Former Winterhawk Marian Hossa Wins Third Stanley Cup
By: Lesley Dawson
The Chicago Blackhawks cemented their place in hockey history with last night’s Game 6 shutout over the Tampa Bay Lightning for their third Stanley Cup in the past six years.
Now former Winterhawk Marian Hossa can say he has been a part of all three victories in this Blackhawks dynasty.
After reaching consecutive Finals with Pittsburgh (2008) and Detroit (2009) but falling short, Hossa signed with the Blackhawks as a free agent in 2009, and within six short years of that signing will now have his name etched on the Stanley Cup for the third time.
“It’s unreal,” Marian Hossa told media following last night’s win. “I was hoping to get one, coming to Chicago, and now I’ve got three. What a feeling and what a great group of guys.”
Hossa was a linchpin in that “great group of guys” as one of the top-producing Blackhawks throughout the playoffs.
He finished fourth in team scoring behind Patrick Kane, Duncan Keith, and Jonathan Toews, with 17 points in 23 games en route to the Stanley Cup victory. With four points in the six-game Final against Tampa Bay alone, Hossa now has career totals of 144 points in 194 postseason games.
When asked about Hossa’s impact on and off the ice, the praise from players and coaching staff is endless as the veteran increases his potential for Hall of Fame candidacy with each passing season.
“The ultimate hockey player, the ultimate teammate, the ultimate human being,” said teammate Patrick Kane in a media session between Stanley Cup Final matchups. “He’s got everything.”
Fellow Blackhawks center Brad Richards extolled Hossa’s prowess as a two-way player.
“Until I got here, I didn’t realize how good he is all around, on the puck, defensively, what a force he is in every zone,” Richards told NHL.com. “That’s why he’s been to five [Cup] Finals in his career. It’s crazy.”
Likewise, Head Coach Joel Quenneville believes that Hall of Fame status is likely for Hossa, who has six years left in his contract with Chicago.
“The way he competes, the way he plays both sides of the puck, I don’t think there’s been a player as consistent. I think he’s the whole package,” Quenneville told NHL.com.
Even with the Hall of Fame talk, Hossa kept his eyes locked on the final prize as last night marked the first time in more than 70 years that the Blackhawks won the ultimate contest in hockey on home ice.
“To win at home, that’s what we wanted,” said Hossa, whose three Stanley Cups trail only Mark Messier’s six among former Winterhawks. “We had a big challenge in front of us before this game and we definitely wanted to do it at home, in front of our fans. It was huge.”
