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Sports

Glenview's Fahey Trains with Blackhawks

He once played with the Chicago Wolves. But after another tour in hockey's minor leagues and his NHL debut with Washington, a longtime defenseman is trying to make good with his hometown team.

Brian Fahey is one of the lucky athletes for whom the cliché 'you can't go home again' does not apply.

In his ninth pro season as a defenseman, the native managed to play here for two seasons with the Chicago Wolves, the popular American Hockey League affiliate playing in Rosemont. But through all his travels, ranging from Idaho to Worcester, Mass., with a seven-game stint on the Washington Capitols last season in his NHL debut, Fahey hadn’t had a chance to sign with his hometown organization.

Not until Aug. 27.

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The 30-year-old Fahey landed that day with the Rockford IceHogs, the Blackhawks’ top farm club also playing in the AHL. Less than three weeks later, Fahey was in training camp with the Hawks at the United Center. He played in an intersquad scrimmage Saturday on the same team with noted on-ice pugilist Dan Carcillo during the Hawks’ Training Camp Festival in front of more than 10,000 at the UC. And today, Fahey is on the traveling roster to play the Edmonton Oilers in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. (A telecast of the game will be streamed live on ChicagoBlackhawks.com in the Chicago market starting at 8 p.m tonight).

“It’s nice. Usually this time of year you’re in a transition/move period, especially for guys like me in the minors,” Fahey said. “You never know where you’re going to be. You’re always waiting to find out. So it’s kind of nice we’re settled in at our house (in Lincoln Park with wife Jessica).

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"I just come to the rink and do my job. I could sign with a lot of different places, I figured it would be nice to come home... I think having a chance to come up with the Hawks at some time in the future is a big deal for me. To be able to do that in my hometown is definitely a special thing.”

Up against the numbers game

Notice Fahey mentioned “some time in the future.” With Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook the Hawks’ top two defensemen, a platoon of experienced veterans like Niklas Hjalmarsson, Steve Montador, Sean O’Donnell, John Scott and Sami Lepisto ready to work in the rotation and a promising youngster like Nick Leddy almost a lock, the numbers stack up against Fahey making the Hawks out of camp.

But there’s another set of numbers both he and Hawks coach Joel Quenneville realize – the war of attrition in the 82-game NHL season. Defensemen get beat up and injured. Some suffer from poor play. Experienced blue-line types are needed in reserve at the top minor-league club.

“Depth-wise, you can never have enough defensemen,” Quenneville said. “You’ve got to go to the well  a lot of times eight, nine, 10 deep.”

If Fahey has to play in the minors again, he’s only 90 minutes from home, with that possible recall to the Hawks at any time.

“I’ve played the bulk of my career in the minors,” he said. “Right now, I’m here to prove to these guys I can play at this level and see if I’m a fit for this organization. Time and time again, you see teams unfortunately have injuries, guys have concussions or are out long-term. You have to fit guys in. Be ready when the time comes.”

Quenneville will file for future reference his own scouting report on Fahey during pre-season games and practices.

“He’s been a pro for a bit,” he said. “I see a hometown kid in camp. I haven’t seen him play much. But I like his energy and enthusiasm. He’s from a competitive organization in Washington.”

Fahey calls himself a 'good, solid two-way ‘D.’

"I can fit in a lot of different places. I can be offensive and defensive. I can definitely play the defensive game. In the minors, I played against the top line each night.”

Glenview roots

Fahey learned his craft in all the Glenview youth hockey programs. He attended for his first two seasons before moving to Michigan to play in an advanced hockey program while finishing high school. Later he played four seasons at the University of Wisconsin.

Hockey ran in the bloodlines in the Fahey family. Dad James Fahey was a big Hawks fan growing up. He also attended school and Loyola Academy with future Hawks announcer Pat Foley, a lifelong Glenview resident.

“Pat broadcast Brian’s games when he worked for the Wolves,” said the elder Fahey, who started his son competitively at age 5. “He was in a lot of different things, like baseball, football and soccer.

“I don’t think we had to encourage him. Brian was self-motivated.”

This time, he was motivated to come home.

“I’m at the point of my career where I don’t want to be in places where it’s difficult to see family and friends,” he said.

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