The Cat Part 2 #meow #purr

Jess Briggs1 Comment

Welcome back to Slapshot Stories!  This week, I am going to do a continuation of a post from last semester, focusing on former Erie Otter Alex DeBrincat.  Last time, I had updates on Alex’s first few games in the NHL as a Chicago Blackhawk.  This time around, we are going to focus on the accolades he has collected throughout the season and how he is shaping up to be the future of the Blackhawks organization.

As only a rookie, DeBrincat has already made his mark on the score sheets for Chicago.  At this point in the season, Alex is 4th overall in total points on the team, 5th in assists, and tied for first in most games played and goals scored.  This is a remarkable feat for any rookie, but the fact that it is DeBrincat makes it all the more special.  Just a reminder, this is all from the same kid who many people though was too short and small to play at any level above junior hockey.  Watching him prove all of these critics wrong has been my favorite thing to do throughout this past hockey season.

Another testament to his greatness have been his hat tricks this season.  So far, he has tallied 3 separate hat tricks, or games where he has scored three goals. This is an amazing feat in today’s NHL, especially for a rookie.  He is one of only two rookies in the last twenty five years to accomplish this.  In fact, only seven players this season have recorded multiple hat tricks.  If there is anything that serves as a defense of his natural goal scoring ability, it is this.

In addition to this, Alex managed to become the youngest Blackhawks player ever be named Player of the Year at the Blackhawks Alumni Scholarship Luncheon.  Many of the current stars of the team are former winners of this award, including Patrick Kane.

Alex DeBrincat has been one of the bright spots on a team that has had a very rough year compared to what they are used to.  For the first time in ten years, the Blackhawks have missed the Stanley Cup playoffs and will not have chance to make a run for the championship.  But many have seen Alex’s breakout year as a good sign for the future and a key spot to build off of.  Not bad for a kid who is too small to ever make it, huh?

All in all, when I see DeBrincat doing good things I can’t help but feel like a proud mom.  Alex is like my baby.  He is the first player to pass through the Erie Otters from start to finish during my time of intense fandom who I connected with and has gone on to become successful in the NHL.  It may be because of our same number bond (12 for the win) or because I like to root for the underdog (this is fake, he was never actually an underdog.  He may be small but he is fierce.), but I am very attached to Alex DeBrincat.  He has even caused me to almost entirely shift my favorite NHL team from my family team to the Blackhawks.  I am extremely proud of how he has done and how he is representing Erie, and have no doubt he will continue to do so for a long, long time.

And once again, I would like to give a HUGE shout out to the Blackhawks social media guy.  He also seems bonded to my boy, and all of the media really makes my day.

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