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Tuesday, April 14, 2009

DARCY ROTA HONOURED BY BLACKHAWKS


Express prez honoured by 'Hawks
Tom Berridge, Burnaby Now
Published: Saturday, April 11, 2009
Burnaby Express president Darcy Rota had an April Fool's Day he will not soon forget.

Rota, who played 13 seasons in the National Hockey League, was honoured by the Chicago Blackhawks during a regular season game against the St. Louis Blues April 1.

The honour was part of a Blackhawks alumni initiative, which is reconnecting former players with the present club at every game this season.

It was just a special, special trip," said Rota after spending a week with his family back in the Windy City, where he spent six seasons from 1973 to '79.

"As a family, this was special. If fact, my kids didn't want to come back, and the Blackhawks were phenomenal," Rota said.

The gritty former Edmonton Oil Kings junior was drafted by Chicago and lined up with Stan Mikita and Cliff Koroll in his early days. Later, he teamed with the Canucks first-ever draft pick and current Blackhawks general manager, Dale Tallon, and Chiko Maki.

Rota, who finished his career with the Vancouver Canucks, which included a personal-best season of 81 points in 1982/83, had his photo and personal stats put up on the Jumbotron at the new United Centre between periods and was treated royally by the club

"It was fantastic," Rota added. "The kids saw my life there. They said at different times, 'Do we have to go, Dad?'"

At the rink, Rota also had the chance to meet with current Blackhawk Andrew Ladd, who played junior A hockey under Rota with the then-Coquitlam Express.

"It was a Blackhawk thing. They were the association that contacted me. They're doing it right. They are reconnecting with the alumni," he said.

Rota has fond memories of the old Chicago Stadium. He also salvaged a souvenier seat from that grand old barn prior to its demolition in 1995.

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