Chicago Blackhawks home games could be returning to television this season, the club disclosed Monday.
In a memorandum sent to employees Monday, Blackhawks Chairman Rocky Wirtz wrote, "Representatives of the Blackhawks met with Comcast SportsNet executives last week to begin discussions about getting some home games back on television this hockey season."

Wirtz said in the memorandum that no definitive agreements have been reached, but televising games are "the appropriate next step to re-energizing Chicago hockey fans, and creating new fans. We are also working on a long-term strategy for televising additional home games in the future."

Wirtz said in the release, "There is no better way to honor his [the late William Wirtz's] effort than to enable as many Blackhawk fans as possible to experience this new era of Chicago hockey."

In a tangentially-related story, negotiations are under way for an NHL cable network. If they pull it off, it could be a nice resurgence to the sport.

He was charming, candid and sometimes funny. Rocky Wirtz doesn't plan to hold many news conferences as chairman of the Blackhawks, but he was a breath of fresh air for a fading franchise when he gave his first one Monday.

Wirtz assumed chairmanship of the Hawks following the death of his father, Bill, the club president for 41 years. He already has made two popular moves, removing executive vice president Bob Pulford from the front office and lifting the ban on televising home games. On Monday, the team announced a seven-game schedule for home telecasts on Comcast SportsNet, beginning Sunday against the Detroit Red Wings.


Bill Wirtz long had opposed televising home games, believing it would be unfair to season-ticket holders. Rocky Wirtz said that issue was discussed at Hawks board meetings.

''Absolutely it was,'' he said, ''and the talk stopped about there. We'd have a meeting in a board room, and he'd say, 'All those in favor signify by saying aye. All opposed, resign.'''

Bill Wirtz was criticized widely for his stance, but Rocky Wirtz said they had the same goals -- to create a happy fan experience and to win a Stanley Cup.

In addition to moving Pulford and lifting the TV ban, Rocky Wirtz has brought in Kevin Ryan from the Wirtz Corp. operation in St. Paul, Minn., to analyze the business end of the Hawks on an interim basis. A business manager eventually will be hired.

Rocky Wirtz's goal is ''to grow the business,'' and the TV issue had been a drawback.

''I wanted to do the right thing for our fans and our sponsors,'' Wirtz said. ''The only way to grow our business is to have more people exposed. There's a whole generation of fans who don't know who the Blackhawks are, who have never seen a game. We have a lot of people who would love to come to a game, but we haven't given them a reason to. Now we're going to give them a reason to.''

The home TV package was put together in two weeks. It wasn't easy because Comcast SportsNet had considerable previously contracted programming and a sponsor for the telecasts had to be found. The Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana Chevrolet Dealers Association solved the sponsorship issue, and Comcast SportsNet president Jim Corno credited Wirtz with making the whole thing happen.

''It's something we've talked about for years. We're thankful for Rocky's decision to go forward with this,'' Corno said.

Both Wirtz and Corno said more TV games could be added. Wirtz also said the team is considering to allow home games on the NHL's Center Ice subscription package.

''We're looking at everything,'' he said. ''As far as more games, if we're successful and we're bringing people out, we'd be crazy not to televise more games this year.

''We wanted to jump-start this. The biggest criticism we've had is that there aren't home games on TV. At this point in the development of our franchise, it makes a lot of sense.''

Highly entertaining advertisements featuring Hawks players started airing Monday to promote the new TV package, and Wirtz hopes that eventually will play a part in improving the roster.

''Players like it. They want to go into a restaurant and be recognized,'' he said. ''When [general manager Dale Tallon] tries to sign free agents, they certainly want to say they can be seen in their hometowns.

''It'll also help sell dasherboard advertising. That's hard to see when the only time most people can see it is on the 10 o'clock news.''

HAWKS' HOME TV SCHEDULEAll games on Comcast SportsNet
Sunday -- Detroit, 6 p.m. (pregame at 5:30)

Nov. 30 -- Phoenix, 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 9 -- Calgary, 6 p.m.

Dec. 26 -- Nashville, 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 6 -- Detroit, 6 p.m.

March 7 -- San Jose, 7:30 p.m.

March 23 -- St. Louis, 2 p.m.

In a tangentially-related story, negotiations are under way for an NHL cable network. If they pull it off, it could be a nice resurgence to the sport.

I have been following this team. Those young guys will be traded right when they get good and there is no goalie on this roster. This "new era" will be one of mediocrity.

No, they're definitely on their way up. When your best players are 18 and 19, growing pains are inevitable, but for the first time in ages, the future looks bright for these guys. And in Toews they have potentially their most talented forward since Savard.

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And in Toews they have potentially their most talented forward since Savard.

another thing the NHL needs to do is guarantee the original six play each other twice a year, a home and home series. The fact that they don't is criminal.

The schedule will be changed next season, that's for certain. There's a huge demand to see Sid Crosby, and the whole eight-games-vs.-divisional rivals thing has really backfired.

Sport kind of sucks on TV.

Best sport for high-def, makes it much easier to follow the game.

Man, wish I went to last night's game like I was thinking.

Which logo is better than the Indian Head? The Winged Wheel and the CH are strong, but I think those are elevated because of the uniforms on which they're sewn. The Indian Head is just a work of art by itself.

Freak accident in Buffalo a few minutes ago, Richard Zednik was clipped in the throat by a skate blade in the throat...it was Clint Malarchuk all over again. He's been rushed to hospital in stable condition. He got a standing ovation from the Buffalo crowd when the announcement was made, which was classy.

I heard about this sipping my coffee & watching the news this morning. I'm conflicted. I didn't think anything more incongruous than a Jimmy Buffett concert could be held at the ballpark but somehow, some way this might make a tremendously boring & long dead sport really exciting. I intend on going.

Red Wing fans + Blackhawk fans + Wrigleyville bars + overserved patrons = what could possibly go wrong?

Lakeview could end up looking like Detroit for weekend - a dump. Actually, no worse than when Wrigley hosts their 3-game Crosstown stand. Super sloppy & aggressive drunks aren't new to the area.