Scott Powers, ESPN Staff Writer 9y

Lemont's Darling living out dream with Hawks

CHICAGO -- Scott Darling didn’t need any other offers once he heard the Chicago Blackhawks were interesting in signing him this past summer.

It was a dream come true for a lifelong Blackhawks fan from Lemont, Ill.

“Well, this was my favorite team,” Darling said. “There was no other option once they told me Chicago offered me. I was like, ‘Where do I sign?’”

From the moment he signed with the Blackhawks in July until now, even Darling couldn’t have predicted how quickly he’s risen within the organization. He impressed Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville at training camp. His play made former second-round pick Kent Simpson expendable as a part of the trade with Nick Leddy to the New York Islanders. Darling continued to prove himself in his first two starts, both wins, for the Rockford IceHogs of the AHL.

And then, the Blackhawks decided Tuesday to recall him instead of NHL veteran Michael Leighton from the IceHogs after Corey Crawford suffered an upper-body injury. Darling, 25, arrived to Chicago on Tuesday from Toronto, took part in the team’s warmups and backed up Antti Raanta against the Philadelphia Flyers.

“We had practice in Toronto,” Darling said after practice on Wednesday, “and right when we got off, they pulled me aside and said, ‘Your flight leaves in an hour. You’re going to Chicago.’ I was like, ‘What?’ That was it. I left right from the rink, went to the airport and had time to call my parents and the next thing I knew I landed in Chicago. Here I was. It was an amazing day.”

It was surreal for Darling to be in net during warm-ups Tuesday, facing shots from the Blackhawks and looking across the ice and seeing the Flyers.

“It was great,” Darling said. “The guys on this team are amazing athletes, being on the ice with them and seeing Claude [Giroux], to see [Steve] Mason at the other end, [it] lets you know you’re doing the right things and you’re on the way. So, it was a lot of fun.”

Plus, Darling was wearing the jersey of the team that first turned him onto hockey while growing up Lemont, Ill., which is about a 25-mile drive to the United Center. Darling’s favorite player as kid was goaltender Ed Belfour.

“Oh, yeah, I’m a huge Hawks fan,” Darling said. “I’ve been a Hawks fan my whole life. To be a part of the organization that sparked my hockey interest when I was a young kid and coming to all the games my whole life, to finally be a part of it, it’s a pretty amazing feeling.”

Quenneville said Darling could possibly start in the second game of a back-to-back on Sunday. If Darling were to play, he’d be the first Chicago-area player to play for the Blackhawks since Danny Richmond played for them in the 2007-08 season.

Alex Broadhurst, who is from New Lenox, Ill., was recalled last season by the Blackhawks, but did not appear in any games. Blackhawks prospects Ryan Hartman, Anthony Louis and Vince Hinostroza are also from the Chicago area.

Darling’s parents, who now live in Chicago’s north suburbs, were able to attend Tuesday’s game. Darling was glad to have them there for what was the most significant step in his long journey to the NHL. He’s played for nine different teams since 2010 and was playing in the ECHL just last season.

“It’s been a long process,” Darling said. “It’s been four years of consistent trying to claw my way forward. I always had belief in my ability. Just got to pay my dues and wait for the chance. Just happy it’s going well.

“My dad reminded me, ‘That interview you had in preseason, you said it’s a crazy game, anything can happen.’ That’s what it’s like. You’re one minute on your way to Rochester and the next minute you’re on the way to Chicago.”

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