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Brian Hansen's Quest to Find 10 Blackhawks at Olympics Down to Patrick Kane

By Justin Breen | February 18, 2014 2:03pm
 Olympian Brian Hansen has tried to get photographs of him with all 10 Chicago Blackhawks playing in the men's hockey competition.
Brian Hansen Blackhawks
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CHICAGO — And then there was one.

Team USA speed skater Brian Hansen's quest to find and photograph the 10 Chicago Blackhawks representing their countries at the Sochi Olympic Games has come down to finding Hawks and Team USA star Patrick Kane.

"I thought he would be the easiest because most of the U.S. athletes are staying in the same building. I met a couple U.S. team hockey members so far while I was 'NormaTec-ing' but still no sign of Kane," Hansen, of Glenview, emailed DNAinfo Chicago on Tuesday.

Hansen, who won a silver medal at the 2010 Vancouver Games, wanted to tweet photos of him and the 10 Hawks in Sochi — Canada's Jonathan Toews, Patrick Sharp and Duncan Keith; Sweden's Marcus Kruger, Niklas Hjalmarsson and Johnny Oduya; Slovakia's Marian Hossa and Michal Handzus; the Czech Republic's Michal Rozsival; and Kane.

 Brian Hansen poses with Blackhawks captain and Team Canada men's hockey player Jonathan Toews.
Brian Hansen poses with Blackhawks captain and Team Canada men's hockey player Jonathan Toews.
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Twitter/BrianTHansen

Hansen hopes to find Kane, whose squad plays the Czech Republic in Wednesday's quarterfinals, in an Olympics dining hall. The Winter Games conclude Sunday.

"I just have to be careful not to interrupt anyone while they are eating or something," Hansen said.

Hansen, 23, grew up playing hockey and was a big Hawks fan, sporting a Tony Amonte poster on his wall. A few days after making his second Olympics team, Hansen told himself "that it would be cool to meet these guys."

"It would be fun since they would all be playing for their own countries, which is kind of a special environment to meet them in," said Hansen, who's competed in the 500 meters, 1,000 meters, 1,500 meters already and will participate in the Team Pursuit on Friday.

Hansen said all the Blackhawks have been "extremely friendly." He said a highlight was Rozsival also wanted to take a picture with him because it was his first Olympics. When he spoke with Hjalmarsson and Oduya, Hansen said they were pumped that so many Chicago-area youngsters are now playing hockey, in part due to the Hawks' success.

Hansen said he's picked up a huge amount of social media support from Blackhawks backers since the Games began.

"I can't believe how many Blackhawk fans are rooting for me through Twitter, Instagram and Facebook," he said. "I'm glad they're so excited about my quest. It's turned into a bit of a game since they are all scattered throughout the village and with different countries. Now that I have one left, I think it's hilarious all the people telling me 'you have to find Kane!' I feel like I have a real responsibility now ... haha."