From Cradle to Cup will be a series running throughout July 2013
looking back at players on the 2013 Chicago Blackhawks roster for their
Stanley Cup-winning campaign. Part 24 covers the career of superstar center and captain Jonathan Toews.
Jonathan Toews was born on Winnipeg, Manitoba on April 29th, 1988. He began his career playing for Shattuck-St. Mary's in Midget AAA Minnesota hockey, where he had forty-eight goals and sixty-two assists in sixty-four games during the 2004-2005 season. Toews also represented Canada West in the U17 international tournament, where he had eight goals and four assists in six games to guide Canada to the gold medal in his age sixteen season. In 2005-2006, Toews joined the University of North Dakota, and registered twenty-two goals and seventeen assists in forty-two games. At the end of the season, he was drafted with the third overall selection in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft to join the Chicago Blackhawks. He also represented Canada again in the World Junior Championships, supplying two assists in six games, helping Canada to the gold medal. Toews remained at North Dakota in 2006-2007, potting eighteen goals and twenty-eight assists in only thirty-four games. He was again a representative of Canada in the World Junior Championships in 2007, where he notched four goals and three assists in six games, as Canada again won the gold medal, and he was named to the tournament all-star team. Toews also played for Canada in the World Championships, and scored two goals and five assists in nine games, with Canada taking the silver medal. Toews made the leap straight out of college and to the NHL to play with the Blackhawks in sixty-four games, where he had a line of twenty-four goals and thirty assists. He was nominated for the Calder Trophy as the rookie of the year, but lost to teammate Patrick Kane. In the 2008 World Championships, Toews had two goals and three assists in nine games, and Canada again won the gold medal. For his strong leadership presence in the locker room, Toews was rewarded with the Blackhawks' captaincy prior to the 2008-2009 season. He responded with a full eighty-two game season in which he scored thirty-four goals and thirty-five assists in the regular season, and another seven goals and six assists in seventeen playoff games. He was selected to his first NHL All-Star Game during the season as well. Toews' real star-making season came in 2009-2010. In the NHL, he had twenty-five goals and forty-three assists in seventy-six games during the regular season. He also signed a large, five-year contract in late 2009. He was selected to represent Canada at the 2010 Winter Olympics as a member of the host team in Vancouver, Canada. In the Olympics, Toews had a goal and seven assists in seven games. For his performance, Toews was named to the Olympic All-Star team, as well as being named best forward for the tournament. With the Blackhawks in the postseason, Toews played in all twenty-two games, where he registered seven goals and twenty-two assists as the Blackhawks captured the Stanley Cup. To top off the fabulous year, Toews also earned the Conn Smythe trophy as playoff MVP. His honors through his career gave him entry into the Triple Gold Club, as a World Champion, Olympic Champion, and a Stanley Cup Champion. His Conn Smythe trophy was distinguished as he was the second-youngest to win the trophy, and the youngest captain to do so. He also was the sixth player to win Olympic Gold and the Stanley Cup in the same year. Toews followed up the magnificent year in 2010-2011, as cover athlete on EA's NHL 11 with a line of thirty-two goals and forty-four assists in eighty games played in the regular season, as well as one goal and three assists in seven playoff games. He was selected to play in his second All-Star Game in 2011 as well. In 2011-2012, Toews supplied another twenty-nine goals and twenty-eight assists in fifty-nine games during an injury-shortened season. The injury prevented Toews from playing in his third All-Star Game, despite having been selected to do so. He had two goals and two assists in six games during the postseason as well. Toews was somewhat vocal as a leader during the lockout in 2012, representing the NHLPA as negotiations between the union and the league struggled. In the shortened season of 2013 that followed, Toews potted twenty-three goals and twenty-five assists in forty-seven games during the regular season. Then, Toews was criticized for a lack of production in the playoffs, where he had just three goals and eleven assists in twenty-three games. Luckily for the Blackhawks, Toews' strong offense was not needed, as depth scoring helped pave the way for the Blackhawks to win their second Stanley Cup in four years. Toews remains the quiet and strong leader of the Blackhawks young core, and likely will for years to come.
Jonathan Toews was born on Winnipeg, Manitoba on April 29th, 1988. He began his career playing for Shattuck-St. Mary's in Midget AAA Minnesota hockey, where he had forty-eight goals and sixty-two assists in sixty-four games during the 2004-2005 season. Toews also represented Canada West in the U17 international tournament, where he had eight goals and four assists in six games to guide Canada to the gold medal in his age sixteen season. In 2005-2006, Toews joined the University of North Dakota, and registered twenty-two goals and seventeen assists in forty-two games. At the end of the season, he was drafted with the third overall selection in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft to join the Chicago Blackhawks. He also represented Canada again in the World Junior Championships, supplying two assists in six games, helping Canada to the gold medal. Toews remained at North Dakota in 2006-2007, potting eighteen goals and twenty-eight assists in only thirty-four games. He was again a representative of Canada in the World Junior Championships in 2007, where he notched four goals and three assists in six games, as Canada again won the gold medal, and he was named to the tournament all-star team. Toews also played for Canada in the World Championships, and scored two goals and five assists in nine games, with Canada taking the silver medal. Toews made the leap straight out of college and to the NHL to play with the Blackhawks in sixty-four games, where he had a line of twenty-four goals and thirty assists. He was nominated for the Calder Trophy as the rookie of the year, but lost to teammate Patrick Kane. In the 2008 World Championships, Toews had two goals and three assists in nine games, and Canada again won the gold medal. For his strong leadership presence in the locker room, Toews was rewarded with the Blackhawks' captaincy prior to the 2008-2009 season. He responded with a full eighty-two game season in which he scored thirty-four goals and thirty-five assists in the regular season, and another seven goals and six assists in seventeen playoff games. He was selected to his first NHL All-Star Game during the season as well. Toews' real star-making season came in 2009-2010. In the NHL, he had twenty-five goals and forty-three assists in seventy-six games during the regular season. He also signed a large, five-year contract in late 2009. He was selected to represent Canada at the 2010 Winter Olympics as a member of the host team in Vancouver, Canada. In the Olympics, Toews had a goal and seven assists in seven games. For his performance, Toews was named to the Olympic All-Star team, as well as being named best forward for the tournament. With the Blackhawks in the postseason, Toews played in all twenty-two games, where he registered seven goals and twenty-two assists as the Blackhawks captured the Stanley Cup. To top off the fabulous year, Toews also earned the Conn Smythe trophy as playoff MVP. His honors through his career gave him entry into the Triple Gold Club, as a World Champion, Olympic Champion, and a Stanley Cup Champion. His Conn Smythe trophy was distinguished as he was the second-youngest to win the trophy, and the youngest captain to do so. He also was the sixth player to win Olympic Gold and the Stanley Cup in the same year. Toews followed up the magnificent year in 2010-2011, as cover athlete on EA's NHL 11 with a line of thirty-two goals and forty-four assists in eighty games played in the regular season, as well as one goal and three assists in seven playoff games. He was selected to play in his second All-Star Game in 2011 as well. In 2011-2012, Toews supplied another twenty-nine goals and twenty-eight assists in fifty-nine games during an injury-shortened season. The injury prevented Toews from playing in his third All-Star Game, despite having been selected to do so. He had two goals and two assists in six games during the postseason as well. Toews was somewhat vocal as a leader during the lockout in 2012, representing the NHLPA as negotiations between the union and the league struggled. In the shortened season of 2013 that followed, Toews potted twenty-three goals and twenty-five assists in forty-seven games during the regular season. Then, Toews was criticized for a lack of production in the playoffs, where he had just three goals and eleven assists in twenty-three games. Luckily for the Blackhawks, Toews' strong offense was not needed, as depth scoring helped pave the way for the Blackhawks to win their second Stanley Cup in four years. Toews remains the quiet and strong leader of the Blackhawks young core, and likely will for years to come.
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