FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. _ Former Blackhawks goaltender Ed Belfour said he still plays some hockey near his home in the Dallas area, but his days between the pipes are behind him.
"I enjoy playing defense and getting out to score a few goals now," Belfour said.
But Belfour donned his goalie equipment Thursday night as part of the Blackhawks' "One More Shift" promotion, in which they bring back a former player to join the starting lineup on the ice for the national anthem. Belfour is the fourth former Hawk to be honored after Denis Savard, Jeremy Roenick and Steve Larmer.
Belfour remembers his time with the Hawks fondly, especially the run to the Stanley Cup Final in 1992.
"Unfortunately we didn't win," Belfour said. "That was probably my biggest regret was we didn't play that well in the finals, and it still haunts me some days, but that kind of stuff happens when you're a younger player and you learn from it and get better. That's what I tried to do."
Belfour went on to have a Hall of Fame career and won his Cup in 1999 with the Stars.
Belfour is planning to launch Belfour Spirits, a distillery he has formed with his son and daughter that will produce gin, rum, whiskey and vodka. He keeps tabs on the Hawks and said it has been a "great feeling" to see their recent success.
"The team you start your career with, you have a special place in your heart for," Belfour said. "It's always an emotional place to come back to."
