Adam Gaudette notices the difference in his workouts and skating sessions. He notices it during meals. He notices it when he first wakes up.

The 24-year-old Blackhawks forward, locked in with a two-year contract extension in July, will arrive at training camp this fall feeling by far the best he ever has in his NHL career.

He’s 20 pounds heavier and counting — almost at his target weight, finally. He’s stronger, faster, more fluid on his skates and harder to knock off pucks.

And he’s almost completely vegan, which he credits as the source of it all.

“It’s changed who I am as a player,” he said, “and given me a bunch of confidence.”

Weight gain, at last

During a promising seven-game audition with the Hawks in April and May, Gaudette opened up about his candidiasis issues.

For years with the Canucks, and even dating back to his college hockey at Northeastern University, he struggled with digestion, vomiting stomach bile most mornings, developing nausea from the mere smell of certain foods and almost never feeling hungry.

A blood test eventually revealed that the amount of Candida — a naturally occurring type of yeast — in his stomach was 250 percent above normal. A two-week antibiotic cycle in November and another in February solved the immediate problem.

But until that point, Gaudette — 6-1 with a boxy frame — not only suffered from daily discomfort and confusion but also played perpetually underweight. Every season, he’d lose 10 or more pounds.

“An 82-game season is strenuous on the body, and I wasn’t getting enough calories and nutrients to repair the muscles that had been working so hard,” he said.

“In 2019-20, I came in at 185 pounds, and I was feeling really good [about that]. Two months later, I’m weighing in at 177. And last year was tough because I had a tough offseason, being sick, and then COVID hit. I hopped on the scale one day and saw it in the 160s, and I was like, ‘Jesus.’ “

It’s a different story now. He noticed his weight starting to increase within the first two weeks of this offseason, while he and his wife vacationed in the Caribbean. It continued once he returned home to Massachusetts and began his regular summer workout routine.

He weighs 190 now, and he’s hoping to reach 195 or 200 by the start of the season.

“Every week, I’ve just felt the weight going up and up,” he said. “I didn’t put on any fat at all; I put on all muscle. My body fat [percentage] stayed the same. I feel much more limber, more energized.”

‘This way of eating works’

Gaudette believes the key to maintaining his newfound health is his diet. What started as an effort to simply eliminate sugary and processed foods and drinks has evolved into nearly full-fledged veganism. He eats no meat, dairy or other animal products outside of an admitted few “cheat days.”

“I’ve tried a ton of new foods this summer — a ton of new recipes, different types of vegetables I never thought I’d like, but it’s been really good,” he said. “This way of eating works.”

A quick follow-up question about those recipes sends Gaudette on an excited search for his new cookbook.

One of his favorites is an Asian-style bowl with chickpeas, edamame beans, quinoa, broccolini, sweet potatoes, cabbage and kale. Another is a wrap with “fake bacon,” tofu, avo-cado, spinach and vegan cheese. On Tuesday night, he devoured fried tofu, carrots and vegetarian dumplings.

“It was hard to switch . . . but it’s definitely worth it,” he said. “As I did it more and got more committed to it, it became easier and easier.”

While most vegan converts tout the weight-loss benefits, Gaudette is one of few vegans trying to gain weight — and do so while maintaining pro athlete-level fitness. The key is enormous food intake. He burns about 3,000 calories daily, so he tries to eat 4,000 to 4,500, which requires constant effort. In addition to sprawling lunches and dinners, he snacks on peanuts and cashews all afternoon and adds protein-rich beans into anything he can.

“I have this breakfast bar that has 350 calories in it,” he said. “I have two of them for breakfast on my way to work out, and that’s 700 calories already. Then I come home and I eat a full meal after working out. I try to keep track of my calories, and these little bars and the nuts help, because they add up.”

AP Photos

Coming to Chicago soon

On the ice, Gaudette’s improvement is obvious. Northeastern sports performance director Dan Boothby, who has worked with Gaudette every summer since 2015, can tell better than anyone.

“There’s really no secret to it — he’s just worked really hard this summer,” said Boothby, who holds 8 a.m. workouts for a group that includes Gaudette, his brothers and fellow Hawks signee Mike Hardman. “I felt bad for him when he was working as hard as he was before and still struggling to gain weight. To have that issue figured out, to put on the weight that he has this year to build on that frame, and [to see] his efficiency and quality movement patterns, I’m excited for him.”

Gaudette’s old 82-flex sticks have been cast aside; they started feeling too “whiffy.” Instead, he now uses 87-flex sticks with the resistance to match his weight.

He’s setting new personal bests in every weight-room exercise, from bench presses to pull-ups. And he’s doing all of it without dealing with hip-flexor or groin injuries, which nagged him in previous summers.

“I feel more powerful, quicker coming out of turns,” he said. “What I didn’t really expect is I feel more fluid and smoother, too, [because before] sometimes I felt like I’d trip over my own feet.”

He plans to drive to Chicago and move into a yet-to-be-found apartment at the end of the month, giving him plenty of time to settle in before camp begins. And then he expects Hawks (and Canucks) coaches, management and fans will see a far different Adam Gaudette than they’ve seen before.

“I don’t think I need to change the way I play,” he said. “Some things are just going to be a little bit easier. I won’t be bumped off pucks as easily, and I’ll be able to win more stick battles or get in front of the net or be better defensively by containing guys.

“It’s going to be 20 more pounds that somebody has to fight against. Playing at 170 [and] going up against a guy who’s 210, that’s a lot of work you have to put in to try to win that battle. Being 190 or 195, those things will come a little easier, and I’ll be able to come out on top of those battles a lot more.”

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Chicago Bulls Rumors: Lauri Markkanen wants out of Chicago by Ryan Heckman

The Chicago Blackhawks have made some big moves so far this offseason. They really want to get the most out of the rest of Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane’s careers with the team. Adding stars like Seth Jones and Marc-Andre Fleury will surely help that case along with some depth guys like Caleb Jones and Jake McCabe. As of now, it is clear that they are trying to be a much-improved team by 2021-22. There, are, however, some more moves that could be made before training camp starts.

One move that could happen is a trade for Dylan Strome. With Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews, Tyler Johnson, Kirby Dach, Alex DeBrincat, and Dominik Kubalik in the mix, there might be room for a Strome trade if someone is willing to give up an asset for him. There are a lot of teams that could use someone like Strome in the middle of their lineup.

Strome is a good offensive player. There is no reason not to have faith in him but the Hawks should be seeing him as expendable at this point. He can play center and wing but if they don’t trade him, you would imagine that he is playing wing because of the fact that Toews, Dach, and Johnson are there.

In the short 2020-21 season, Strome had nine goals and eight assists for 17 points in 40 games played. Obviously, he has been better than that in his NHL career but his chances of being a top guy with the Blackhawks now are slim. There are going to be other guys getting those opportunities now as they try to get better as a team.

Dylan Strome and the Chicago Blackhawks might both benefit from a trade.

Whoever is the next team to have Dylan Strome on their team might be happy about it for a while. He was really good with the Hawks when he first came over from the Arizona Coyotes but started to fall off as the years go on. We know about how talented he is as he was a third overall pick but a change of scenery might be in store for him.

If the Hawks can get him another change of scenery, he might thrive. He is a player that can make big plays and score some goals as well. A team acquiring him would be getting a motivated player that has some gifted offensive skills. The Hawks, on the other hand, would be getting some cap relief and could be getting something in return that helps them more. It is something that could help out both parties.

Related Story: The Blackhawks are a serious playoff contender now

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Two men, 38 and 39, were in a vehicle just after 2:35 a.m. in the 13000 block of South Evans Avenue when someone in a red sedan opened fire, Chicago Police said.

The 38-year-old victim was shot multiple times in his pelvic area and the 39-year-old suffered four gunshot wounds throughout his body, police said.

Both were taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center where they were listed in critical condition, police said.

No one was in custody.

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Three women were shot and wounded while passing through Fernwood on the Far South Side Saturday.

The three victims, 21, 23 and 24, were traveling westbound around 12:50 a.m. in the 200 block of West 105th Street when someone started shooting at their vehicle, police said.

The 21-year-old woman was shot once in her buttocks, the 23-year-old in her ankles and the 24-year-old in her leg, police said.

One of the women drove the three to Roseland Hospital where their conditions were stabilized, police said.

No one was in custody.

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A man was shot Friday while passing through Lawndale on the West Side.

Around 11:30 p.m., the victim, 20, was a passenger in a vehicle traveling in the 3800 block of West Harrison Street when he heard gunfire, Chicago police said.

He was shot once in the jaw and mouth and was driven to Mount Sinai Hospital where he was listed in critical condition, police said.

No one was in custody.

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SAITAMA, Japan — Nothing about the summer was easy for the U.S. men’s basketball team, and neither was the gold-medal game.

The Americans expected nothing less.

And in the end, their Olympic reign continues.

Kevin Durant scored 29 points and joined Carmelo Anthony as the only three-time men’s gold medalists in Olympic history and the U.S. held off France 87-82 on Saturday to win the title at the Tokyo Games — ending a summer that started with sputters but closed with celebration.

Durant sealed it with two free throws with 8.8 seconds left, making the outcome academic. The lead was five, France’s final possession was irrelevant, and it was over. The U.S. players gathered for a hug at midcourt, Durant, Bam Adebayo and Draymond Green wrapped themselves in American flags, and the journey was complete.

Jayson Tatum finished with 19 points, Damian Lillard and Jrue Holiday each scored 11 for the U.S.

Evan Fournier and Rudy Gobert each scored 16 for France, which now has four silver medals — all coming after gold-medal-game losses to the U.S. Guerschon Yabusele scored 13, Nando de Colo had 12 and Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot scored 11 for France.

Frank Ntilikina’s 3-pointer got France within 73-70 with 5:42 left, but the U.S. had a quick answer — a 9-2 run that restored a 10-point lead on Tatum’s 3-pointer.

From there, it was just a matter of finishing the job. The summer started with two exhibition losses, the Olympics started with a loss to France, and none of that seemed to matter much at the end.

The mission was accomplished: Gold, again — the 16th time in 19 Olympic tries for the U.S.

For some, it adds to family legacies. Jrue Holiday now is an Olympic gold medalist, just like his wife Lauren was twice with the U.S. women’s national soccer team. JaVale McGee now has Olympic gold, just like his mother Pamela won with the U.S. women in basketball at the 1984 Los Angeles Games.

For Milwaukee Bucks teammates Holiday and Khris Middleton, it’s admission into a rare club: Before now, only Scottie Pippen (who did it twice), Michael Jordan, LeBron James and Kyrie Irving had won an NBA title and Olympic gold in the same year.

And for U.S. coach Gregg Popovich, it completes an Olympic journey that started a half-century ago. He was playing for the United States Air Force Academy, tried unsuccessfully to make the 1972 U.S. Olympic team– “the powers that be actually selected Doug Collins instead of me, it’s hard to believe,” Popovich joked earlier this summer — then accepted the task of replacing Mike Krzyzewski as the U.S. coach for this Olympic cycle.

“Being part of the Olympics has been a dream,” Popovich said.

The U.S. missed its first eight 3-point tries before Durant got one to drop with 2:04 left in the opening quarter, starting what became a 21-8 run by the Americans on the way to a 39-26 lead midway through the second quarter.

France responded, closing the half on a 13-5 spurt and getting within 44-39 at the break, then within two early in the third quarter.

And after the U.S. briefly led by 14, Nicolas Batum — who saved his team with a last-second block to close out a win over Slovenia in the semifinals — beat the third-quarter buzzer with a 3-pointer that cut the U.S. lead to 71-63 entering the fourth.

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A man was fatally shot while riding in a vehicle Friday in Humboldt Park on the West Side.

Around 9:10 p.m., the victim, 38, was a passenger in a vehicle traveling westbound in the 3400 block of West Division Street when someone opened fire from another vehicle, Chicago Police said.

The man was struck once in the face, police said.

He was taken to Humboldt Park Health Hospital by the driver of the vehicle where he was pronounced dead, police said. He has not been identified.

No one was in custody.

On July 25, about a half-mile away, a man was killed in a drive-by shooting.

The 35-year-old man was hit multiple times about 5:50 p.m. in the 800 block of North Homan Avenue, police said. He was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital, where he was pronounced dead, police said. The Cook County medical examiner’s office identified him as Ronnie Wade, a resident of the Tri-Taylor neighborhood.

Read more on crime, and track the city’s homicides.

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Chicago Sky forward Candace Parker, the two-time WNBA Most Valuable Player, has been named grand marshal of the 92nd Annual Bud Billiken Parade and Festival, organizers announced Friday.

This year’s parade is next Saturday, Aug. 14, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The Chicago native, who recently made history as the first woman and WNBA player to grace the cover of an NBA 2K video game, will lead the parade as it returns this year. Last year, due to COVID-19, it was canceled for the first time in its history.

“Candace is seen as hometown hero to many of our city’s youth, and to have her lead the parade this year is just the burst of energy and excitement our students need as they prepare for their first full year back in classrooms since the beginning of the pandemic,” said Myiti Sengstacke-Rice, president and CEO of the Chicago Defender Charities and Bud Billiken Parade Chair.

Provided

In her 14th season, Parker is the Sky’s second-leading scorer — despite sitting out eight games with a high ankle sprain early in the season. Without their star, the Sky entered a seven-game skid that was immediately reversed upon her return, with a franchise-record seven-game winning streak.

The team now is 10-10 at the Olympic break — 9-3 with her on the floor.

Joining Parker for the festivities will be other local and national celebrities and dignitaries. Honorary grand marshals include the cast of VH1’s Chicago Black Ink Crew; author/media personality Bevy Smith; and Jeremy Joyce, creator of Black People Eats.

McKinley Nelson, founder of Project Swish Chicago, is honorary health ambassador, and award-winning gospel artist Jonathan McReynolds has been named honorary hometown hero.

U.S. Rep. Bobby Rush, D-Ill., is the honorary parade dignitary, with Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot also expected to participate when the parade kicks off at 45th Street and Martin Luther King Jr. Drive. Parker will lead the procession south on King Drive, through Washington Park, ending at Garfield Boulevard and 55th Street. That’s where the festival, featuring vendors, food, entertainment — and coronavirus vaccine stations — will be held.

Due to COVID-19, masks are required to attend the enclosed festival, and attendees will have to register in advance — either to verify they have been vaccinated, or to receive the vaccine on-site.

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One person was killed and another critically wounded in a shooting Friday evening in Park Manor on the South Side.

A man, 27, and another male, whose age was unknown, were near the front of a home in the 6900 block of South Vernon Avenue just before 5 p.m., when two people approached and opened fire, Chicago police said.

The 27-year-old was struck in the head and taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center where he was pronounced dead, police said. He has not yet been identified.

The other male suffered a gunshot wound to the abdomen and was taken to the same hospital in critical condition, police said.

There was no one in custody.

Read more on crime, and track the city’s homicides.

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The trial of R&B superstar R. Kelly is set to begin Aug. 9 in Brooklyn’s federal court. Here are some key concepts and phrases likely to come up during the trial:

Batson motion: This could come up during jury selection. Potential jurors may not be dismissed from the jury pool simply because of their race, according to the U.S. Supreme Court. When a party in a case makes a Batson motion — an allegation that race was the reason for a juror’s dismissal — the other side must offer a race-neutral explanation.

Beyond a reasonable doubt: Prosecutors must prove R. Kelly guilty beyond a reasonable doubt to secure a conviction. While there is no precise definition, it is the highest standard of proof in any case.

Enterprise: In a racketeering case, the enterprise is the larger venture furthered by the crimes committed by its members. In the R. Kelly case, prosecutors allege Kelly and his managers, bodyguards, drivers, personal assistants, runners and other members of Kelly’s entourage formed an enterprise. Its alleged purpose was to promote R. Kelly’s music and brand, and to recruit women and girls for illegal sexual activity and to produce child pornography.

For cause challenge: One of two ways a potential juror could be dismissed from the R. Kelly jury pool is for cause. If a potential juror is dismissed for cause, that person has demonstrated an unwillingness or inability to be fair and impartial.

Judgment of acquittal: After prosecutors rest their case, defense attorneys may ask the judge for a judgment of acquittal — meaning no reasonable jury could convict based on the evidence presented. Such judgments are commonly sought, but rarely granted.

Mann Act: Prosecutors allege R. Kelly violated the Mann Act, a federal law that makes it a crime to transport anyone across state lines for prostitution or illegal sexual activity.

Peremptory challenge: One of two ways a potential juror could be dismissed from the R. Kelly jury pool is through a peremptory challenge. Typically, each side has a limited number of peremptory challenges that may be used for any reason as long as they are not used to discriminate against a juror based on race, gender, ethnicity or religion.

Racketeering: Congress passed the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organization (RICO) Act to target organized crime. It lets prosecutors tie together multiple crimes committed in furtherance of a larger racketeering enterprise. R. Kelly’s indictment alleges 14 racketeering activities, including bribery, kidnapping, forced labor, sexual exploitation of a child and violations of the Mann Act.

Sequestered: U.S. District Judge Ann Donnelly has ruled that the jurors in R. Kelly’s case should remain anonymous and “partially sequestered” — or separated from the general public. Specifically, she granted a government request that U.S. Marshals escort jurors in and out of the courthouse every day, and that jurors be separated from the public during any breaks in the trial, including at lunch time.

Venire: The panel of potential jurors from which the R. Kelly jury will be selected.

Voir Dire: The process of questioning potential jurors and choosing the final jury.

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