Ben Pope
@benpopecst.bsky.social
Chicago Blackhawks beat reporter for the Sun-Times
An example of Ilya Mikheyev’s tireless penalty killing early this season:
October 22, 2025 at 6:22 PM
An example of Ilya Mikheyev’s tireless penalty killing early this season:
Ryan Greene has worked on winning more puck battles. Here’s a great example from Wednesday:
October 17, 2025 at 9:04 PM
Ryan Greene has worked on winning more puck battles. Here’s a great example from Wednesday:
An example of the Blackhawks in a diamond PK formation when the puck is up top:
September 27, 2025 at 5:53 AM
An example of the Blackhawks in a diamond PK formation when the puck is up top:
An example of Blackhawks’ base zone 5v5 defense under Jeff Blashill, with all five guys in the puck quadrant:
September 27, 2025 at 5:51 AM
An example of Blackhawks’ base zone 5v5 defense under Jeff Blashill, with all five guys in the puck quadrant:
Sam Rinzel shows off his speed on a solo rush last week against Colorado:
April 7, 2025 at 6:59 PM
Sam Rinzel shows off his speed on a solo rush last week against Colorado:
Impressive shift by Sam Rinzel against Pittsburgh:
April 7, 2025 at 6:57 PM
Impressive shift by Sam Rinzel against Pittsburgh:
Promising sequence from Oliver Moore #11 last night vs Colorado:
April 3, 2025 at 7:34 PM
Promising sequence from Oliver Moore #11 last night vs Colorado:
An example of Frank Nazar’s effective penalty-killing through pure hustle:
February 4, 2025 at 9:30 PM
An example of Frank Nazar’s effective penalty-killing through pure hustle:
Looks like Frank Nazar will make his NHL season debut tomorrow against the Devils. These are Blackhawks’ forward lines in practice today:
Kurashev-Bedard-Donato
Hall-Nazar-Bertuzzi
Foligno-Dickinson-Mikheyev
Maroon-Reichel-Teravainen
Kurashev-Bedard-Donato
Hall-Nazar-Bertuzzi
Foligno-Dickinson-Mikheyev
Maroon-Reichel-Teravainen
December 13, 2024 at 6:22 PM
Looks like Frank Nazar will make his NHL season debut tomorrow against the Devils. These are Blackhawks’ forward lines in practice today:
Kurashev-Bedard-Donato
Hall-Nazar-Bertuzzi
Foligno-Dickinson-Mikheyev
Maroon-Reichel-Teravainen
Kurashev-Bedard-Donato
Hall-Nazar-Bertuzzi
Foligno-Dickinson-Mikheyev
Maroon-Reichel-Teravainen
Example of Blackhawks' D coverage under Anders Sorensen from Monday at NYR:
December 12, 2024 at 7:22 PM
Example of Blackhawks' D coverage under Anders Sorensen from Monday at NYR:
Example of Blackhawks' D coverage under Luke Richardson from Dec. 1 vs CBJ:
December 12, 2024 at 7:22 PM
Example of Blackhawks' D coverage under Luke Richardson from Dec. 1 vs CBJ:
Blackhawks hitting the ice for practice at UBS Arena.
Craig Smith, Kevin Korchinski, Joey Anderson and Alec Martinez are all present. Pat Maroon is wearing a gray jacket over his jersey as a joke.
Craig Smith, Kevin Korchinski, Joey Anderson and Alec Martinez are all present. Pat Maroon is wearing a gray jacket over his jersey as a joke.
December 11, 2024 at 5:52 PM
Blackhawks hitting the ice for practice at UBS Arena.
Craig Smith, Kevin Korchinski, Joey Anderson and Alec Martinez are all present. Pat Maroon is wearing a gray jacket over his jersey as a joke.
Craig Smith, Kevin Korchinski, Joey Anderson and Alec Martinez are all present. Pat Maroon is wearing a gray jacket over his jersey as a joke.
Blackhawks attendance: 18,581
A somewhat late-arriving crowd yet again, but better than I expected overall.
Pic and chart:
A somewhat late-arriving crowd yet again, but better than I expected overall.
Pic and chart:
December 8, 2024 at 1:15 AM
Blackhawks attendance: 18,581
A somewhat late-arriving crowd yet again, but better than I expected overall.
Pic and chart:
A somewhat late-arriving crowd yet again, but better than I expected overall.
Pic and chart:
First in-person look at the Blackhawks and Blues’ Winter Classic jerseys and accessories:
December 5, 2024 at 8:13 PM
First in-person look at the Blackhawks and Blues’ Winter Classic jerseys and accessories:
Blackhawks host the Bruins tonight at 6:30. It’s a TNT game — but TNT will be blacked out in favor of CHSN in Chicago. I’m sure that won’t upset anyone.
December 4, 2024 at 3:34 PM
Blackhawks host the Bruins tonight at 6:30. It’s a TNT game — but TNT will be blacked out in favor of CHSN in Chicago. I’m sure that won’t upset anyone.
Blackhawks attendance: 19,144
A very lively crowd on Thanksgiving Eve, and they’ve been rewarded with a lot to celebrate
A very lively crowd on Thanksgiving Eve, and they’ve been rewarded with a lot to celebrate
November 28, 2024 at 4:46 AM
Blackhawks attendance: 19,144
A very lively crowd on Thanksgiving Eve, and they’ve been rewarded with a lot to celebrate
A very lively crowd on Thanksgiving Eve, and they’ve been rewarded with a lot to celebrate
Blackhawks attendance: 19,107
Crowd pic and updated chart through the first eight home games:
Crowd pic and updated chart through the first eight home games:
November 22, 2024 at 5:16 AM
Blackhawks attendance: 19,107
Crowd pic and updated chart through the first eight home games:
Crowd pic and updated chart through the first eight home games:
Blackhawks' forward lines in practice today — they keep getting wackier:
Bedard-Dickinson-Anderson
Teravainen-Foligno-Kurashev
Hall-Donato-Mikheyev
Bertuzzi-Reichel-Smith
*Maroon rotating
Bedard-Dickinson-Anderson
Teravainen-Foligno-Kurashev
Hall-Donato-Mikheyev
Bertuzzi-Reichel-Smith
*Maroon rotating
November 18, 2024 at 5:17 PM
Blackhawks' forward lines in practice today — they keep getting wackier:
Bedard-Dickinson-Anderson
Teravainen-Foligno-Kurashev
Hall-Donato-Mikheyev
Bertuzzi-Reichel-Smith
*Maroon rotating
Bedard-Dickinson-Anderson
Teravainen-Foligno-Kurashev
Hall-Donato-Mikheyev
Bertuzzi-Reichel-Smith
*Maroon rotating
Some rare sunshine welcoming Connor Bedard back home to Vancouver for the first time with the Blackhawks
November 15, 2024 at 9:16 PM
Some rare sunshine welcoming Connor Bedard back home to Vancouver for the first time with the Blackhawks
Petr Mrazek starts for the Blackhawks against the Kraken tonight.
Alec Martinez is a game-time decision. If he plays, TBD who will be scratched, Richardson said.
Alec Martinez is a game-time decision. If he plays, TBD who will be scratched, Richardson said.
November 14, 2024 at 7:56 PM
Petr Mrazek starts for the Blackhawks against the Kraken tonight.
Alec Martinez is a game-time decision. If he plays, TBD who will be scratched, Richardson said.
Alec Martinez is a game-time decision. If he plays, TBD who will be scratched, Richardson said.