This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Health & Fitness

Thank You, Blackhawks.

Thank you, Chicago Blackhawks. Thank you for giving me something to look forward to that does not involve watching one of our Chicago baseball teams this summer. Not yet, any way. Cringe-worthy, friends. Awful.

Yes, that's what I thought after Game Seven of the Blackhawks/Red Wings series. Thanks, guys. Ten more days of wearing my original Blackhawks jersey in the summer swelter.

Last night's thought, at about 12:05, was, this may have been the greatest game in any sport that I have ever watched in my (almost) 40 years. Quietly, I had to celebrate it, by myself, as my wife and two children slumbered away. I quietly may have pulled a hamstring doing a crazy celebratory dance in my living room. The spirit was willing, but the body...well, not so able anymore.

The numbers last night were mind-boggling. Tuukka Rask, whose name sounds like something I may have eaten in the past, made an eye-popping 59 saves. Not to be outdone, Corey Crawford, who takes his fair share of criticism in this town, made 51 stops. There were over 100 faceoffs. The Blackhawks had 63 shots on goal. The Bruins, almost the same. Both Original Six teams played the near-equivalent of two full NHL games. And this was only Game One. What else might these two titans have in store for us, fans? Wow.

Many fans will compare this team to the 2010 Stanley Cup winners. Important to note in that comparison, though, is that they still have to win three more games. And it will not be easy. With the 2010 team, it seemed like a mere formality, didn't it? That they were bound to win. Almost as if it were a forgone conclusion.

This 2013 team, in spite of the record-setting winning season, had its struggles at some points of the season. What I admire most about this team is their refusal to surrender. They refuse to be outworked or give in. A team has to beat them. Few do.

Last night the Blackhawks were down 3-1 with twelve minutes to go. They tied it quickly when their backs were against the wall. It was a play that will not be credited in the stat sheets by Bryan Bickell that ended up winning the game. He forced the puck to stay in the offensive zone with a bone-crushing hit, allowing the crazy game-winning redirected shot to find its home after five hours of play. What entertainment! It was the most fun I have had in a long, long time, even as I watched alone, albeit, with a few friends on Facebook. Thanks...you know who you are!!!

This is what it is all about. The will to push through exhaustion, adversity, having it all come down to a ricochet to determine the game-winner. These guys exhibit quiet resilience. Their captain is intense, fierce, and determined to win. Did you see the look on Toews' face during the national anthem? Determination. Pure focus. Burning eyes. Ready to go.

It's never easy. It's a grind. They push, they push, they push. It's not always pretty. For every beautiful goal that Patrick Kane or Marian Hossa scores, there are three gritty ones by guys like Bickell, or Shaw. But they win. They stand up to bullies. They stick up for each other. Thier power play doesn't work, but they find a way. They gut through it, even on days when they are not 100%. Running on fumes, like last night. Right place, right time, through team effort. Finishing the job. I was so proud of this team last night. And they will get some rest and do it all over.

The Hawks are like many of us, aren't they, fans? Minus the athleticisim...minus the mind-boggling skill. But that's why we love this team, isn't it? They resemble our daily efforts. At least that's what I have come to conclude. We can't all be stars, but for every star like Kane, it takes three grinders like Bolland, Bickell and Frolik to get the job done. For every Hossa, there is Hjalmarsson, Kruger and Leddy. I got nothing for you on Seabrook...

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?