Blackhawks honor team's assistant equipment manager at rally

Thursday's rally at Soldier Field was also a time to celebrate the life of a member of the Blackhawks family.

In the midst of a magical season, a tragedy occurred.

Clint Reif, the team's assistant equipment manager, died in late December at just 34 years old. The Blackhawks, and an emotional head coach Joel Quenneville, dedicated their win that night to his memory.

"Tough day, tough day," Quenneville had said.

The team also wore decals with his initials, 'CR,' in the Winter Classic just a few days later.

The season continued, and so did the outpouring of support for Reif's family.

countless fundraisers for the Clint Reif Memorial Fund were held by the team and Blackhawks fans all over Chicagoland.

And when the Blackhawks poured on to the ice to celebrate another world championship, Kelly Reif and her family were there with them.

So at Thursday's rally, with millions of Blackhawks fans watching in Soldier field and on TV, it was only appropriate that the Hawks honored their friend with one final gesture: awarding the team's championship belt to Reif's son, CJ.