I was back at the United Center after missing the last two Blackhawks playoff games. This game I was not going to miss. The Blackhawks had a chance to advance to the Stanley Cup Finals for the first time since 1992 and the first time since I have been living in Chicago.

Beg, Borrow and Deal
Blackhawks Jim, who I am now renaming Hospitality Jim after the London version of Hospitality Jim, picked me up. He already had a ticket so we needed to buy two tickets – one for me and one for his son.

Since it was a clinching game I thought tickets would be tough to buy outside of the United Center. Tickets on StubHub ranged from $100 to $130 for SRO the entire morning before the game. So when it was a couple of hours before the game and I found two SRO tickets for $80 each on eBay I decided to buy. Since I knew we were showing up early to the United Center, buying SRO was not a big deal and saved about $100 each over buying seats.

San Jose Sharks at Chicago Blackhawks
We found a good standing room spot between sections 331 and 332 where we could see well. The Blackhawks completed their four-game sweep of the Sharks defeating them in Game Four 4-2. This was the first time I saw the presentation of the Clarence S. Campbell Bowl which is given to the Western Conference Champion (which is the first NHL trophy I have seen since I have not seen the Prince of Wales Trophy handed out).

While in standing room, I saw a guy wearing a Blackhawks jersey with the name on the jersey of Big Hit Buda (he runs the website bighitbuda.com). I recognized him since I also saw him recently at a Cubs game.

Post Game Celebrity Sighting
As we ran down to Hospitality Jim’s seats, I saw Vince Vaughn heading up the aisle. Of course, rather than exit with Hospitality Jim I took pictures of Vince and asked if I could have a picture with him. He said no. But then his line came to a standstill and I asked if he could turn his head. I never heard his answer but this was the picture that was taken.

I guess he is tired of his picture taken at Blackhawks games.