Hard Times Chicago

Chicago Blackhawk fans have not been a fan of the team's owner. Its been a rough couple of years to be a Hawk's fan. Games were never televised, the team lost it's franchise players and an owner that was more about save a dime than making the team competitive. That may all change with the passing of William Wirtz, the Blackhawk's long time owner.

As much as the fans may have had less than a pretty word for the owner, Wirtz did help to shape the league we know today:

Wirtz served as Chairman of the Board of Governors of the National Hockey League for 18 years and was responsible for negotiating the merger between the NHL and the World Hockey Association in the late 1970’s as well the expansion of the league.

Wirtz is survived by his wife, five children and seven grandchildren.