The annual “circus trip” has arrived for the Blackhawks, which means six tough games and 11 days on the road.
That’s almost two full weeks of plane hopping, hotel living, travel dining and, apparently, lots of Skype and Facetime. The games the Hawks will play will be for public consumption, but RedEye wanted a peek behind the scenes.
KRIS VERSTEEG
What do you have to remember to pack on a long road trip like this one?
My iPad is what I absolutely have to take with me. I have all my TV shows downloaded on it. One time [I forgot it] and I was so miserable. I was. You just listen to music, and that’s awful. That’s only good for a couple minutes.
What do you miss the most when you’re gone?
Uh, my family, especially my dog [Beauty]. I miss him a lot. Always. You know, those guys don’t live very long. And when I leave, he just puts on the saddest face ever, so I miss him like crazy. He’s a Burmese mountain dog. He’s almost 4. I got him when he was 7 weeks old and he was already 14 pounds. He’s 120 pounds almost. I Facetime with [my wife] to put him on all the time. I really do. Even if I forget my iPad. You can do it on the phone, too. I love him so much, that guy.
PATRICK KANE
Anything you absolutely have to take with you on a long road trip?
I guess I’d say my cellphone, my iPhone.
What do you miss the most on a long road trip?
Just the routine of coming back home from practice and having the rest of the day to do what you have to do, and hang out with the people that you’re closest to, to get away from the game a little bit. When you’re on the road, you’re with the team the whole time and hanging out with the guys, which is good too. I think we all enjoy that and have fun with that, but just kind of getting away from the game a little bit is what I miss most on the road.
DANIEL CARCILLO
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What do you have to remember to take with you on a long road trip?
Let’s see … computer. Some guys, I’ve seen them pack an XBox 360. Your iPod‘s on your phone now, so you don’t really have to worry about taking that. Oh, Bose headphones. That’s about it. Anything Wi-Fi compatible. Also, a change of clothes.
When you’re on the road, what do you miss the most?
Just, like, your own bed and your own routine. But you lose a lot of weight on the road. There’s no snacks or anything. So the road’s pretty good for that. You’re not at home next to the pantry, waiting to eat everything.
ANTTI RAANTA
What do you have to remember to pack for long road trips?
Well, of course, a computer and just some, like, very comfy, comfy shorts and nice T-shirts and sweatshirts, so you feel good in the hotel.
Why the computer?
Well, you stay a lot in your room, so [there’s] Netflix if you want to watch TV shows and movies. And in my case, there’s lots of Facetime and Skype back home [to Finland], so it’s nice to have a computer with me to do all that kind of stuff.
What do you watch on Netflix?
Usually I use Netflix if there’s an Internet connection. Sometimes you just have to download something from iTunes or somewhere else. Usually, I watch more easygoing shows like ‘How I Met Your Mother’ and that kind of stuff, so you don’t have to concentrate too much. You just have your phone in your hand and the show is just on there. Sometimes it’s like ‘Family Guy’ or ‘Breaking Bad’ and that kind of stuff … of course ‘Breaking Bad’ is a little bit different than those other two. Usually it’s just some easygoing shows.
What are some things you miss the most?
Well, maybe some things at home, but not too much. The hotels are always like five stars and great places where we stay. The beds are usually really good. Maybe [you miss] just like hanging out at home and going out, because in the hotel you’re just, like, lying in the bed all day. That’s not too great.
Are the hotel beds better than your own?
[Laughs.] Sometimes.ANDREW SHAW
What would make the trip miserable for you if you forgot to bring it?
A lot of clean underwear. Toothbrush, maybe? Those are two good things to have. Also, an extra suit, just in case something happens to your go-to, I guess. You need a backup if you spill anything on it or it rips. We’ve seen it all.
Any electronics?
Just an iPad and a cellphone charger. Forgot my phone charger once, but that wasn’t too big of a deal. You can always borrow one of those. If I forgot my iPad, it wouldn’t be the end of the world. I lived without it before, so I figure I could probably do it again.
What do you miss while on the road?
A home-cooked meal probably. You’re always eating the same food all the time pretty much, and you kind of get sick of it. Pregame meals, you’re kind of eating the same thing. I just like having a nice home-cooked meal. My favorite is pork chops, mashed potatoes, asparagus … and a salad.
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Brian Hedger is a RedEye special contributor. @brianhedger