Team touched down Saskatchewan in show of support for 19-year-old defenseman and his family.

The Chicago Blackhawks routed the team's chartered jet to Saskatoon, Saskatchewan on Friday so players and coaches could attend the funeral of Larry Korchinski, the father of rookie defenseman Kevin Korchinski.

The Blackhawks were returning to Chicago from Seattle, so the diversion over the border wasn't that far in distance. But it was significant in terms of helping Korchinski, their promising 19-year-old D-man, and his family.

"It was a sad day for everybody involved, but I thought it was really great that the schedule permitted us to be there to support Kevin and his family," coach Luke Richardson said on Saturday. "It's a tough time. I'm sure they appreciated the support there around them."

The Blackhawks stop in Saskatoon was "pretty quick" according to Richardson. Then their Signature Aviation Boeing 737 was back on its way to Chicago, where the Blackhawks practiced Saturday, then host the Vancouver Canucks on Sunday,

"It was just enough time to allow us to get there, do the right thing and be really supportive," Richardson said. "I think it was great for us to be there to help him, but also for him to see all of these guys."

Richardson said the team had little opportunity to interact with Korchinski and his family, other than to pass along condolences following the funeral mass for Larry Korchinski, who was 59 and apparently died suddenly. Larry Korchinski also is survived by his wife, Stacey Patenaude, and a daughter, Kate, along with four siblings.

Kevin Korchinski left the Blackhawks on Friday, Dec. 8 and was placed on non roster to deal with "a family matter."

"I think the guys have been texting with him quite a bit," Richardson said. "That's normal and that's comforting for him."  See following video.

Richardson didn't know when the smooth skating Korchinski, third on Chicago with an average 19:31 of ice time per game, would return. The injury-depleted Blackhawks could use the promising rookie, especially with top D-man Seth Jones going on IR with a shoulder injury he suffered a week ago against Washington.

No big rush, though.

"It's obviously still fresh for the family and it's good for him to be there," Richardson said. "We're ready really to help him out when he gets back here."

Like Kevin, Larry Korchinski played in the Western Hockey League, but with his hometown Saskatoon Blades. Kevin skated with the Seattle Thunderbirds.

Larry Korchinski also played for the University of Saskatchewan Huskies where he studied law. He went on to become a successful corporate attorney and worked for Saskatoon-based Comeco Corporation, a uranium mining and nuclear fuel concern.

No exact date or cause of death for Larry Korchinski was available. See notice at https://saskatoonfuneralhome.com/tribute/details/5609/Larry-Korchinski/obituary.html