With Corey Crawford’s time in Chicago coming to an end, I wanted to share one of my favorite stories about working with him.

Thread:

When I first started covering road games with the Blackhawks in 2013, I was usually the only woman on the traveling staff. It was an incredible experience and I was thrilled, but also very, very nervous.

So adding to my nerves was feeling like I stuck out every time I boarded a bus to practice, arrived at a hotel, or walked into a press box. Just imagine a bus unloading into a hotel with 30 athletes, a handful of coaches...and one 23-year-old girl.

I was hard to miss.

After a few months of away games with the team, I had a few trips under my belt but the imposter syndrome never quite left. I was getting used to traveling with the team, but also getting used to feeling like an outsider.

During our lengthy, six-game Western Conference trip in the winter of 2014, the Blackhawks beat Anaheim. It was a 2-0 shutout with goaltender Corey Crawford making 29 saves.

Media filed into the visiting locker room as the team came down from this game and prepared to head off to Phoenix that same night. Gear bags covered the locker room floor, and the goalies were off in their own little alcove.

Reporters headed in Corey’s direction and I scurried in too, reaching my BHTV mic into the scrum, perilously balancing over the gear bags. Crawford answered some questions and after a few minutes a local reporter and cameraman backed away from the scrum...directly into me.

I was sent flailing.

And the men walked away unbothered, as if nothing had happened.

I quietly tried to regain my balance and composure while feeling embarrassed and, like, two feet tall—these men didn’t even make eye contact to acknowledge what they did or feel the least bit apologetic over what just happened???

As all of this was flying through my mind and as I straightened back up to get my mic back in the scrum, Crawford stopped mid-question, looked me in the eye and asked in surprise, “Did that guy just body check you?!?!”

I froze at the direct question, but then silently shrugged ‘yeah,’ and he shook his head in disappointment, sighed and said “People.” Looking back to the group of reporters, he said, “Sorry what was the question again?”

For someone who had desperately wanted to belong, that was the day I truly felt like I was a part of the team.

For the first time I felt like I stuck out because I was on the inside.

I wasn’t blending in, but it was because I was seen.

Thank you, Crow.