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NHL lockout: Chicago Wolves coach leads Blackhawks practices

Blackhawks players have hired Chicago Wolves skating coach Kenny McCudden to help run their practices while the NHL lockout continues.

By Peter Berkes
Rob Grabowski-US PRESSWIRE - Presswire

Members of the Chicago Blackhawks have been skating and practicing to stay in shape in case the lockout ends soon. For a while, Jonathan Toews was running practices himself, but the players hired Chicago Wolves skating and skills coach Kenny McCudden on Monday to run practices for them.

McCudden has spent the past 14 years with the Wolves. He previously worked for the Blackhawks as an assistant equipment manager. His primary responsibilities remain with the Wolves, who open the AHL season Oct. 13 against the Blackhawks affiliate, the Rockford IceHogs. However, until then, McCudden will give the players' practices some organization and structure.

The players seem to like McCudden, including forward Daniel Carcillo:

He’s awesome. His drills are great," Daniel Carcillo said. "As you can see there aren’t many guys out here but he keeps the line moving. They aren’t the same drills so it’s not redundant. It’s not too hard; but it’s a lot of puck-handling and things you need to sharpen up and the other stuff will come if and when we get back to work."