The NHL : SD’s Chelios Returns for Brief Visit

When Chris Chelios was 13, his family moved from Chicago to San Diego. And Chelios thought he’d have to give up ice hockey. But Chelios found a rink a few blocks away from his home and became good friends with a security guard at the rink.

Chelios was able to have the rink to himself and he became a good skater. Chelios moved to Moose Jaw, Canada, three years later to play in a junior hockey league.

He spent two years at the University of Wisconsin before playing in the 1984 Winter Olympics.

Chelios joined the Montreal Canadiens late last season after the Olympics and played in 12 games. The 6-foot 1-inch 190-pound defenseman is skating a regular shift for the Canadiens this season. He was named to the Wales Conference All-Star team.

Last weekend Chelios returned to Southern California when the Canadiens played the Kings at the Forum. He reportedly ordered 100 tickets for friends and family. There were two busloads of people who drove up from his father’s restaurant in San Diego.

Chelios was the first player to leave the locker room after the game. He didn’t have much time to visit with his family since the Canadiens caught a red-eye flight to Montreal.

Left wing Mark Messier of the Edmonton Oilers returned from a 10-game suspension Wednesday night, but he’s having a hard time earning his job back.

Mike Krushelynski, who was put into Messier’s spot, has been playing very well. Krushelynski has scored five goals in his last two games.

“I hope Messier can make the team,” Edmonton Coach Glen Sather joked. “It’s a hell of a problem all right.”

Former Kings Coach Bob Pulford is back behind the bench in Chicago.

Pulford, the Chicago Black Hawks general manager, fired Coach Orval Tessier Monday and assumed Tessier’s job. Pulford coached the Black Hawks from 1977-79, winning two Norris Division titles.

Pulford passed over assistant coach Roger Neilson, who was the Kings’ head coach last season.

Rookie defenseman Grant Ledyard of the New York Rangers made his first trip to Los Angeles Tuesday night when the Rangers played the Kings at the Forum and it was difficult for him. Ledyard’s father suffered a fatal heart attack here while swimming in 1972.

“This is my first trip to Los Angeles, so naturally I think back to my father and what happened to him,” Ledyard told Newsday. “He was 41 years old and was a salesman for a brewery equipment company.

“I went into a shell for two months. I was the youngest of six children, so I took it the hardest. I was on a Peewee hockey team in Winnipeg, but I couldn’t play for a long time. A lot of friends helped out and I finally came out of it.”