Full-circle moment for the Dach family as Kirby and Colton square off in Chicago

It was a special moment for the Dach family when the Chicago Blackhawks drafted Colton with the 62nd overall pick in the 2021 NHL Draft. Kirby Dach had already played with the Blackhawks for two seasons, and the family dreamed of one day when Colton would make his NHL debut and share the ice with his brother. Unfortunately, the Blackhawks traded Kirby at the following year's draft, ruining the dream and forcing Colton to pave his path.

It has been a tumultuous couple of seasons for Kirby in Montreal, including last year's two-game stint before he tore his knee. He has spent this season getting back up to speed, which seemed to be happening at the end of 2024.

Meanwhile, Colton has been paving his way in Rockford, averaging nearly a point per game this season. It came after a successful junior career, where he captained the Kelowna Rockets to a WHL Championship in the same year that he also played on Canada's Junior Team when they won their last gold medal.

It may not have been the image the Dach family had in their minds when they imagined Colton's NHL debut, but in a beautiful twist of fate, Kirby could still share the ice with him for the special moment. Did the Blackhawks intentionally give Colton the call to make his NHL debut when Kirby was in town? It's quite likely. However, it's a gesture that will leave the family indebted to the organization for years.

""It would be better if we won but it was cool. I thought Colton was great. It's still pretty special and I was happy I was around for it and got to see it.""

Kirby Dach

It was hard for Kirby to cherish the moment too much after the disappointing loss. However, its one of those things that he and his brother can appreciate long after they've hung up their skates for the final time.