Kris Versteeg was part of the Chicago Blackhawks’ Stanley Cup run in 2010 that started this string of three in six years. He wasn’t there for the Cup run in 2013, though. So he made the most of his return trip to the Stanley Cup rally stage. He brought some humor late to the rally, but he also provided the most emotional moment of any of the three previous city-wide parties in Chicago.
As has been tradition at these rallies, the player of the game preceding the Stanley Cup clincher that was awarded the Blackhawks' championship belt as player of the game, gets to pass it on at the rally. Dustin Byfuglien gave it to Patrick Kane in 2010. Kane gave it to Corey Crawford in 2013. But 2015’s belt recipient was extremely special.
Versteeg did not give it to a fellow player. Instead he and the rest of the Blackhawks paid tribute to late equipment manager Clint Reif, who passed away in December.
Versteeg brought Reif’s son C.J. on the stage with him and even though the belt was not there, Versteeg said that it was going to Reif’s family as a special thank you from the players. It was an extremely touching moment, as Versteeg lifted C.J. up, who raised his arms victoriously.
“We gotta give it to the best player voted on by myself I guess, in Game 6,” Versteeg said. "I think Patrick Kane had a pretty good game, Brad Richards, everybody showed up. But this is really about Clint Reif and the Reif family. We hold them really dear to our hearts. This is C.J. and he gets the belt from all of us."
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Reif’s family was a big part of the Stanley Cup celebration in Chicago Monday, but it was especially nice for such a public acknowledgement of one of the team’s beloved behind-the-scenes staffers.
Reif’s death was a huge blow to the team in what has been an emotional year that also included the death of former defenseman Steve Montador, among others. Amid all the revelry, the team did not forget an important member of their family and made a special memory for his loved ones.
