Hockey Hall of Famer featured at 'Blackhawks Night'

GRIFFITH | It was a long and icy road traveled, but former Chicago Blackhawks player and coach Denis Savard and his wife, Mona, are finally United States citizens.

"It was a two-year process, but six months ago it became official," said Savard, a Burr Ridge resident and Pointe-Gatineau, Quebec native. "Our daughter (Tanya, an aspiring filmmaker) was born here, so she was already a citizen.

"Now, we're all citizens."

Still, Savard hasn't lost the taste for his favorite north-of-the-border beer: Molson Canadian, which thankfully was in stock during his "Blackhawks Night" appearance Nov. 10 at Bridges' Scoreboard Restaurant and Sports Bar in Griffith.

"This is my first time (at Bridges') but I know this area has a lot of great hockey fans," Savard said. "The Blackhawks have always had a solid fan base, but when I played we were always No. 3 or even No. 4 among the Chicago sports teams. We seemed to have moved up a little since then."

Winning the Stanley Cup in 2010 may have contributed to that. Likewise for televised home games.

"(Blackhawks president) John McDonough has helped give a lot more fans a chance to see a good product," Savard said.

A nimble skater with uncanny grace and agility, Savard scored some of the most spectacular goals in NHL history, often using his "Spin-o-rama" where he would perform a complete 360 while controlling the puck before shooting it past an addled goalie.

Playing most of his career with the Blackhawks, Savard recorded 1,338 points while scoring 473 goals. In 2000, he was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.

He later became the Blackhawks' head coach on an interim basis when Trent Yawney was fired midway through the 2006-07 season. Savard remained at the post through the next season before being fired four games into the 2008-09 season and replaced by current Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville.

"I have none whatsoever," Savard said when asked about any desires to return to coaching. "I don't miss the 12- to 14-hour days that goes into it. It takes a lot out of you.

"Being an ambassador (for the Blackhawks) is something I really enjoy. It gives me a chance to meet all these great fans."

One of the first fans Savard met at Bridges' was Fred James of Hobart, who, like Savard, is a regional transplant himself.

"I'm from the West Coast, but when I came here in 1969, I just fell in love with the game," said James, who brought nearly a locker room of hockey equipment for Savard to sign. "I went on to play four years in an industrial league.

"I haven't played in a while, but I'm still a big hockey fan ... a big Blackhawks fan."