"Who would have ever thought this was going to happen?" Chelios said Wednesday after the Wings practiced at the ballpark. "Growing up in Chicago makes it that much more special.

"I hope I'm not taking it for granted, but just the fact we're playing hockey here is pretty amazing. Sitting out there looking at the bleachers and seeing Murphy's [Bleachers] across the street from an ice rink is a little different. Yeah, I've been to Murphy's a couple of times."

The 46-year-old Chelios, who played 654 games with the Hawks after growing up on the South Side, recalled visiting Wrigley Field with his father and uncle in the late '60s and early '70s. He also brought teammates Henrik Zetterberg and Nicklas Lidstrom to a Cubs game a few years back to experience Wrigley.

So it's OK for a South Sider to play in a North Side ballpark?

"Them North Siders I'm sure are the ones booing me every game," Chelios said. "It's just the way it is here. You have the White Sox and Cubs and that divides the city a little bit. It's all in good fun, and hopefully they're booing the jersey and not me personally."

Chelios isn't the only Red Wing with Chicago connections. Defenseman Brett Lebda hails from Buffalo Grove and is a lifelong Cubs fan.

"I always loved going there in the summer and watching games, and I try to get down to as many as I can," said Lebda, who lives in the Chicago area during the off-season. "It's a good time, a good atmosphere and a lot of fun. Being a huge Cubs fans, this is a good opportunity for me."