The road to Stanley now runs down Madison Street

The Chicago Blackhawks ended a 49 year drought on Wednesday evening, with a 4-3 overtime victory over the Philadelphia Flyers, winning the Stanley Cup four games to two on Patrick Kane's shot which took a few moments to register with all at the Wachovia Centre.

The Hawks battled off a hard pressing Flyers squad which had sent the game into overtime in the third and came within inches of sending the series to a game seven showdown back in Chicago.

As things turn out the only flight plan being booked is that of the Hawks charter jet expected in Chicago in the early hours of Thursday morning, with what should be a rather wild celebration to come on Friday morning through the streets of Chicago.    

Chicago Tribune-- Hawks beat Flyers to win Stanley Cup
Chicago Tribune-- Date with destiny: Hawks hoist Stanley Cup
Chicago Tribune-- One goal. Check
Chicago Tribune-- Stanley Cup gratification: Rocky Wirtz remembers
Chicago Sun Times-- Blackhawks bring Stanley Cup back to Chicago
Chicago Sun Times-- Blackhawks beat Flyers in OT to win Stanley Cup
Chicago Sun Times-- Chicago to celebrate Blackhawks' Stanley Cup win on Friday
Chicago Sun Times-- A jubilant city reacts to Cup win
Philadelphia Inquirer-- Hawks trip Flyers, 4-3, in OT to win Cup
Philadelphia Inquirer-- Valiant Flyers made Chicago earn Stanley Cup
Philadelphia Inquirer-- The Flyers faithful did all they could
Philadelphia Daily News-- Flyers finally fall

It's a bird, it's a plane, it's Ron McLean!

Some folks it seems really do take that slogan of the City of Brotherly love to heart!

The bye day in the Stanley Cup play-offs didn't provide much in the way of down time for CBC Hockey Night in Canada host Ron McLean.

The counter foil to Don Cherry's intermission thoughts found himself part of a drama playing out on the Deleware River close to a restaurant that he and Cherry had chosen for dinner.

As they were settling in for their meal, a distraught woman ran into the restaurant to seek assistance for a man who had apparently thrown himself into the river. Like a modern day Captain Canuck, McLean was quick to the river side to lend a hand, in his case using a rope from the restaurant to help another man who had already arrived to render assistance  haul the man in.

As the story first broke across these tubes of information, the story was that McLean had jumped into the river to attempt to save the man, once all the excitement had died down he was quick to correct the official record, crediting the man who dove into the river with the recognition deserved for such a heroic act.

Still for McLean some credit no doubt is due as well, rushing out into a situation of which he knew nothing about does take a certain amount of courage and his assistance was most likely welcome in a very tense and possibly dangerous situation.

Needless to say, the fable of Ron McLean is growing across the internet, a dash of Canadianna that perhaps one day will join the ranks of Bill Barilko in a Tragically Hip ballad or maybe as a Stompin' Tom feature.

Globe and Mail-- Ron MacLean helps rescue man from river
Toronto Star-- Sportscaster Ron MacLean helps rescue man from river
CBC-- Ron MacLean springs to river rescue

  

Headlines of June 2010

Tacking the stories of the day for June.

June 17-- Habs trade Halak to Blues
June 16-- NHL expansion in Europe a long way off, Burke says
June 15-- NHL attendance dips by 2.5 per cent
June 14-- Leafs introduce Phaneuf as team captain
June 13-- 'Hawks the toast of Wrigley Field
June 12-- Hawks a model for rebuilding
June 11-- Chicago celebrates Stanley Cup win
June 10-- Hawks face contractual conundrums
June 9-- Hawks beat Flyers to win Stanley Cup
June 8-- Only winning NHL teams would thrive in Quebec City and Winnipeg, experts say
June 7-- Stanley Cup finals ratings all good news
June 6-- Hawks regain Stanley Cup swagger
June 5-- Blackhawks hanging by a claw
June 4-- Flyers pull level with Hawks
June 3-- Ron MacLean helps rescue man from river
June 2-- Flyers skated like their boots were on fire
June 1-- Flyers have been down this road before