By Canadian Press

Blackhawks D Kevin Korchinski rejoins team after father’s death

Dec 19, 2023 | 4:04 PM

CHICAGO (AP) — Kevin Korchinski has rejoined the Chicago Blackhawks following the death of his father, Larry.

The 19-year-old Korchinski was on the ice for Chicago’s morning skate ahead of Tuesday night’s game against the Colorado Avalanche. Coach Luke Richardson said the rookie defenseman is going to need some time before he is ready for games again.

“It was great to see him,” Richardson said. “The guys really responded well having him back in the dressing room and he had a big smile in there this morning. So it was good to see him out on the ice.

“He hasn’t skated much, I think once when he was at home, so we’re just going to just let him have a couple of practices and see where he’s at and let him tell us when he’s ready to go.”

Korchinski has two goals and five assists in 25 games in his first NHL season. The No. 7 overall pick in the 2022 draft hasn’t played since he skated for more than 18 minutes during a 1-0 victory over Anaheim on Dec. 7.

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Larry Korchinski, who played junior hockey for Saskatoon in the Western Hockey League before becoming a lawyer, was 59 when he died. The Blackhawks flew to Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, on Friday morning for the funeral.

Kevin Korchinski did not speak with the media following the morning skate.

“I don’t know if anyone knew he was coming back (Tuesday), so I think it was a big uplifting thing to be able to see him,” forward Tyler Johnson said. “I mean he’s family. He’s our brother. We missed him.”

Forwards Colin Blackwell and MacKenzie Entwistle are slated to return against Colorado. Entwistle has been sidelined by an illness, and Blackwell is playing his first game since Feb. 27.

Blackwell is coming back after a series of setbacks following sports hernia surgery in March.

“You know you’re going to get every little bit out of him,” Richardson said. “And he’s intense on the bench and he’s intense on the ice. He’s a good penalty killer and a good shot blocker, and he does all those gritty things on the ice that it’s going to be a good lift to have him back tonight.”

While Entwistle and Blackwell are cleared to play, defensemen Seth Jones (left shoulder) and Alex Vlasic (upper body), along with forwards Joey Anderson (left shoulder) and Andreas Athanasiou (groin), remain out with injuries. Anderson was placed on injured reserve on Monday.

Richardson said Jones probably won’t return before the team’s holiday break.

“It’s just one of those ones that it got a little bit worse after he got off the ice and showered up and saw him the next day,” he said. “So he’s a little farther out than Vlassy.”

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AP NHL: https://www.apnews.com/hub/NHL

Jay Cohen, The Associated Press