Storied Blackhawks Trainer retiring after 36 years!
All the news swirling around today that the Blackhawks are not retaining Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews next season has certainly put the city on an emotional rollercoaster. Taves was an integral part of the Blackhawks Stanley Cups in mid-2010's bringing home three for the city and the fans.
But as all hockey fans know, other unsung heroes helped create and manage these teams from money to health. It was announced tonight that Mike Gapski the longtime Chicago Blackhawks' head athletic trainer will be retiring this year.
To work at one job for 36 straight years is quite impressive, and the stories I'm sure this man has been incredible to listen to and could be listened to for hours.
His story is about a person who fulfilled a dream of working for his hometown NHL team. He was hired by the Blackhawks as a head athletic trainer in 1987. Throughout his entire professional career, he always stayed the course as a trainer and was with the University of Illinois- Chicago for five seasons.
Many of his accolades were lifetime achievement awards, he was honoured as the athletic trainer for the 1991, 2003 and 2018 All-Star games along with Team Canada in 1991.
A Fantastic career. and well-deserved retirement. Thank you Mr. gap ski for all you've done for the Blackhawks and their fans.
