Aliu, Beach seek to be Blackhawks' waves of the future at camp

Not that long ago, the team debuted in anonymity and became even less recognizable as the months wore on. Now, with improved access to the sport in Chicago, even the less familiar names have a rare opportunity in preseason to have some much-needed face time before the masses.
Wingers Akim Aliu and Kyle Beach have to force themselves into the picture. While there appears little chance for prospects to make the club, Aliu and Beach still have to show decisonmakers that they can impact what happens on the ice and that they are a maturing presence demanding their attention--and, ahem, their respect.
That latter quality is the trickiest goal to attain. It comes from practicing patience, dedication, persistence and hormone management--all of which could pertain to Aliu and Beach's improved mood controls and growth potential.
I always look forward to what surprises may be popping up in front as opposed to welcoming back players who already have established themselves. Otherwise, there would be no need at all for preseasons with the year-round workout regimes most athletes now follow.
The Blackhawks have made their name in part by singing the praises of young guns Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews. Keeping the pipeline pumping more young blood will be essential should the Blackhawks care to prove they are more than one-year wonders.
The focus, as usual, will be on the bigger names when the Hawks open training camp this weekend. But preseason is about development and Aliu and Beach should be ready to stamp their big footprints in the ice and make a statement about where they stand, even if it means returning to Rockford for additional apprenticeships.
Now that defenseman Niklas Hjalmarsson has bulled his way onto the team, appreciably a recognized asset after a solid postseason performance, the next propsects in line for a promotion could be these two physically imposing forwards.
Left wing Beach is listed at 6-foot-3, 206 lbs., while right wing Aliu is 6-foot-3, 220. Nigerian-born Aliu is slightly older at the age of 20 and Beach is 19. Beach was drafted high in 2008 at 11th overall, while Aliu is a second-rounder (56th overall) from 2007.
Both of them probably require more seasoning before the Hawks call them full-time to the NHL. But someone has to fill in for the first couple months for injured right wing Hossa, and depending on how coach Joel Quenneville wants to form his roster, the youthful, fiery assertions of Aliu and Beach could be meaningful in the next couple weeks.
Some observers were impressed by Aliu's overall effectiveness at a Blackhawks prospect camp in July, while others thought Beach did better with more production. So that makes them the spotlighted players who seem to be riding the fastest rising stars at the moment.
Aliu's promise may have jumped ahead of fellow right winger Jack Skille, who also will be among the prospects most closely monitored at camp. Skille is 22 and a first-rounder (7th overall) from 2005 who either has to advance soon or fall back into the land of overrated and underwhelming. No one wants to allow those words to tarnish their resume.
Aliu and Beach both violated Rockford team policy last season and were disciplined. But at their age and in their profession, being head-strong is often more a blessing than a curse and we should be willing to allow them to keep moving forward without prejudgments.
Young hockey players are often in peer-pressure situations that invite confrontation. That they would find themselves enmeshed in conflict becomes the norm, not the unusual, and the increased media only serves to heighten the tension and the preconceived reputations.
Aliu also was part of a hazing incident with the Windsor (Ontario) Spitfires. If the report is accurate, he refused to get naked and get stuffed in a team bus toilet where he would be up close and way too personal with other rookies.
Sounds to me like Aliu has a good head on his shoulders and knows when not to make a move.
Check out how various people have assessed Aliu and Beach and the word "discipline" gets a workout. So does "fiery" and "big body" and "offensive abilities."
The day will never come when the Blackhawks don't need fiery forwards who are imposing physically and can create offensive chances. The discipline? That's what Quenneville gets paid to do.
Sometimes the best people for the job are the ones who have red flags on their resumes. It can mean they are willing to fight harder than the rest to make a difference. No one wins waving white flags. Red flags are preferable.
While the more well-known players hone their skills at camp, hopefuls such as Aliu, Beach and Skille have to bring a more well-rounded aspect to the mix to make everyone confident that the Blackhawks have a solid future.
So keep your eye at camp on what's around the corner as far as Blackhawks talent. That will tell if the team has the capabilities to become a model NHL franchise with the depth to avoid those injury setbacks that are bound to be out there.