CHICAGO — Mike Novak brings the sights and sounds of the United Center to his basement for every Blackhawks game.
Novak, who grew up near Scottsdale Park in Ashburn, turned his home's lowest floor into a mini Hawks museum. It includes autographed pictures of current and former players, sound speakers and a lamp created from hockey stick shafts, the team's red-black-and-white paint scheme on the walls and even a stereo equipped with a remote control that allows Novak to blast the Hawks' patented goal-horn sound whenever they score.
"With surround sound cranked up and the goal horn, even for away games it's definitely a good time," said Novak, 36, who now lives in suburban Minooka.
Lifelong fan Novak started the project earlier this year to honor his favorite team and acclimate the Hawks to his fiancee Shannon's three sons: Nickolas, 16, Nathan, 11, and Nolan, 10 — who all recently began playing hockey.
"This was an opportunity for the kids to see some of the history of the Blackhawks and to learn about the players that have come through Chicago," Novak said. "I painted the walls in the room the Blackhawks colors mainly because the kids still play in the basement and I thought the white would be too hard to keep clean."
Those painted walls are covered by more than 20 pictures and plaques of legendary Hawks like Bobby Hull, to current stars Jonathan Toews, Marian Hossa and Patrick Sharp, to team prospects Mac Carruth, Alex Broadhurst and Phillip Danault.
Novak is not alone in having a room dedicated to the Hawks. An Elgin man turned a basement into a mini-United Center rink, while Pinterest showcases numerous dwellings crammed with Hawks stuff. A company even offers a Hawks-themed paint job with color scheme and logo.
Novak said his Blackhawks basement is still a work in progress. He'd like to add some Hawks bobbleheads and pucks, plus accumulate more player autographs.
But it's still a cool place to watch a game with family and friends, especially, Novak said, when he lights up the room with florescent bulbs with a Blackhawks-red darkening effect.
"Having the room in the house has been a good thing, and it has actually helped our family bond a little bit — even if it's only during the games," Novak said.
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