Black Hawks alumni began this season with a collective total of 8,533 regular season games played. Already this winter, Waterloo's 10 active NHLers have bumped that number to almost 8,800, and they should make it to 9,000 sometime during the second half of the schedule.  Three Hawks still have an opportunity to play in every game for their respective club: Mikey Anderson (Los Angeles), Jack Drury (Colorado), and Tom Novak (Pittsburgh).

The 82-game accomplishment is worth acknowledging.  Only four former Black Hawks have ever done it, and Brandon Montour is the only member of that group who is active this season.  Coincidentally, Montour's 82 games season was split between the Anaheim Ducks and Buffalo Sabres in 2018/19.  The other alumni who have NHL seasons with perfect attendance are Joe Pavelski (nine times), Jason Blake (three seasons), and Craig Smith (twice).
 
NHL clubs are looking ahead to a three-day holiday break starting on Christmas Eve.  Almost three months into the schedule, here are some of the recent highlights for Hawks in the NHL.

Mikey Anderson – Los Angeles Kings
(Waterloo: 2015/16 – 2016/17)

On December 6th, Anderson notched his second goal of this season. Hosting the Chicago Blackhawks, Anderson found the net from near the left dot, contributing to the Kings' 6-0 rout.  He was +2 that night, then +2 again two nights later versus the Utah Mammoth, helping to push his season plus/minus mark to +9.  Another trend from the Chicago game which illustrates Anderson's contributions for much of this season: he played 22:09.  In 2025/26, the 26-year-old has played 20 or more minutes 15 times.

Matej Blumel – Boston Bruins
(Waterloo: 2017/18 – 2018/19)

Blumel made his Bruins debut on November 17th.  He skated for the Dallas Stars in parts of two prior seasons before signing with Boston over the summer.  Blumel dressed for a total of four Boston games in November but skated for only 2:02 against the New York Islanders on the 26th.  He has been out with a lower body injury since that point.

Brock Boeser – Vancouver Canucks
(Waterloo: 2014/15)

Still more than two months from his 29th birthday, Boeser is in position to become the third-most prolific NHL goal scorer among former Waterloo players.  His 213 regular season tallies currently tie him with Jason Blake.  Boeser is also only seven goals behind recently retired forward Craig Smith for second.  So far this season, Boeser has nine goals and seven assists.  The Canucks are currently on a pre-Christmas tour of the Eastern Conference, including upcoming games against both New York clubs, as well as Boston and Philadelphia.

Jack Drury – Colorado Avalanche
(Waterloo: 2016/17 – 2017/18)

During December, Drury has posted an "even" or "plus" plus/minus figure for all seven Avalanche games.  That has helped him climb to +8 this season.  Drury's previous career-best in that category was +4 as a member of the Carolina Hurricanes in 2023/24, when he made a career-high 74 appearances.  Last Saturday, he bagged his fifth goal of the season when the Avs hosted the Nashville Predators.  Drury is likely to challenge his career-best goal total (eight, twice); currently at 11 points, he also has time to make a run at the 27 points he recorded in 2023/24.

Vinnie Hinostroza – Minnesota Wild
(Waterloo: 2010/11 – 2012/13)

A lower body injury has cost Hinostroza nearly a month of games.  His last appearance was November 21st when he was injured by a check from Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Ryan Graves during the second period.  Prior to getting hurt, Hinostroza was on the ice for 22 games with two goals and three assists.  Last season, he played in 38 games, split between the Wild and Nashville Predators; that was the most since his 62 contests for the Buffalo Sabres in 2021/22.

Brandon Montour – Seattle Kraken
(Waterloo: 2013/14 – 2014/15)

So far in his second season with Seattle, Montour has averaged 22:19 per game, a matter of seconds shy of his average from last season.  He has skated for 20 or more minutes on 22 occasions during his 26 appearances.  When Montour scored against the Detroit Red Wings on December 6th, it was the 90th regular season goal of his NHL career.  Only 116 defensemen in league history have reached 100 goals.  As for former Black Hawks at any position, Montour is seeking to become the fifth to climb into triple digits.

Tom Novak – Pittsburgh Penguins
(Waterloo: 2014/15)

December has been a strong month for Novak.  On the 1st, he charted a third period power play score during a win against the Philadelphia Flyers.  That was the beginning of a five-game point streak.  He set up two goals on the 4th during a 4-3 victory against the Tampa Bay Lightning; it was his second multipoint performance for Pittsburgh.  Overall this month, he has six points (three goals, three assists) in seven games.  For the year, Novak is up to 15 points (five goals, 10 assists) in 31 games.

Sam Rinzel – Chicago Blackhawks
(Waterloo: 2021/22 – 2023/24)

Last week, Rinzel was assigned to the Rockford IceHogs of the American Hockey League.  He responded by promptly picking up four assists in his first two games.  In many ways, Rinzel's NHL rookie season has been filled with highlights.  He has a goal and seven assists in 28 games.  Those eight points tie Rinzel as the fifth-highest scoring Waterloo alum in the league so far during 2025/26.  Time in Rockford will likely give him more opportunities.  In 14 of 15 games prior to his reassignment, Rinzel played less than his 16:32 ice time average.

Dylan Samberg – Winnipeg Jets
(Waterloo: 2016/17)

Samberg started the year on injured reserve due to a broken wrist.  His first appearance of the season was on November 13th against the Seattle Kraken, and it was a strong start: 23:04 on the ice with two shots on goal and a +1 differential.  Samberg played a season-high 24:21 against Minnesota on the 23rd.  Then on the 29th, he recorded three assists as the Jets topped the Nashville Predators 5-2.  Overall, Samberg now has five assists in 16 games.  His 21:29 ice time average is higher than any season during his career.

Max Sasson – Vancouver Canucks
(Waterloo: 2020/21)

Sasson is at a perfect comparison point relative to 2024/25, when he made his NHL debut for the Canucks.  Last year, he played in 29 games and produced three goals and four assists while shuttling back-and-forth to Abbotsford in the AHL.  He started the current schedule there before an early call-up and has appeared in 29 more Vancouver games.  This season, Sasson has six goals and two assists.  He has a comparable number of shots on goal (30 versus 31).  He has also blocked 20 shots – second most among Vancouver forwards – up from 13 last season.

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