Jan. 04--When it comes to elections, Chicagoans are renowned in lore for voting early and often.
That was on display again in balloting for the 2015 NHL All-Star Game as the Blackhawks dominated the fan voting and as a result had five players already earn spots for the Jan. 25 affair in Columbus.
The league released the final tallies Saturday, and Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews, Duncan Keith, Corey Crawford and Brent Seabrook finished 2-6 overall. Behind a surge of votes from his native country of Latvia, Sabres forward Zemgus Girgensons topped the voting with 1,574,896.
"It shows how great the fans are who actually vote and our great fan base in Chicago," Kane said. "Whether it's the team's success or the players on the team or the strength of the organization -- whatever it is -- it seems like when these voting-type of situations come up, you always see some Blackhawks at the top of the list. It's pretty cool. We enjoy it."
Kane received 1,232,201 votes, Toews 1,217,210, Keith 1,198,173, Crawford 1,099,504 and Seabrook 1,016,992. The top six vote-getters by position -- three forwards, two defensemen and one goaltender -- were voted in by fans, with the NHL announcing the selections of the rest of the team Jan. 10.
"Clearly, a lot of guys in this room deserve that type of attention," Toews said. "If it wasn't for the voting, then maybe (the league) would spread it out as far as choosing players from different teams. I think it's good. I think it represents how involved the fans are and how much they care about this team and how many fans we really do have, whether it's in Chicago or across the country.
"It's pretty cool to see and I'm looking forward to seeing ... our guys representing our team at the All-Star Game."
Kane and Toews have been selected for the All-Star Game four times, Keith three times and Seabrook and Crawford once each.
Kane, who appeared in All-Star Games in 2009, '11 and '12, said the experience is still a thrill.
"I haven't been to play in one in a couple of years with the lockout (in 2012-13) and the Olympics last year, so it will be fun to participate,"he said. "It's an honor too. You're representing the best in the NHL. It's something to be proud of (when) you get selected."
