Pastry School Creates 100-Pound Blackhawks Chocolate Stanley Cup

As you all know Chicago Blackhawks won the Stanley Cup, but they don’t just have one trophy… Courtesy of Chicago’s French Pastry School, the Chicago Blackhawks have received a 6 FOOT, 100-POUND chocolate Stanley Cup.

To celebrate the #Blackhawks win, our chefs created a chocolate #StanleyCup! See it Fri. @ #BlackhawksFanConvention http://t.co/VCSCQ17lMH—
French Pastry School (@PastrySchool) July 16, 2015

“It’s made from pure Cacao Berry couverture and took about 150 hours to create before being shown off at the Blackhawks owner Rocky Wirtz’s private party.”

There is nothing better than having two trophies, right!? (Especially when one is made of chocolate!)  It looks like the Blackhawks got their cake and ate it too! 😉

-Briana 

The Name of the Game is the Hall of Fame- Seven Inducted to NHL HOF

“Standing in the Hall of Fame, and the world’s gonna know your name.”

– “Hall of Fame” by The Script.

Seven new NHL players will be standing in the Hall of Fame, and if you didn’t know their names before, you will now. They will be honored at an enshrinement ceremony on November 9th in Toronto.

The 2015 HOF inductees include:

SERGEI FEDOROV

During the 1900’s – 2000’s, Fedorov was considered to be one of the best hockey players in the world. He spent the majority of his career with the Detroit Red Wings where he was a three-time Stanley Cup Champion. He had small stints with the Ducks, Blue Jackets and Capitals. In 1994, he won the Hart Memorial Trophy (MVP of the season). In 1,248 games he scored 483 goals.

Three must be his lucky number because he is a three-time Olympian as well. Fedorov is considered one of the best playoff performers in history.

Fun fact: He was married to Anna Kournikova for two years.

PHIL HOUSLEY

I don’t think Housley ever wanted to stop playing hockey! Or at least play until he won a Stanley Cup. He has played more NHL games without winning the Cup than any other NHL player in history (23 seasons and 1,495 games). He made one Cup appearance with the Capitals, but the Capitals were swept by the Detroit Red Wings. Bummer.

Housley is the second leading scorer amongst U.S. born players with 1,232 goals. In 2007, he was inducted into the Buffalo Sabres HOF and he is currently an assistant coach for the Nashville Predators. Housley, you may not have won the Cup, but you’re going to the Hall of Fame! 

NICKLAS LIDSTROM

Nicklas Lidstrom aka “Mr. Perfect,” played 20 seasons in the NHL – all for the Detroit Red Wings. He is considered the greatest defenseman of all time. He has some awards to back that statement up.

He has four Stanley Cup wins, seven James Norris Memorial Trophies (awarded to the best defenceman), one Playoff MVP in 2002 and has played in 12 NHL All-Star games.

Basically he’s a boss.

Fun fact: Lidstrom and Fedorov played on the Red Wings together when they won the Stanley Cup in 2002.

CHRIS PRONGER

Well here is an interesting guy.

For starters, Pronger is not officially retired, he is under contract with the Arizona Coyotes. However, he has not played a game since 2011 due to concussions from hits. One hit was so bad he actually suffers from vision impairment. Yeah. He took a hockey stick straight to the eyeballs. YIKES.

Not to forget mentioning, Pronger is also known as one of the most dirty players. He was even suspended eight games for stomping on a players leg. Cough, BAD. Cough, ASS. What?! Hockey IS a contact sport, and isn’t that why we all love it?!

Pronger was awarded the MVP for the 1999-2000 season and has been to the Stanley Cup finals with the Edmonton Oilers, Anaheim Ducks and the Philadelphia Flyers. He won the Cup in 2007 with the Ducks. He also is a two-time Olympic Gold Medal winner.

ANGELA RUGGIERO

Yes, Angela. Yes, a FEMALE.

SHE is the fourth woman to be inducted to the HOF. She was a member of the United States Women’s National Hockey Team, where she won a gold medal in the Winter Olympics. Not to mention, she has three other Olympic medals.

Actually, she is one of five hockey players to compete in four Olympic games. You can also check her out on EA Sports NHL ‘13. You go girl!

BILL HAY

Bill Hay is being inducted in the NHL HOF under Builder.

“The Hall of Fame defines a Builder as an individual who has contributed to the development of the game of hockey, moving the game forward.” 

He played all eight seasons with the Chicago Blackhawks. In 1960, he received the “Rookie of the Year” award and in 1961, he came back to Chicago and brought the city a Stanley Cup!

Fun Fact: He will be joining his dad, Charles Hay, in the HOF.

PETER KARMANOS JR.

Karmanos Jr. is the majority owner of the Carolina Hurricanes. He is being inducted in the NHL HOF under the category of Builder also. Karmanos has made an impact on the OHL, the ECHL and the NHL. He established the Compuware Youth Program in the 1970’s and boy did he build from that! From that program there has been 15 national Championships, 34 state Championships, 235 Division I scholarship hockey players and 14 NHL first round draft picks.

What an honor it is to be inducted into such an elite group of athletes and we’re happy to see  female made it into the bunch this year as well! Congratulations to all!

– Paige

Yeah, They’re a Dynasty- Blackhawks Win Third Stanley Cup

Monday night the Chicago Blackhawks won their third Stanley Cup since 2010 beating the Tampa Bay Lightning 2-0 and winning the series 4-2.

Although this was their third Stanley Cup in the last six seasons, it was the first time since 1938 the Blackhawks were able to win the cup on their home ice in the windy city. Duncan Keith raised the Conn Smythe Trophy for playoff MVP recording 21 points and a playoff high 18 assists.

It was revealed that Ben Bishop, the goalie for the Tampa Bay Lightning had a torn groin, which he suffered in Game 2. Bishop was able to play through the injury for Game 3, sat Game 4 and then came back for the remainder of the series. Tyler Johnson, the centerpiece of the Lightning’s “triplet” line also revealed that he was playing with a broken wrist.

Blackhawks Captain Jonathan Toews, Photo: USA Today

The series between the Chicago Blackhawks and the Tampa Bay Lightning was extremely close. During the first five games of the series no team went ahead by more than one goal, until Patrick Kane scored his first goal of the series with a 5:14 left to play in the third period.

The Blackhawks became the first team since the 2002 Detroit Red Wings to win three Stanley Cups in six years. The Red Wings won in 1997, 1998 and 2002. With this Stanley Cup victory, the Blackhawks were able to solidify themselves as a dynasty in the NHL for the better part of a decade.

What’s scary about this Blackhawks team is that they are still young and have the potential to dominate the league for years to come. Their roster only contains four players over the age of 35 and both star players Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews are both under 30 years old. It should be interesting to see how the Blackhawks shape their team for next season following salary cap negotiations this off-season.

– Morgan

Because it’s the CUP! Stanley Cup Preview

You know how I know our editor loves me?

She asks me to write the piece for the Stanley Cup preview when my team just got brutally slain in Game 7 by the Blackhawks. But hey, we do it for the love of the game now don’t we…

The Tampa Bay Lightning are coming off a series win over the New York Rangers to clench their spot in the finals. They will face the Chicago Blackhawks in the battle for the Cup.

The trail for both teams to get to the finals has not been easy. In round one, the Lightning took down the Detroit Redwings in seven games, while the Blackhawks eliminated the Nashville Predators in six. In round two, the Lightning sent the Montreal Canadiens packing and the Hawks swept the Minnesota Wild. In round three, the Lightning shut out the Rangers in Game 7 to clench the series, while the Blackhawks came to Anaheim and sent us all home crying (and spewing expletives), while murdering us 5-2. This is the first time since 2000 that both conference finals needed a Game 7.

The goaltending will be the game changer, literally. The Blackhawks have one of the most experienced teams in the NHL and their goaltender Corey Crawford is in control. With a .919 save percentage in the playoffs, his goaltending is definitely better than adequate. He is expected to come out rested and ready after a star performance against the Ducks in Game 7. Ben Bishop, the goaltender for the Lightning is right around Crawford with a .920 save percentage in the playoffs this season. Although his save percentage practically mimics Crawford’s, Bishop has given up at least three goals or more in six playoff games. Scary, right?

The offenses of these two teams are immensely skilled while showing off their fancy footwork. In
other words, these guys are freaky fast on the ice. Captain Steven Stamkos one of the Lightning’s elite, has proven his strength leading the last 20 games with seven goals and 10 assists. Although his stats are impressive, he lacks in experience. This will be his first cup final.

Duncan Keith has been a standout for Blackhawks with two goals and 16 assists and he works hand in hand with captain Jonathan Toews who has nine goals and nine assists in the playoffs this season. Are you pucking serious, Toews? You’re a beast.

This series for the cup is stacked with talent, speed and sheer athleticism. Personally, due to experience, I’m putting my money on the Hawks and they’ll take it in six games. I don’t like you Chicago, but I have to respect your dynasty.

Here’s a schedule of the series:

Game 1: Wednesday 6/3 Chicago @ Tampa Bay 8 PM EST

Game 2: Saturday 6/6 Chicago @ Tampa Bay 7:15 PM EST

Game 3: Monday 6/8 Tampa Bay @ Chicago 8 PM EST

Game 4: Wednesday 6/10 Tampa Bay @ Chicago 8 PM EST

Game 5: Saturday 6/13 Chicago @ Tampa Bay 8 PM EST

Game 6: Monday 6/15 Tampa Bay @ Chicago 8 PM EST

Game 7: Wednesday 6/17 Chicago at Tampa Bay 8 PM EST

So fly Hawks fly?! Wait no, I just can’t. Looks like I’ll be drinking a lot of beers if I plan on rooting anybody on here. Cheers!

– Carly 

TB Lightning Shocks in Win over NY Rangers

That’s right ladies and gentlemen, we are one step closer to the STANLEY CUP. The outstanding New York Rangers have been knocked out in a 2-0 shutout by who other than the, Tampa Bay Lightning….?

I don’t know about you guys, but at the beginning of the season it seemed like these guys came out of nowhere. Because, well, they did.

Tampa Bay has only been to the playoffs eight times (five of those times being 10 years ago) and have won the Stanley Cup just once over ten years ago, but since the start of the season all they have done is prove to the world why they deserve to go.

In Game 2 against the Rangers, the Lightning was just that, LIGHTNING. Honestly, in the third period it started looking more like a rowdy baseball inning than a hockey game.

For Tampa Bay, Captain Steven Stamkos leads the way this season, with 43 goals. Keep in mind Stamkos tied the franchise record with his eighth hat trick against the Canadiens earlier this season as well.

However when it comes to clutch game time performance, Ondrej Palat takes the cake. I mean, the guy did score the final goal in the third period past Hendrik Lundqvist to secure their spot in the cup, which is not something easily done against the multi-cup winning team. The Rangers were 7-0 playing at home in a Game 7. Better make that 7-1. Ouch.

Now the Lightning may have secured their precious golden ticket to our beloved Stanley Cup, but either opponent they face in the cup is no stranger to the playoffs or winning the cup.

The explosive Chicago Blackhawks and the hard-hitting Anaheim Ducks face off in Game 7 Saturday night and whoever comes out hot will have to face the Cinderella team for the cup and we couldn’t be more excited. Either way, this Florida team is on a heater (no pun intended) and is about to face off with one of the best teams in hockey. Who knows, if this Cinderella team can knock out the elite NY Rangers, they just might be able to get the glass slipper over the Hawks or the Ducks.

But before that all takes place, all eyes will be on the sacred last game of playoffs leading up to the cup: Game 7, Blackhawks at Ducks.

The series has been neck in neck with these guys, but as long as Anaheim stays solid on their power play kill, they could be heading to the cup.

Imagine that: A sunny Southern California team and a sunny Southern Florida team facing off for the icy Stanley Cup?

This might be one of the first times the Stanley Cup rink will be full of fans in flip flops and t-shirts.

Western Conference Final Game Info:
Series tied 3-3, Game 7
Blackhawks vs. Ducks- Saturday May 30th @ 5:00 PM on NBC, CBC, TVA

– Courtney