Brown: For an American Kid in the 90’s, Chelios Was Definitely Captain America

On Sunday when both Pat Foley and Jeremy Roenick mentioned Chris Chelios’ importance to American hockey, I couldn’t help but smile. As an American kid who followed hockey closely, there were only a handful of American stars to pick from in the 90’s.

Chelios was always my favorite because he was American. Tough, hard working, and no one messed with him. In a hockey world where so few players were from the US, he was the leader and the guy who the kids–and even the players themselves, genuflected to. As Jeremy Roenick correcly pointed out, he was the Godfather of American hockey.

Chris Chelios Truly is Captain America to 90’s Kids

The stories flowed Sunday of Chelios’ work ethic and willingness to play through injury. On my old Coleco hockey board, the right defenseman had a crack in the side, yet always seemed to hang on without falling off–even notching a goal per game.

I always called that one Chris Chelios. How fitting it was after hearing those stories.

But those stories, and especially the work ethic, is what made him the wildly popular player he was. But from the American side of things, he embodied the American spirit. The Canadians always had the edge, their fourth line in the World Cup or the Olympics something other countries could slot in as a top six.

Worse as an American rooting for the Olympic teams from 1988 on, there wasn’t much to be excited for. So when the ’98 team featured Chelios and his fellow NHL Americans, oh God, the anticipation was incredible.

I woke early to watch every game–which turned out to be similar to ’88, ’92, and ’94: disappointing. After being bounced from pool play, some of the players trashed the hotel room out of frustration.

It was Chelios who apologized and also paid for the damages. He also wasn’t one of those players who tore up the room. There was a reason he wore the C on his sweater.

2002, though, meant more to me as a fan because not only did Chelios captain that squad, but they had Herb Brooks as the coach. At the time, it was the furthest they’d gone since the Miracle–all of it being on home ice.

No, it didn’t result in Gold. But it further solidified my love for the guy who really was Captain America. Years later, one of the greatest gifts I ever received was a Chelios USA sweater–which I still have.

So when I asked Chelios about what it meant to be American hockey to so many kids from the 90’s, his answer was hardly surprising.

“I always wanted to be a great role model for kids, my teammates, and having that opportunity to play for your country,” Chelios said.  “You know, you’re one of the 20-something guys that gets chosen for the Olympic teams and the World Cup was one of the highlights in ‘96 that I shared with a group of guys that for 12, 14 years, we played together on those teams.

Just sometimes you make some mistakes over the course of that, I think I wasn’t ready to be captain at some points. But again, I like to think that overall, that I represented this country, the city of Chicago and the Blackhawks to the best of my ability, I think I made them proud.

I know I made them proud.”

Believe me, you did.