All-Star weekends emphasize the need to recognize and remember accomplishments of former players. With that in mind, the National Hockey League named Blackhawks Alumni Association secretary Jack Fitzsimmons as the inaugural winner of its new Alumni Award last weekend.
The Hawks alumni, with yeoman organizing work by Fitzsimmons, 69, a lifelong Chicago fan and friend to many players, has set an example the NHL wants the rest of the teams to follow. Their yearly scholarship luncheon for a deserving college-bound student, as well as other social activities, ”is the ideal of the league,” Fitzsimmons said. ”Other clubs are asking us how you do things.”
The idea to band together the Hawks alumni and become more active as a group emanated from a meeting five years ago, Fitzsimmons said, at which Stan Mikita, Keith Magnuson and Cliff Koroll were the driving forces. Magnuson is president, Koroll vice president and Mikita`s annual golf tournament one of the highlights of the year.
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”It`s gratifying,” Fitzsimmons said, ”to see a bunch of men who were in the limelight for many years be as concerned and supportive of the community as our alumni are. With my cocky Irish attitude, I`d have to say we`re second to none in the league. My hope is that other teams strengthen their alumni ties.”
A low blow: Besides getting a 10-game suspension from the NHL, Hawks winger Stu Grimson has been a victim of misinformation. Some printed reports about Grimson`s actions Thursday against Toronto have said he came off the bench to fight. Another claimed he pushed coach Mike Keenan to pursue his aggressions. Neither statement is accurate, though he did shake free from Keenan.
The confusion stems from Grimson being skated back to the bench by referee Dan Marouelli after the official had restrained him. Grimson never sat down, but remained on the ice in front of the bench. After Marouelli left him to try to police the remaining scrums in a broad free-for-all, Grimson decided to try to intercede again in an ongoing fight between Hawk Bryan Marchment and Maple Leaf Bob Halkidis.
Grimson never did quite get there, but he pushed linesman Ray Scapinello forcefully enough to receive an abuse of officials penalty from Marouelli that led to the automatic suspension.
Off the record: Talk about bad timing. Of the 16 goals scored Saturday in the Campbell Conference`s 10-6 victory over the Wales, the only one NBC missed was Hawk Jeremy Roenick`s goal. The network was on a commercial break. But Roenick`s family and friends are certain to see him score again in future All- Star appearances.
Night flight: All-Stars Roenick, Chris Chelios and Ed Belfour can rest Monday, but the other Hawks are due back for a practice that begins at 7 p.m. Monday at the Stadium. NHL games resume Tuesday in some cities, but the Hawks won`t play again until Thursday at the Stadium against Quebec.