The Stanley Cup Champion Chicago Blackhawks were just awarded their own WWE Championship belt, but there’s a much longer-standing tradition within the organization. After every win, a Blackhawks-specific championship belt is given to the player who most contributed to the victory. Corey Crawford walked away with the belt during the Cup celebrations in 2013, but the tradition was much more emotional this year.
Kris Versteeg, chosen as the most instrumental in the Blackhawks’ Game 5 win was tasked with choosing the next recipient. Rather than choosing someone like Patrick Kane, or veteran Kimmo Timonen, who would retire with his first and only Stanley Cup, Versteeg chose to honor C.J., the son of the late Clint Reif.
Reif’s family was there to celebrate the win with a team who has worked hard this season to highlight just how important he was to the Blackhawks. In his rally speech, Duncan Keith dedicated the Cup win to Reif, saying, “This one’s for you, Reif.”
Reif, the former equipment manager, passed away in December 2014.
