chelios.

That is the history that Patrick Kane is trying to erase between now and January 2nd. It's been 12 years since a Hawk started the game, and if anyone between then and now has deserved it, it is certainly Patrick Kane.

He led the team in points last season. He set a team rookie record with 51 assists. This season, he leads the team with 34 points, seven ahead of teammate Patrick Sharp. He is also tied for seventh in the NHL in points, and tied for 10th in assists.

He also is tied with Rick Nash and Sidney Crosby in goals on the season, and is one ahead of Evgeni Malkin. That is some pretty elite company right there.

Two things need to happen if the man known as "Kaner" to his teammates is to start the All-Star Game.

1. He needs to continue scoring and assisting like he has been all season.

2. You need to continue to vote for him. Marian Hossa is still only 8,000 votes in the rear-view, and Kane needs your help to keep him there!

All you have to do is text your All-Star selections to 81812, or visit www.vote.nhl.com and vote for your All-Stars.

For those fans out there who want to vote for all three of the Blackhawks' ballot representatives, there is a special incentive for you.

The fan who votes the most times for the Blackhawks' All-Star Balloteers will receive the grand prize from the Hawks, which includes two 100-level tickets to the Hawks game against the Blues on January 21st. You will also get to take a tour of the locker room, and get to meet Brian Campbell, Jonathan Toews, and Patrick Kane after the hockey game.

As if that weren't sweet enough, you also get to be announced on the scoreboard as the "Ultimate Blackhawks Fan," which I'm sure would impress a lot of your buddies stuck watching the game at home.

If you don't win the grand prize, fret not. The second place prize is pretty sweet too, featuring a two-day pass to Blackhawks Convention in July, and a one-night stay at the Hilton Chicago. You will also receive a Blackhawks Convention puck with the autographs of Kane, Toews, and Campbell.

Third prize features an official Winter Classic Blackhawks jersey, complete with the autographs of the ENTIRE roster.

I will try to do my part by voting an obscene number of times, and I hope you will forgive this complete lapse in journalistic decorum and allow me to plead with you to vote for your Blackhawks as many times as possible. PLEASE!