Zach Jarom: How I Fell in Love With Hockey and The Hawks

Zach Jarom: How I Fell in Love With Hockey and The Hawks
- Zach Jarom

Good heartwarming article Zach. Thanks for sharing your memories.

From a Bamford article, some upcoming dates.

September 11 - Rookie camp opens
September 13 & 14 - Tom Kurvers Showcase
September 18 - Training camp opens
September 25 - 1st pre-season came against the Wings

Thanks Zach, nice story and sorry about your loss. I fell in love with hockey playing on frozen basketball courts and the North Branch of the Chicago River in the 1960’s. I grew up with a single mom, so never really got to play in any rinks, but I’d play after school and on weekends all winter long for hours at a time. I stayed out late on school nights playing with the older kids while my mom worked a second job, it probably kept me out of trouble growing up in the big city.

A beautiful reveal - thanks for bringing us closer with your story.

Never apologize for your love of the sport and the stories behind it. Thank you for sharing.

Thanks for sharing Zach.

I got interested in hockey through my uncle. Rumor has it (I never bothered to confirm it) that my uncle bet my dad that he could get me to like the Hawks more than the Bears in 1985. He took me to a game in the old stadium and that was it. At the time I was a huge Bears fan since my dad was. Going to a Hawks game back then was crazy fun. I remember being scared to stand up from my seat because the rows were so steep, my shoes sticking to the stairs from all of the spilled beer, and soda and fights in the stands (probably didn't hurt that he took me to a game against Detroit).

These days, I'm pretty much all hockey. Moving to CA kind of ruined me on football (not to mention the Bears have sucked for so long it makes you lose interest). You can golf, hike, ski or go to the beach pretty much year round. Couple that with the fact that IMO no one really cares about pro football in CA. It's all about USC/UCLA. If one of the pro teams are really good, people show up, but in general, the pro game doesn't really matter out there.

Thanks for sharing Zach, losing someone you love is so hard.

I was a huge Bears, Cubs baseball fan when i was kid, my first interest in hockey came from team usa in 1980. I was still in grade school watching them win the gold medal. I started watching more and more hockey after that, predominately the Blackhawks. It's weird how over the years my passion for hockey grows and baseball now is more of an afterthought.

Thanks for sharing Zach, may your fathers memory be a blessing.

I guess I was born to love hockey (and Cubs baseball for that matter). My parents (both and older sister) were Blackhawks fans. In fact my parents used to date in the 30's going to see the Hawk's at the Stadium (by street car of course) and sitting in the second balcony. My dad by the mid-60's had season tickets, and I used to go to the Sunday games (Wednesdays were school nights so unless a special occasion that was out). sitting in the Mezzanine section,

Anyway's my Dad always wanting me to find my own way, never pushed me to go play, until I was 11 and I said I wanted to play, not just watch hockey. He enrolled me into a learn to play hockey program at Rainbo arena, and never looked back.

Great read. Thanks for sharing.

Fun exercise. As you mentioned, it's very premature and there are so many unknowns. You're AA projection was interesting. Is it that low because you don't he'll play that many games with the Hawks, or because you think that's just what he is now?

Personally, I think our D-men production is going to be much better this year. I think Jones gets back to double digits this season, and I think Vlasic is going to put a few more on the board too. He was so frustrated that he couldn't bury any of his breakaways last year, I'm thinking he's working on an improved shot.
- Chunk

Just following up from last blog. My take of AA is that he will spend some time in the dog house again and won't get the opportunity he got with in 22/23. He was hugely disappointing last season and I just don't see it changing IMO. I don't think he will stick in the top 6, I expect he will kick around the bottom 6 more so and probably will end up injured again. That's just my 2 cents.

Thanks for sharing Zach. I am glad you got to enjoy hockey with your Dad. Sports are such a huge medium for bridging the gap between generations, no matter the sport. It's usually our parents that set us on the path to love the game/sport. It's not always easy to share such personal memories and feelings, so thanks for taking time to put yourself out there to the world. Let's hope for an enjoyable Blackhawks season!

Great blog, Zach. Prayers for you and your family, now more than ever.

Cool hockey stories too. Glad you were able to enjoy the game as much as you have.

I remember saving money to buy a radio to listen to 'Hawks games. (Being in Springfield, IL...also listened to Blues games. As much as I dislike the Blues, Dan Kelly sure could call a game, 1970's...)

Then, they built a rink walking distance from my house. I remember getting real good at paid chores to afford skating sessions and then finally, house league fees. It's as far as I got but I still love the game.

But I love the Blackhawks much more.

I was skating at 3, I began playing hockey at 5. My Dad took me to countless games at Maple Leaf Gardens to see the Leafs. Then on Christmas Day when I was 6 my Leaf hating Uncle came for dinner and my gift from him was a Blackhawk sweater and tickets to a Leaf Blackhawk game. I was instantly brainwashed. Then at the game a few weeks later my Dad took me to the back of the Gardens on Wood Street where the Hawk’s team bus was parked so I could get some autographs. I got Doug Mohns, Louis Angotti, Chico Maki, Eric Nesterenko, Pat Stapleton and Bobby Hull was signing for a lineup of kids and the guys were calling Hull to get on the bus so my Dad said we should go. Hull heard him and said he won’t leave until everybody that wanted his autograph got one. All the players just signed their name, Hull signed something like, Paul keep your head up and your stick on the ice. Bobby Hull. I have no idea where that sheet of paper or where my full collection of 1966 opeechee hockey cards wound up? My conversion to a Blackhawk fan broke my old man’s heart.

It's been fun reading everyone's stories about how they became Hawks fans.

Nothing special from me. I started watching the away games on WGN television in the early to mid 60's, the Hull, Mikita, Hall, Pilote, Wharram era. It always amazed me that those teams never won more than 1 Cup in that decade, especially given the fact they only had to win 2 series back then. But the Leafs and Canadiens were juggernauts during that time.

If I remember, home games weren't even on the radio for a time. I recall tuning into the CBC stations out of Montreal and Toronto (decent reception on those cold clear winter nights) for some Sunday night home games against those teams, usually the second game of back to backs after the Hawks played in Canada on Saturday night. Then Arthur Wirtz finally allowed WGN radio to broadcast home games, not even the whole game since the airing began at 8:15, just in time for Lloyd Petit to recap the 1st period. Sometimes we got bonus coverage of the last few minutes of the 1st if there was a big fight or injury that delayed the game.

Thank you for sharing, Zach. Same here, my love is hockey is from my Dad. To my Dad's horror, I was a Marino and Dolphins fan, and through forcing me to watch/listen to games and bribery with GI Joes and Transformers, I became a super fan. My Dad oddly pulled me out of school to see a Hawks/Nordiques matinee at the Stadium sometime in the late 80's and then I was really hooked. Tough growing up during the Bulls era as all my HS friends didn't care about hockey or the Hawks. Now we disagree about family matters, politics, finances, etc, but the Hawks always bring us back together.

My Dad was a huge Cub fan because his dad was. He had season tickets to the Bears for twenty years but he wasn't much of a hockey fan so I don't know how I became obsessed with the Hawks. We had a small black and white in the basement and you couldn't pry me away from it when the Hawks were on. I would listen to away games under the covers with my transistor radio after bedtime. We used to stop and play at the park after school and one day in 1967, my dad was waiting for me with a pair of Blackhawk tickets. I saw Bobby Hull score and my life was complete. Thanks Dad.

My Dad was a huge Cub fan because his dad was. He had season tickets to the Bears for twenty years but he wasn't much of a hockey fan so I don't know how I became obsessed with the Hawks. We had a small black and white in the basement and you couldn't pry me away from it when the Hawks were on. I would listen to away games under the covers with my transistor radio after bedtime. We used to stop and play at the park after school and one day in 1967, my dad was waiting for me with a pair of Blackhawk tickets. I saw Bobby Hull score and my life was complete. Thanks Dad.
- bjphawkfan

I also remember when the radio broadcast started at 8:15. I also remember going to the Ritz theater {which Wirtz owned} to see a home game broadcast of the screen. Loved Lloyd Petit!

I fell in love with hockey when I was about 5 or 6 year old kid. Just loved the game and all aspect of it. In Finland we didn´t get to see a lot of NHL games from tv back in 80´s but when Jari Kurri, Reijo Ruotsalainen and Esa Tikkanen played for Edmonton Oilers they showed some Stanley Cup finals. So Oilers was my first favorite team and Gretzky&Kurri where my idols back then.

There was a short period (about 1990-91) when I rooted for Montreal Canadiens and only because their jerseys and players names looked and sounded cool. After that I had to chance to visit Chicago and when I knew I was going there I started to find more info about the Hawks. It was about May to July´92 when I stayed near by Chicago and both Blackhawks and Bulls were in finals. I was able to see a lot of Hawks regular season games from tv and fell in love with J.R´s game. He was so electric and fun to watch. There were never a dull moment when he was on ice. Since then I´ve been following closely everything involving Blackhawks. There have been some up and downs but I´m really grateful that I was able to witness the golden era of this organisation. There won´t be another era like that ever.

Had the transistor under the covers with the single ear wired ear phone so my parents thought i was sleeping.

Hawks always played home on Sunday nights then right? Had to be in bed early because of school the next morning. Remember them losing 6-5 on a real late goal to Boston and being pissed an not being able to go to sleep. Guessing it had to be sometime around 1972-74.

My earliest memory is listening to the Hawks on the Ole transister back in the late 70s or early 80s. Please feel free to correct my post or advise on the year. I always recall the team/year with Savard, larmer as a rookie I believe and good ole #20 (Secord) and that line seemed to be on fire all year. Foley was so good in those days. Does anyone remember the year or that team? Wilson on D. Lysiak, Sutter....foggy memory, but thats what i recall and how i fell in Love with the Hawks.

Cool read, Zach...... Sounds like you were one of the kids who had the coolest dad around. I was too and it really is a blessing.

How did I get into hockey and the Hawks? Same way I got into hoops, football and baseball. As a kid growing up in the 70's you played the sport that was in season, so hockey fell right in line.

But, as you grow older hockey will grab onto you much the way baseball can. Helluva sport.

I was skating at 3, I began playing hockey at 5. My Dad took me to countless games at Maple Leaf Gardens to see the Leafs. Then on Christmas Day when I was 6 my Leaf hating Uncle came for dinner and my gift from him was a Blackhawk sweater and tickets to a Leaf Blackhawk game. I was instantly brainwashed. Then at the game a few weeks later my Dad took me to the back of the Gardens on Wood Street where the Hawk’s team bus was parked so I could get some autographs. I got Doug Mohns, Louis Angotti, Chico Maki, Eric Nesterenko, Pat Stapleton and Bobby Hull was signing for a lineup of kids and the guys were calling Hull to get on the bus so my Dad said we should go. Hull heard him and said he won’t leave until everybody that wanted his autograph got one. All the players just signed their name, Hull signed something like, Paul keep your head up and your stick on the ice. Bobby Hull. I have no idea where that sheet of paper or where my full collection of 1966 opeechee hockey cards wound up? My conversion to a Blackhawk fan broke my old man’s heart.
- paulr

Nothing like home and home games between the Leafs and the Hawks. Saturday night at the Gardens and Sunday night back at the Stadium in Chicago. After the Saturday night game both teams would board the train back to the Windy City.

No TV of the game in Chicago, radio only broadcast with Foster Hewitt. Every game there he would say 'they have announced the attendance as 16,666 but I guarantee it is nothing less than 20,000". No better place to see a game than the old Chicago Stadium.

Like many Canadians I grew up on Hockey Night in Canada. That plus my Grandmother sharing stories of old time hockey got me hooked.

I grew up in a city that doesn't have an NHL caliber team (Toronto) so I became a Blackhawks fan.

Nothing like home and home games between the Leafs and the Hawks. Saturday night at the Gardens and Sunday night back at the Stadium in Chicago. After the Saturday night game both teams would board the train back to the Windy City.

No TV of the game in Chicago, radio only broadcast with Foster Hewitt. Every game there he would say 'they have announced the attendance as 16,666 but I guarantee it is nothing less than 20,000". No better place to see a game than the old Chicago Stadium.
- RickJ

I remember listening to Chicago games on the radio as a kid growing up in the GTA. If the weather was calm enough and the radio was placed just right I could get the Blackhawks broadcast.