Hockey in Chicago, 1960s, by Ken
From MemoryArchive
Who: Ken What: Rec hockey and the Blackhawks When: 1960s Where: Chicago, Ill.
As a kid growing up in suburban Chicago I didn’t have many opportunities to see professional sports although I followed all the teams in every season. I played a lot of sports in the neighborhood with my friends. We’d play baseball in the street in the summer and in the fall we’d go to the park a block away and we’d play football or basketball on the outdoor courts. In the winter the park would freeze a skating rink and that’s what I really liked.
I learned to skate at a very early age. I remember my dad taking us to the park where he taught us how to skate. I only remember going with him a few times but I know I’d go often on my own when I was 8 or 9 and skate all day and into the evening.
The snow would be plowed to form a rough circle and they’d open the fire hydrant on several cold nights to spray water until it froze. After a couple days the word would get around that the rink was ready for action!
Back in those days you didn’t have separate hockey rinks and everyone was crowded onto whatever ice surface could be found. Playing hockey back then meant chasing whoever had the puck on their stick until you could take it away and score between 2 snow mounds set at either end of the rink. Often you never knew who was on your team; it was more of a free for all.
The only equipment we had other than skates was a puck and hockey stick. As we got older we’d get hockey gloves and some basic shin guards that today would probably pass as soccer guards. As long as they could fit under your jeans they we fine.
Helmets – forget about it. Even in the NHL Stan Mikita was the only Blackhawk who wore a helmet so why would a kid wear one? Even most goalies back then didn’t wear helmets or masks!
This leads me to 2 of my most memorable experiences as a kid and both involved hockey. Neither is monumental but you never know what experience will stay in the recesses of you mind and rise to the surface at unexpected moments.
The first experience occurred late one afternoon in the middle of winter while playing a rag tag game of chase the puck. It was just starting to get dark and I remember rushing after another kid who had the puck and as I approach from behind him he wound up for a big shot and he mashed the side of my face with his back swing. On with the chase I went until I heard someone scream. Everyone around me stopped and was looking dumbfounded at me. Then someone said “Hey man! You’re bleeding!”
I felt nothing and when I touched the side of my face my fingers were full of blood. So I grabbed a handful of snow and put it up to corner of my left eye. I made my way to the park warming house that has a small concession stand. I remember looking into the mirror of one of the vending machines and I saw the blood running down from the corner of my eye staining my cheek and jacket. Pretty cool I thought!!
And just to top it off the guy who was refilling the candy machine gave me a ride home in his truck. My first and only set of stitches was sewn that evening and the glory continued at school for the next several days.
The second experience was the first professional hockey game I ever attended. Back in the ‘60s when I was a kid the NHL consisted of only 6 teams and the Blackhawks were usually in contention. My dad and I would watch games on TV and I still recall the animated Hamms beer commercials with the Hamms bear riding on puck that was shot across the ice.
Tickets were always out of reach for our family but when my dad asked if I’d like to see a game at the end of the ’66-‘67 season I couldn’t believe my ears! The Hawks had just clinched the regular season title and there were a few games left before the payoffs. Man this would be great!
The Blackhawks played in the old Chicago Stadium and making the trip from the northern suburbs to the West Side of Chicago was an experience in itself. I remember waiting for my dad to get the tickets from the ticket window and then we walked up endless flights of dark stairs until we emerged in the balcony and took our standing room only position at the end of the goal zone near the old pipe organ. No seats, just standing up against a cold steel railing around a hoard of fans smoking and spilling beer all over the place. I don’t remember who they played or what the score was but I know that was the best sporting event I ever recall seeing as a kid. Just the fact that I got to a game was the coolest thing for me and I got to see all those great players in person! Bobby Hull, Stan Mikita, Ken Wharram, Phil Esposito, Pierre Pilote, Glenn Hall, Eric Nesterenko. Those guys are still out there skating in my mind.
