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Blackhawks star Connor Bedard opens up on his experience of playing ball hockey with young fans at new Chicago rink
Chicago Blackhawks phenom Connor Bedard brought joy to young hockey fans on Monday by playing ball hockey with them at a new Chicago rink.
The 19-year-old star center, selected first overall in the 2023 NHL Draft, joined the Blackhawks, NHL and the local Boys & Girls Club to inaugurate the outdoor rink, a legacy project connected to the 2025 NHL Winter Classic coming to Chicago.
Over 100 students from nearby Boys & Girls Club attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony before hitting the rink with Bedard for some friendly ball hockey games. Despite the winter chill, their excitement was palpable as they got to share the ice with a budding NHL superstar.
"Yeah, guys are locking me up and stuff like that," Bedard said, referring to the young players swarming him on the ball hockey rink.
"It's a lot of fun and seeing the smiles on their faces and how much they're enjoying it and learning the game. It's great."
The NHL Legacy initiative aims to give back to host communities of major NHL events like the Winter Classic. Since starting the program in 2003, the League has donated over $8 million towards projects benefiting hospital patients, underprivileged youth and hockey access.
"I remember coming here last year and seeing them, their excitement toward hockey and this is where we want to grow the game. For them to get this court here is really nice and they're having a lot of fun, so that's what it's all about."
The outdoor game between the Blackhawks and rival St. Louis Blues on December 31 will be part of a weeklong hockey festival organized by the League.
Blackhawks president of business operations Jaime Faulkner on new Chicago rink
Jaime Faulkner, the president of business operations for the Chicago Blackhawks, expressed the organization's deep ties to the west side of the city and their excitement over the new all-weather ball hockey rink that was recently unveiled.
"We work here, we play games here, we also have a lot of employees and their families that live here, including part of our ownership," Faulkner said."So, it means a lot to be invested here and to see these projects come to life from our partnerships is awesome."
Faulkner emphasized the versatility of the new rink, stating that it will be available for year-round use.
"Grab a basketball, grab a stick, grab a soccer ball or just play tag," she said. "You can do whatever you want."
In addition to the new rink, the Blackhawks and the NHL have also gifted 200 free tickets to community organizations across Chicago to attend the upcoming Winter Classic game at Wrigley Field on New Year's Eve.
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