Starting Jan. 28, fans attending Blackhawks games at the Stadium will be able to choose players for the National Hockey League`s all-time teams spanning three separate eras.
Hawks on the list for the final third of the league`s 75 years, broken into 25-year sections, are goalie Tony Esposito, left wing Bobby Hull and center Stan Mikita. This is a team composed of players from 1966-67 to the present. The candidates are broken down into four goalies, eight defensemen, 15 forwards and four coaches.
Hawks on the ballot for the all-time team between 1942-43 and 1965-66 are goalie Glenn Hall, defenseman Pierre Pilote, left wing Doug Bentley, center Max Bentley, right wing Bill Mosienko and coach Tommy Ivan.
Just two Hawks show up on the nominations for the top team from 1917-18 to 1941-42: goalie Frank Brimsek and defenseman Earl Seibert.
A goner: Brad Lauer`s first recall to the Hawks was short and not so sweet. He never got to play. The winger was brought up Monday from the minors, flying from Phoenix to Philadelphia, where he didn`t get into the game. He was returned to the Indianapolis Ice Thursday before the Hawks took on Toronto at the Stadium. Lauer is nursing a hip flexor, but should be able to play with it. Dan Vincelette, recalled earlier this week with Lauer, is playing through knee tendinitis.
Tough times: Goalie Jimmy Waite continues to struggle in the minors. He was rocked for five goals on 18 shots in the first period of a 7-3 loss Wednesday night to Phoenix in the International League. Waite was removed after that one rocky period. In eight games with the Ice, his record is 2-6 with a 4.75 goals-against average.
Save it up: Former Hawk Al Secord isn`t getting rich as a pilot in Philadelphia. ”It could pay well years from now as I get more experience,”
he said, a visitor to the Hawk locker room at the Spectrum Tuesday. ”But I`m fortunate I saved my money while I was playing. I`m using that now.”
The end: John Tonelli`s NHL-best streak of playing 70 or more games for the last 13 seasons will end after this one. He has been scratched from the lineup too often by coach Mike Keenan to reach that level and extend his iron-man mark. New York Ranger Mike Gartner is in line to succeed Tonelli, having played 70-plus the last 12 seasons.