Sharks GM Doug Wilson Celebrates With Chicago

That's right - before the puck even dropped Doug was out during the pre-game ceremony where the Blackhawks recognized Hall of Famers Bobby Hull and Stan Mikita, probably the biggest players in the team's history.

Bobby Hull is the Blackhawks' career goals leader with 604, while Stan Mikita holds team records for career points (1,467), assists (926) and games played (1,394). Both starred with the Blackhawks in the 1960s and into the 1970s, and played for Chicago's last Stanley Cup winning team, in 1961.

Why was Doug Wilson part of this show - Well he did play 14 seasons with the Blackhawks and he still holds the team career records for goals and assists by a defenseman. Doug played for the Blackhawks from 1977 - 1993 ... in that time he played 938 games with 225 goals, 554 assists which gave him 779 points ... if you think about that he averaged .83 goals per game. In the '81/'82 season Doug brought home the James Norris Memorial Trophy which is given to the NHL's Top Defensive player "who demonstrates throughout the season the greatest all-round ability in the position."

Doug then went to skate for the Sharks for 2 years before picking up a coaching gig. Another top 10 player from the Blackhawks is also a Shark now - Jeremy Roenick with 596 points coming from 267 goals and 329 assists in 524 games (that averages out to an impressive 1.14 goals per game) Jeremy played for the Blackhawks from 1988 - 1996.

To watch these players and coaches show their love for the sport they excel in is inspiring, to say the least. I don't know of any other sport where the opposing coach would join the home team in celebrating their greatest achievements and cheer loudly. The players and coaches in the NHL show everyone in the sporting world that there is such thing as "love for a sport" ... and for this, I love Hockey!