FEATURE: Stalock Provides Positive Energy Despite Setbacks

After making a few starts over the last week, Alex Stalock is finding his groove again. Despite missing over a month away from the action, it still hasn't affected the goalie's positive attitude that he brings to the Blackhawks' locker room on a daily basis.
On Nov. 1, Stalock suffered the concussion after a colision with New York Islanders forward Casey Cizikas in the game's opening minutes. While recovering in the ensuing weeks he still kept training and staying in shape as best he could off the ice to help ease his transition back.
"I could still go out [on the ice]," Stalock said. "Sometimes I couldn't push it as hard as I wanted to, but I had the ability to go out and try to work through it. So, the conditioning wasn't much of a catch-up game for me, but obviously the speed and timing of the game comes quick."

The 35-year-old goaltender made his first start back on Dec. 23, where he helped lead the team to a 5-2 victory against the Columbus Blue Jackets to snap an eight-game losing streak. Despite not seeing game action in seven weeks, he found his groove right away.
In the team's 3-1 loss to the St. Louis Blues on Dec. 29, Stalock made a save in the second period that sent the puck over the net using his blocker. Head coach Luke Richardson found the play comical but marveled how he was still able to keep the team in the game and felt that he deserves to see more positive results.
"It's inspiring for our team, it really gives us a boost," Richardson said. "He deserves probably more wins in the win column, just by the way he's played this year, but we have to provide a little more goal support."

This isn't the first time that Stalock missed a handful of games due to a serious medical condition. Before joining the Blackhawks this season, he missed the majority of the 2020-21 season due to myocarditis after complications from COVID-19. He returned to play last season in the AHL and only made one NHL start with the San Jose Sharks.
With his new team in Chicago being a mix of young players and fellow veterans, it made it easier for Stalock to be around even though his return took longer than he'd hoped. Leaning on the support of his teammates and his family helped him through the challenging time.
"Obviously the teammates are awesome, they were awesome through it," Stalock said. "It's not easy to come to the rink every day and say you're not feeling good, but the group was great."
While the Minnesota native was away from the action, teammates missed the positivity that he always brings into the locker room, not only as a player but as a leader.
"He's awesome," Taylor Raddysh said. "He's a big leader on our team and when he was gone, we missed him just him being around in the room. The way he works out there it's kind of cool to see a goalie give it his all like that whether it's his style or whatever, it's awesome to see. He's battling on every play so we're going to play hard in front of him."
Stalock described that his positive energy just comes naturally to him. When he enters the locker room every day, he tries to bring an optimistic perspective while still working hard on the ice.
Even if the team isn't seeing the results game in and game out, they're still trying to focus on having fun. The veteran goalie continues to bring the fun energy into the locker room, and it's rubbing off on other players.
"He makes life fun around the game where, right now, it's not so much fun if we're not getting the wins," Richardson said. "He's one of the big inspirations for that, so we're happy to have him back."

"It's just kind of who I am, and I like to have fun," Stalock said. "I think the minute you're not having fun, when you go to the rink, that's probably a problem. It's a joy to come to call this place work and hanging out with a group of guys that you're trying to win hockey games with, but at the end of the day, you want to say you're having fun."
Despite his recent injury on a rare high-impact play for a netminder, Stalock is trying to remain cautious, but not let the incident change his more assertive, physical style of play in net.
"You're going to have contact, it's a contact sport," Stalock said. "That's why we play the game to get in situations where there's physicality and you're not going to shy away from it. But at the same time, you just want to be careful and be smart."
Standing at 5-foot-11, Stalock felt he developed that unique style to make up for his smaller composure. He says his early days in hockey as a forward likely played a role, before he started taking the net and playing with his older brother and his friends.
"When I was younger, I played forward a lot, so I think that kind of carries over in your game," Stalock said. "I like handling pucks and it helps our [defensive] group, we get out of the zone faster. I think it's a good thing for us."

With his more assertive playing style, Stalock can create some offensive chances by playing behind the net and making plays up ice. For Jonathan Toews, he feels it's starting to rub off on some of the other guys.
Although he has only been with the Blackhawks a few months, Toews noted the lasting impact he's alread created with his character and style of play.
"He hasn't been here long, but he's made an impact in a lot of ways with just his personality and his approach to the game," Toews said. "He's just a high energy guy who's having fun, but he's working hard every single day, so he's a pro and a lot of ways. I think it gives you a lot of energy as a team and he's having fun and playing with confidence."