Happy Memorial Day!

A look back at the Blackhawks visiting the Walter Reed Army Medical Center:

(BlackhawksTV)

Update (Finally!):

The lack of updates so far this off-season makes me sad because last summer was full of glorious cup days and the Blackhawks were still going strong till June.

There's a lot to update since I last posted. So I'm going to throw out a ton of random updates in no particular order. Let's start with the signing of one badass rookie goaltender: Corey Crawford.

-Congrats to Crawford on signing a three year contract:

"Crawford, 26, paced rookie goaltenders with 33 wins (33-18-6), tied for rookie lead with four shutouts and ranked eighth among National Hockey League netminders with a 2.30 goals-against-average during the 2010-11 regular-season. He also led all NHL rookies with a .927 save percentage and a 2.21 GAA in seven Stanley Cup Playoff contests."

Read more here: NHL.com: Blackhawks agree to terms with Corey Crawford

-Crawford on his contract: "I still have to prove to them I'm the guy and the work doesn't end here." (source) He also spoke to Chicago Tribune Live: listen here.

-Once upon a time a douchebag hockey agent said some terrible things on his Twitter account involving Sean Avery and gay marriage. People spoke out against his comments and @HockeyAgainstHate was born. To support Hockey Against Hate you can follow them on Twitter or purchase one of their several different t-shirt designs. Check out their merchadise and website here.

-Troy Brouwer had surgery this month on his right shoulder. He's expected to make a full recovery:

"Brouwer underwent surgery to repair a right shoulder labral tear “which had been symptomatic intermittently throughout the season,” Dr. Michael Terry said in a statement."

Read more here: CSNChicago: Blackhawks' Brouwer undergoes shoulder surgery

-Prayers go out to Stan Mikita, who was diagnosed with oral cancer. Richard Borrowdale (Loyola Medical Center): "Stan has been diagnosed with an early base of tongue cancer and the prognosis is excellent. He will be treated with external beam radiation therapy."

Read more here: ChicagoBreakingSports: Blackhawks legend Mikita has oral cancer

-Check out NBCChicago's Madhouse Enforcer for more player season reviews here. You can also read Second City Hockey's player evaluations here.

-Bolland took batting practice at Cubs Fantasy Camp. Watch him in full uniform, socks and all, hit and field balls on Blackhawks TV here. I guess this is one more thing to add to the long list of Bolland facts. Here's a photo of him swinging for the fences: click here. He also threw out the first pitch at a White Sox game (photo here) and I must say he looks much better in black and gray.

More links:

-BlackhawkUp: A Handsome Season: Patrick Sharp

-NHL.com: Leddy reflects on his first pro season

-ESPNChicago: Sizing up Blackhawks' free agents

-TheFourthPeriod: Two goalies are better than one

-ChicagoSun-Times: Blackhawks' Campoli had excuse: Right knee was hurt

-ESPNChicago: Mailbag: Keith's best days behind him?

-NHL.com: Flick making most of final junior hockey moments

-TheHockeyNews: Rumor Roundup: Is Chicago a summer seller?

-ESPN: Marty Turco: Special to see Mike Smith play

Small tidbits:

-Sharp and Burish were reunited a few weeks ago at a Cubs game. It brought bromantic tears to my eyes.

-Just click here. Mermaid Man+Bobby Hull=Mind Blown.

-A girl took a photo of Kane sleeping and went through his bags. Took a photo of his plane ticket then went to the website Deadspin. CREEPY. CREEEEEPY. Going to skip the link on this one.

-RIP Derek Boogaard. Only 28 years old.

Lastly, I miss Blackhawks hockey.

Photos: Kane at Bulls Game and IIHF World Championship

See more photos from the Bulls game here: Chicago Tribune.

See more photos from the World Championship here: NHL.com.

Around the UC:

-NHL.com: 2010-11 Photos of the Year

-Team physician Dr. Michael Terry: “Chris Campoli underwent successful right knee surgery on Tuesday afternoon to repair a torn meniscus. The procedure went very well and he will gradually return to normal off-season workouts. I anticipate a full recovery in approximately two months."
NHL.com: Campoli undergoes successful knee surgery

-NBCChicago: The Hawks Summer Calender

-ESPNChicago: Jesse Rogers grades the Blackhawks

-"Alfonso Soriano broke up Floyd's end of the bargain with two out in the seventh, the budding double no-no having attracted the attention of Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane up in the pressbox lunchroom as they waited to sing in the seventh inning."
SBNationChicago: Twins' Francisco Liriano's No-Hitter: Worth The Wait

-NHL.com: Blackhawks Insider Podcast with Bowman and Sharp

-"Chicago Blackhawks striker Michael Frolik collected two goals and an assist, while goalie Ondrej Pavelec made 24 saves to record a shutout and the Czechs' third head-to-head win over the Danes at the world championships in as many meetings."
GlobalTimes: Champ Czechs frolic to victory over Danes

-"Marcus Kruger capitalized on Montoya's blunder behind his goal to put the Swedes ahead 3:17 into the second period before Mattias Sjorgen stretched the lead and Berglund added his second on a rebound into the second period for his fourth tournament."
ESPN: Berglund, Sweden spank U.S. at ice hockey world championship

-"Hossa’s lone point in the two games came on the third Slovakia goal against Germany, a late tally that put the host country within a goal of tying." TheThirdManIn: Crawford talks at Draft; Mike Keenan Roast, Hossa at Worlds

-NHL.com: Youth Hockey Special Events: 3rd Annual Legends of the Ball Chicago

-Bowman: "Fortunately, we're not in the crunch we were in a year ago. We still have decisions to make, and there are going to be some changes. … We need to bring in a few new faces, some players will move along and some young players will come up."
ChicagoTribune: Hawks have work to do, but nothing like last offseason

-Read Madhouse Enforcer's Season Reviews of Crawford, Turco, Keith, Seabrook, and Campbell here.

Jim Cornelison Sings the National Anthem at Bulls Game:

(CSNChicago)