Chicago Blackhawks facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Chicago Blackhawks |
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| Conference | Western |
| Division | Central |
| Founded | 1926 |
| History | Chicago Black Hawks 1926–1986 Chicago Blackhawks 1986–present |
| Home arena | United Center |
| City | Chicago, Illinois |
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| Colors | Red, white, black |
| Media | Chicago Sports Network WGN (720 AM) |
| Owner(s) | Wirtz Corporation Danny Wirtz, chairman |
| General manager | Kyle Davidson |
| Head coach | Luke Richardson |
| Captain | Nick Foligno |
| Minor league affiliates | Rockford IceHogs (AHL) Indy Fuel (ECHL) |
| Stanley Cups | 6 (1933–34, 1937–38, 1960–61, 2009–10, 2012–13, 2014–15) |
| Conference championships | 4 (1991–92, 2009–10, 2012–13, 2014–15) |
| Presidents' Trophies | 2 (1990–91, 2012–13) |
| Division championships | 16 (1969–70, 1970–71, 1971–72, 1972–73, 1975–76, 1977–78, 1978–79, 1979–80, 1982–83, 1985–86, 1989–90, 1990–91, 1992–93, 2009–10, 2012–13, 2016–17) |
The Chicago Blackhawks are a professional ice hockey team from Chicago. They play in the National Hockey League (NHL) as part of the Central Division in the Western Conference. The team has won six Stanley Cup championships since they started in 1926.
The Blackhawks are one of the "Original Six" NHL teams. The other five are the Detroit Red Wings, Montreal Canadiens, Toronto Maple Leafs, Boston Bruins, and New York Rangers. Since 1995, the team has played their home games at the United Center. They share this arena with the National Basketball Association's Chicago Bulls. Both teams used to play at the Chicago Stadium, which is now gone.
The Blackhawks' first owner was Frederic McLaughlin. He was very involved and helped the team win two Stanley Cups in 1934 and 1938. After he passed away in 1944, the Norris family took over. They also owned the Chicago Stadium. The team won another Stanley Cup in 1961 under James D. Norris.
Later, the Wirtz family became the owners. In 2007, Rocky Wirtz took charge. He helped the team become popular and successful again. Under his leadership, the Blackhawks won three more Stanley Cups in 2010, 2013, and 2015. Rocky Wirtz passed away in 2023, and his son, Danny Wirtz, is now the chairman of the Blackhawks.
Contents
- Team History
- Team Information
- Media and Announcers
- Recent Season Records
- Players
- See also
Team History
How the Blackhawks Started
On May 1, 1926, the NHL decided to add a new team in Chicago. A group led by Huntington Hardwick bought the players from another team, the Portland Rosebuds. A month later, Frederic McLaughlin, a coffee businessman from Chicago, bought the team.
McLaughlin had been a commander in World War I. His military group was called the "Blackhawk Division." This name came from Black Hawk, a Native American leader from Illinois. McLaughlin named the new hockey team "Black Hawks" to honor his military unit. Until 1986, the name was spelled as two words. Then, it officially became "Blackhawks" based on the original team papers.
The Black Hawks played their first season in 1926–27. They competed with other new teams like the Detroit Cougars (now Red Wings) and New York Rangers. McLaughlin was very hands-on, even though he didn't have much hockey experience. He wanted to promote American players, which was unusual then. Players like Doc Romnes and Charlie Gardiner became important to the team. The Black Hawks were the first NHL team with an all-American lineup.
Early Years with Frederic McLaughlin (1926–1944)
The Black Hawks played their first game on November 17, 1926, at the Chicago Coliseum. They won 4–1 in front of over 7,000 fans. Their first season was decent, finishing third. However, they lost in the playoffs to the Boston Bruins.
After that, McLaughlin fired coach Pete Muldoon. A sportswriter later made up a story about Muldoon putting a "curse" on the team. The story said the team would never finish first. Even though it was a made-up story, the team didn't finish first for a long time. They had a very bad season in 1927–28, winning only 7 out of 44 games.
In the 1929–30 season, the Black Hawks moved to the new Chicago Stadium. By 1931, with star players like Johnny Gottselig, Cy Wentworth, and goalie Charlie Gardiner, they reached their first Stanley Cup Finals. But they lost to the Montreal Canadiens.
Two years later, in 1934, Gardiner led the team to victory. They shut out the Detroit Red Wings in the final game. Mush March scored the winning goal in double-overtime, and the Hawks won their first Stanley Cup.
In 1938, the Black Hawks had a poor record and barely made the playoffs. But they surprised everyone! Goalie Mike Karakas was injured, so they had to use a minor-league player, Alfie Moore, who won a game. Karakas returned for the last two games, and the Hawks won their second championship. The 1938 Black Hawks had the worst regular season record of any Stanley Cup champion.
The Black Hawks returned to the Finals in 1944, led by Doug Bentley. But they lost to the strong Montreal Canadiens in four games.
The Norris Family Takes Over (1944–1966)
After Frederic McLaughlin died in 1944, the team was sold to a group led by Bill Tobin. However, Tobin was working for James E. Norris, who also owned the Detroit Red Wings. For many years, the Blackhawks were not very good. They only made the playoffs twice between 1945 and 1958.
In 1950, James D. Norris and Arthur Wirtz took over the team. They worked to improve it. They hired Tommy Ivan as general manager.
In the late 1950s, the Hawks got some amazing young players: forwards Bobby Hull and Stan Mikita, and defenseman Pierre Pilote. They also got star goalie Glenn Hall and veteran forward Ted Lindsay. Hull, Mikita, Pilote, and Hall became huge stars and are now in the Hockey Hall of Fame.
After losing in the first round of the playoffs in 1959 and 1960, the Hawks faced the Montreal Canadiens in 1961. Chicago won the series in six games. Then, they beat the Detroit Red Wings to win their third Stanley Cup championship!
The Hawks reached the Stanley Cup Finals two more times in the 1960s, but lost both. Still, they were a strong team. Hull scored 50 goals four times, and Mikita won scoring titles and MVP awards. Pilote won three straight best defenseman awards, and Hall was a top goalie. Hull and Mikita were known as the best duo in the league.
In 1966–67, the Black Hawks finished first in the league. This broke the "Curse of Muldoon" that had been made up years before. However, they lost in the playoffs to Toronto.
The Arthur Wirtz Era (1966–1983)
After James D. Norris passed away in 1966, his longtime partner Arthur Wirtz and his son Bill Wirtz took over the team. Goalie Glenn Hall left for the St. Louis Blues in 1967. Pierre Pilote was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1968. In the 1968–69 season, even with Bobby Hull scoring 58 goals, the Black Hawks missed the playoffs for the first time since 1958.
In 1967, the Black Hawks made a trade with the Boston Bruins that didn't turn out well for Chicago. They sent young players Phil Esposito, Ken Hodge, and Fred Stanfield to Boston. These players helped the Bruins win two Stanley Cups.
In the 1970–71 season, the Black Hawks moved to the West Division. They quickly became the best team there, finishing with a great record. With second-year goalie Tony Esposito (Phil's younger brother), Hull, his brother Dennis, Mikita, and strong defensemen, the Hawks reached the Stanley Cup Finals. But they lost to the Canadiens.
A big change happened in 1972 when the World Hockey Association (WHA) started. Bobby Hull, unhappy with his pay, left to play for the Winnipeg Jets for a lot of money. The Black Hawks made it to the Stanley Cup Finals again that year, but lost to Montreal once more.
For the rest of the 1970s, the Black Hawks made the playoffs every year and won seven division championships. However, they never won the Stanley Cup. They even lost 16 playoff games in a row at one point. The team got legendary defenseman Bobby Orr in 1976, but he was often injured and retired in 1979. Stan Mikita also retired the next year after playing for Chicago for 22 years.
By 1982, the Black Hawks barely made the playoffs. But they surprised everyone, led by Denis Savard and Doug Wilson. They beat the Minnesota North Stars and St. Louis Blues before losing to the Vancouver Canucks. Chicago proved they were good the next season, reaching the third round again before losing to the Edmonton Oilers.
The Bill Wirtz Era (1983–2007)
In 1983, Arthur Wirtz passed away, and his son Bill Wirtz took full control of the team. The Blackhawks continued to make the playoffs every season, but the team slowly declined. They did make it to the 1992 Stanley Cup Finals.
During the 1985 playoffs, the Blackhawks and their fans started a tradition of cheering loudly during "The Star-Spangled Banner" (the US national anthem).
Before the 1986–87 season, it was discovered that the team's original contract spelled the name as one word: "Blackhawks." So, the name officially changed from "Black Hawks" to "Chicago Blackhawks."
In the late 1980s, Chicago still made the playoffs but lost early. In 1988, with rookies Ed Belfour and Jeremy Roenick, they reached the Conference Final but lost to the Calgary Flames.
The next season, the Hawks won their division but lost in the third round to the Edmonton Oilers. In 1990, Chicago had the best record in the regular season, winning the Presidents' Trophy. But they were upset in the first round of the playoffs.
In 1991, the Blackhawks finally reached the Stanley Cup Finals after 19 years. They won 11 playoff games in a row, setting an NHL record. However, they were swept 4–0 by the Mario Lemieux-led Pittsburgh Penguins. Even though it was a sweep, the games were very close.
In 1992, Belfour had a great season, but St. Louis swept Chicago in the first round of the playoffs. The 1993–94 season was the Blackhawks' last at the Chicago Stadium. They moved to the new United Center for the 1994–95 season. They made it to the Western Conference Final but lost to the Detroit Red Wings.
Key players like Jeremy Roenick, Ed Belfour, and Chris Chelios were traded away in the late 1990s. The Blackhawks missed the playoffs in 1998 for the first time in 29 years. They continued to miss the playoffs until the 2008–09 season.
The early 2000s were tough for the Blackhawks. Éric Daze, Alexei Zhamnov, and Tony Amonte were star players, but the team struggled. They only made the playoffs once in 2002, losing in the first round.
In 2004, a sports network called the Blackhawks the worst team in professional sports. Many fans were unhappy with owner Bill Wirtz. He didn't allow home games to be shown on TV in Chicago. He also raised ticket prices, making them very expensive.
After the 2004–05 season, new general manager Dale Tallon tried to rebuild the team. He signed goalie Nikolai Khabibulin and defenseman Adrian Aucoin. But injuries hurt the team, and they finished near the bottom of the league. In 2006, popular announcer Pat Foley was not brought back, which upset many fans.
In the 2006 NHL Draft, the team picked Jonathan Toews third overall. They also traded for talented forward Martin Havlat. In November 2006, head coach Trent Yawney was fired and Denis Savard took over. The Blackhawks still struggled and finished last in their division. However, they won the first overall pick in the 2007 Draft and used it to draft Patrick Kane.
The Rocky Wirtz Era (2007–2023)
Rebuilding the Blackhawks (2007–2009)
On September 26, 2007, longtime owner Bill Wirtz passed away. His son Rocky became the new owner. Rocky made big changes. He started showing Blackhawks home games on TV again, which was a huge deal for fans. He also brought back former Blackhawks legends like Tony Esposito and Bobby Hull as team ambassadors.
The team's roster got much stronger with Patrick Kane, the first pick in the 2007 Draft. Kane and Jonathan Toews were both finalists for the award given to the best rookie. Kane won the award. The Blackhawks finished the 2007–08 season with a winning record, their first in six years.
Before the 2008–09 season, 20-year-old Toews was named the team captain, making him one of the youngest captains in the league. The Blackhawks also signed goalie Cristobal Huet and defenseman Brian Campbell. They also added experienced coaches Joel Quenneville and Scotty Bowman to their team.
In 2008, the Blackhawks announced they would host the 2009 NHL Winter Classic at Wrigley Field. This was a special outdoor game against the Detroit Red Wings. The Red Wings won 6–4. In October 2008, Denis Savard was replaced by Joel Quenneville as head coach.
The Blackhawks finished the 2008–09 season in second place in their division. They made the playoffs for the first time since 2002. They beat the Calgary Flames and Vancouver Canucks to reach the Western Conference Championship. But they lost to the Detroit Red Wings.
During this season, the team had the best attendance in the NHL, showing how much fan interest had returned.
Stanley Cup Returns to Chicago (2009–2010)
Before the 2009–10 season, the Blackhawks signed Marian Hossa to a big contract. They also got Tomas Kopecky and John Madden. In July 2009, Stan Bowman, Scotty Bowman's son, became the new general manager. The Blackhawks continued to sell out their games, leading the NHL in attendance.
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The Blackhawks re-signed Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews to long-term contracts in December 2009. They also signed Duncan Keith to a 13-year deal. In April 2010, the Hawks won their 50th game of the season, setting a new team record. They also set a new record for points in a season.
The Blackhawks made the playoffs for the second year in a row. They defeated the Nashville Predators and Vancouver Canucks. Then, they swept the San Jose Sharks to reach the 2010 Stanley Cup Finals. They played the Philadelphia Flyers and won in six games! This was their fourth Stanley Cup and their first since 1961, ending a 49-year championship wait.
Building for More Wins (2010–2012)
After winning the Stanley Cup, the Blackhawks had to trade some players because of salary cap rules. Players like Dustin Byfuglien and Andrew Ladd left. They also couldn't keep goalie Antti Niemi. They signed Marty Turco as a replacement, but rookie Corey Crawford eventually became the main goalie.
Despite these changes, the Blackhawks finished the 2010–11 season in eighth place in the Western Conference. They faced the top-seeded Vancouver Canucks in the first round of the playoffs. The Canucks took a 3–0 lead, but the Blackhawks won the next three games to tie the series! However, the Canucks won Game 7 in overtime.
Before the 2011–12 season, the Blackhawks continued to make roster changes. They traded Troy Brouwer and veteran defenseman Brian Campbell. They signed new forwards like Daniel Carcillo and Jamal Mayers. They also signed Andrew Shaw.
The Blackhawks finished sixth in the Western Conference and made the playoffs again. They faced the Phoenix Coyotes in the first round. Five of the six games went to overtime, but the Coyotes won the series in six games.
Presidents' Trophy and Fifth Stanley Cup (2012–2013)
The 2012–13 season was shorter due to a lockout. The Blackhawks started the season incredibly well, setting new records. On February 19, they tied an NHL record by earning points in their first 16 games. On March 6, they extended this record to 24 games without a regulation loss! Their amazing streak ended on March 8 when they lost to the Colorado Avalanche.
The United Center also had its 200th straight sell-out game for the Blackhawks. The Blackhawks won the Presidents' Trophy for having the best regular season record in the NHL. This gave them home-ice advantage throughout the playoffs.
After beating the Minnesota Wild, the Blackhawks faced the Detroit Red Wings. The Blackhawks won Game 1 but then lost three games in a row. They came back to win the next three games, with Brent Seabrook scoring the winning goal in overtime of Game 7. They then defeated the Los Angeles Kings to reach their second Stanley Cup Finals in four seasons.
The Blackhawks played the Boston Bruins in the 2013 Stanley Cup Finals. This was the first time since 1979 that two "Original Six" teams met in the Finals. On June 24, the Blackhawks won the Stanley Cup in Game 6. They were losing 2–1 with just over a minute left, but Bryan Bickell and Dave Bolland scored goals only 17 seconds apart to win 3–2!
Sixth Stanley Cup and More Success (2013–2016)
The Blackhawks started the 2013–14 season hoping to win back-to-back Stanley Cups. They traded some players to stay under the salary cap. The team played their second outdoor game against the Pittsburgh Penguins at Soldier Field. The Blackhawks won 5–1 in front of over 62,000 fans.
The team recorded its 2,500th regular season win. Head coach Joel Quenneville also reached 693 wins, making him third all-time in NHL coaching wins. The Blackhawks finished third in their division. They lost the first two playoff games to the St. Louis Blues but then won four straight to take the series. They also beat the Minnesota Wild again. However, the Los Angeles Kings defeated the Blackhawks in seven games and went on to win the Stanley Cup. After the season, Duncan Keith won the James Norris Memorial Trophy for the second time.
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The Blackhawks' team stayed mostly the same for the 2014–15 season. They signed veteran center Brad Richards and rookie goalie Scott Darling. Patrick Kane led the team in scoring. Six Blackhawks players were chosen for the All-Star Game. The team also played in the 2015 NHL Winter Classic in Washington, D.C., where they lost to the Washington Capitals.
In February, Kane suffered a shoulder injury. The team acquired Antoine Vermette and Kimmo Timonen to help. Kane recovered faster than expected and was ready for the playoffs. The Blackhawks defeated the Nashville Predators and swept the Minnesota Wild. They reached the Western Conference Finals for the fifth time in seven years. They then beat the Anaheim Ducks in seven games. Finally, they defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 2015 Stanley Cup Finals to win their third Stanley Cup in six seasons, showing they were a modern NHL dynasty.
The Blackhawks' roster changed a lot before the 2015–16 season due to salary cap limits. They traded Brandon Saad and Patrick Sharp. They signed free agent Artemi Panarin from Russia.
Patrick Kane had an amazing season, scoring 106 points and winning the Hart Memorial Trophy as the league's MVP. Panarin, who played on Kane's line, won the Calder Memorial Trophy as the best rookie. The Blackhawks finished third in their division. However, they were defeated by the St. Louis Blues in a seven-game series in the first round of the 2016 playoffs. This was their earliest playoff exit since 2012.
Post-Cup Years and Retooling (2016–2020)
More salary cap issues forced the Blackhawks to make more trades before the 2016–17 season. They traded Andrew Shaw and Bryan Bickell. They signed veteran defenseman Brian Campbell and Michal Kempny. The team also brought up many rookies from their farm system to fill spots.
Patrick Kane led the offense with 89 points. Panarin also had a great season. Jonathan Toews, Kane, Duncan Keith, and Corey Crawford were all chosen for the All-Star Game. The Blackhawks finished first in their division and earned the top spot in the Western Conference for the 2017 playoffs. However, they were swept in the first round by the eighth-seeded Nashville Predators. This was a huge upset, as the Predators limited the Blackhawks to only three goals in the entire series.
Before the 2017–18 season, it was announced that Marian Hossa would miss the entire season due to a skin condition. The team traded veteran defenseman Niklas Hjalmarsson and Artemi Panarin. They reacquired Brandon Saad. They also lost goalie Scott Darling and defenseman Trevor van Riemsdyk. The Blackhawks signed Patrick Sharp again.
The Blackhawks started the 2017–18 season with a big 10–1 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins. But goalie Corey Crawford missed much of 2018 due to an injury. The team struggled and missed the playoffs for the first time in nine years.
The Blackhawks made some small additions before the 2018–19 season. They traded Vinnie Hinostroza to get Marcus Kruger back. Coach Joel Quenneville was fired in November 2018 and replaced by Jeremy Colliton, who had coached the Blackhawks' minor league team.
The team traded Nick Schmaltz for Dylan Strome and Brendan Perlini. They struggled for a while but then played much better in the second half of the season. They missed the playoffs by six points. After missing the playoffs for a second straight season, the Blackhawks won the third overall pick in the 2019 NHL Draft and selected Kirby Dach.
Before the 2019–20 season, the Blackhawks signed goalie Robin Lehner and acquired Olli Maatta, Calvin de Haan, and Alex Nylander. They also brought back fan-favorite Andrew Shaw. Rookie Dominik Kubalik joined the team. The season was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Blackhawks fired John McDonough, their president for 13 years. The Blackhawks made the playoffs in a special 24-team format. They defeated the Edmonton Oilers but then lost to the Vegas Golden Knights.
End of the Toews and Kane Era (2020–2023)
The 2020–21 season was shorter due to the pandemic. Captain Jonathan Toews missed the season due to a medical illness. Longtime goalie Corey Crawford left the team. Veteran defensemen Brent Seabrook and Andrew Shaw announced their retirements due to injuries. The Blackhawks relied on many rookies like Brandon Hagel and Pius Suter. Despite many new faces, the team had a decent first half of the season. However, they struggled later and missed the playoffs.
Danny Wirtz, Rocky Wirtz's son, became the new chief executive officer. The team also made changes in their front office.
In 2021, a former player, Kyle Beach, filed a lawsuit against the Blackhawks. He stated that the team did not properly handle a serious issue involving a former video coach in 2010. An investigation found that team leaders knew about the issue but delayed action until after the 2010 Stanley Cup Finals. The video coach was allowed to quietly resign.
After the report was released, general manager Stan Bowman and other team officials resigned. The NHL fined the Blackhawks $2 million for their handling of the situation. The video coach's name was removed from the Stanley Cup. The Blackhawks reached a settlement with Kyle Beach.
Before his resignation, Bowman had tried to build a competitive team. The team traded veteran defenseman Duncan Keith and acquired Seth Jones and goalie Marc-Andre Fleury. Captain Jonathan Toews returned for the 2021–22 season.
On November 6, 2021, coach Jeremy Colliton was fired after a poor start to the season. Derek King was named interim coach. Kyle Davidson was formally named general manager. The Blackhawks continued to struggle and missed the playoffs. They traded Brandon Hagel and Marc-Andre Fleury. The 2021–22 season was also announcer Pat Foley's last with the team after 39 years.
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On June 27, 2022, the Blackhawks hired Luke Richardson as their new head coach. General manager Kyle Davidson announced the team would focus on rebuilding and getting more draft picks. They traded Alex DeBrincat and Kirby Dach for draft picks. They also acquired goalie Petr Mrazek.
The Blackhawks struggled and were sellers at the 2022–23 trade deadline. Star player Patrick Kane was traded to the New York Rangers. The Blackhawks also traded Jake McCabe, Sam Lafferty, and Max Domi. Captain Jonathan Toews missed many games due to illness. Before their last game, the team announced they would not re-sign Toews. The Blackhawks finished last in their division.
The Danny Wirtz Era (2023–Present)
Rebuilding and the Connor Bedard Era (2023–Present)
The Blackhawks won the 2023 NHL Draft lottery and got the first overall pick. They drafted Connor Bedard, a highly anticipated young player. The team also traded for veteran forwards Taylor Hall, Nick Foligno, and Corey Perry.
Rocky Wirtz passed away in July 2023. His son, Danny Wirtz, became the chairman and president of the company that owns the Blackhawks. The Blackhawks continued to struggle on the ice in the 2023–24 season, finishing with one of the worst records in team history. Many players, including Bedard and Hall, were injured. The team also ended Corey Perry's contract due to a violation of team rules. Bedard won the Calder Memorial Trophy as the NHL's best first-year player.
Team Information
Jerseys
The Blackhawks usually wear red jerseys with black and white stripes on the sleeves and waist. The team's main logo is on the front, and a "C" for "Chicago" with two crossed tomahawks is on each shoulder. This design started in 1955 and has only changed a little since then. In 2007, all NHL teams made small changes to their uniforms, like bigger logos and new collars.
The Blackhawks used to have a black alternate jersey with red and white stripes from 1996 to 2007. They brought this design back in 2008. Their 2009 Winter Classic jerseys also became alternates for a few years.
Many sports experts and fans have voted the Blackhawks' jersey as one of the best in professional sports and the NHL.
Since 2009, the Blackhawks have worn special camouflage jerseys during warm-ups on Veterans Day. These jerseys are later sold to raise money for military support groups.
For the 2009 NHL Winter Classic, the Blackhawks wore jerseys based on their 1936–37 design. These were mostly black with a beige stripe and an old-style circular Black Hawks logo.
For the 2014 NHL Stadium Series, they wore black uniforms similar to their old alternates. These had jagged stripes and angled numbers. They also featured special chrome-treated logos.
The team wore a uniform inspired by their 1957–58 jersey for the 2015 NHL Winter Classic. This uniform was very similar to their current road jersey, but with a lace-up collar and a different logo style.
For the 2016 NHL Stadium Series, the Blackhawks wore a unique white uniform with black and red stripes. It had the current logo and the four red stars from the Flag of Chicago on the collar.
For the 2017 NHL Winter Classic, the Blackhawks wore uniforms similar to their 2015 Winter Classic jerseys, but with a slightly different logo from 1957–65.
To celebrate the NHL's 100th year, the Blackhawks wore a special anniversary logo patch on their jerseys during the 2016–17 and 2017–18 seasons.
In 2017, Adidas became the official uniform supplier for the NHL. The Blackhawks' home and away uniforms stayed mostly the same, but with the new Adidas "ADIZERO" design.
For the entire 2018–19 season, the Blackhawks wore memorial patches for Stan Mikita, who passed away. The patch featured his number 21.
For the 2019 NHL Winter Classic, the Blackhawks wore uniforms similar to their 1920s and 1930s jerseys. These black and white uniforms featured an old-style Native American head logo. The inside of the collar had diagonal white lines and the years the Blackhawks won the Stanley Cup.
For the 2019–20 season, the home and away uniforms had new collar designs. Starting in 2020–21, the NHL allowed advertising on helmets. The Blackhawks' first helmet sponsor was United Airlines.
For the 2020–21 season, the Blackhawks wore "Reverse Retro" alternate uniforms inspired by their 1940s jerseys. A second "Reverse Retro" uniform was released in 2022–23, based on their 1938 uniform.
Starting in 2021–22, Adidas introduced new environmentally-friendly uniforms made with recycled materials. The Blackhawks' logo on these jerseys had raised details.
For the entire 2021–22 season, the Blackhawks wore memorial patches for Tony Esposito, featuring his number 35. For the 2023–24 season, they wore memorial patches for Rocky Wirtz, featuring his name.
Starting with the 2024–25 season, Fanatics became the new uniform supplier. The Blackhawks also announced a partnership with Circa Sports to have their logo on the team's home jerseys.
The Blackhawks wore retro-inspired red uniforms for the 2025 NHL Winter Classic. These had a lace-up collar and a special crest with the current logo, stars from the Chicago flag, and the team and city names.
Team Logo
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Irene Castle, Frederic McLaughlin's wife, designed the first version of the team's logo. It showed a black and white Native American head. This design changed several times until 1955. Since then, the main logo and jersey design have stayed mostly the same. In 2008, The Hockey News voted the team's main logo as the best in the NHL.
However, the team's name and logo have also faced criticism. Some people believe that using Native American images as sports mascots can be harmful and promote stereotypes. The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) and other groups have stated that these logos profit from stereotypes.
In 2019, the American Indian Center of Chicago ended its ties with the Chicago Blackhawks Foundation. They stated they would no longer work with organizations that use "Indian" mascots.
On July 7, 2020, the Blackhawks released a statement defending their name and logo. They said the name and logo honor Black Hawk, a historic Native American leader. They also said they would work to increase awareness of Black Hawk and Indigenous American contributions.
Despite this, many Native American organizations and advocates, including members of the Sac and Fox Nation (Black Hawk's tribe), support changing the team name and logo. They believe the team should not profit from Black Hawk's name and image.
Team Mascot
The Blackhawks mascot is Tommy Hawk. He is a hawk character who wears the team's feathers and jersey. Tommy Hawk often entertains fans at the United Center during games. He was introduced in the 2001–02 season and was inducted into the Mascot Hall of Fame in 2019.
Practice Facilities
The Blackhawks practice at the Fifth Third Arena, located in Chicago. This large facility opened in 2017 and cost $65 million to build. It is also a community center that hosts hockey and ice skating programs for all ages.
The Blackhawks used to practice at Johnny's Ice House West and The Edge Ice Arena in suburban Bensenville.
Circus Trip Tradition
The Blackhawks and the Chicago Bulls used to go on a two-week road trip every November. This tradition started when both teams played at the Chicago Stadium. The arena would be leased out for circus shows and ice skating performances during this time. The Blackhawks would play several games in western Canada and California. This tradition has changed as the circus no longer comes to the United Center.
Media and Announcers
For the first time in team history, all 82 games and playoffs were shown on television during the 2008–09 season. Some games aired on WGN-TV (Channel 9), which was the first time the Blackhawks were seen on local free TV in 30 years. Other games were shown on the regional sports network NBC Sports Chicago. In 2019, the Blackhawks, Bulls, and White Sox agreed to an exclusive deal with NBC Sports Chicago, ending the WGN-TV broadcasts. In 2024, the teams announced they would join the new Chicago Sports Network.
Radio broadcasts have been on various stations over the years, including WBBM (780) and WGN Radio (720 AM). These powerful stations allowed Blackhawks games to be heard across the country at night.
As of the 2024–25 season, Rick Ball calls the TV play-by-play, and John Wiedeman calls the radio play-by-play. Darren Pang is the TV color commentator, and Troy Murray is the radio color commentator.
Recent Season Records
This is a partial list of the last five seasons completed by the Blackhawks. For the full season-by-season history, see List of Chicago Blackhawks seasons.
Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, OTL = Overtime losses, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against
| Season | GP | W | L | OTL | Pts | GF | GA | Finish | Playoffs |
| 2019–20 | 70 | 32 | 30 | 8 | 72 | 212 | 218 | 7th, Central | Lost in first round, 1–4 (Golden Knights) |
| 2020–21 | 56 | 24 | 25 | 7 | 55 | 161 | 186 | 6th, Central | Did not qualify |
| 2021–22 | 82 | 28 | 42 | 12 | 68 | 219 | 291 | 7th, Central | Did not qualify |
| 2022–23 | 82 | 26 | 49 | 7 | 59 | 204 | 301 | 8th, Central | Did not qualify |
| 2023–24 | 82 | 23 | 53 | 6 | 52 | 179 | 290 | 8th, Central | Did not qualify |
Players
Current Roster
Updated December 20, 2022
| # | Nat | Player | Pos | S/G | Age | Acquired | Birthplace |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 89 |  |
Andreas Athanasiou | LW | L | 30 | 2022 | London, Ontario |
| 43 |  |
Colin Blackwell | C | R | 32 | 2022 | North Andover, Massachusetts |
| 17 | |
Jason Dickinson | C | L | 29 | 2022 | Georgetown, Ontario |
| 13 | |
Max Domi | LW | L | 30 | 2022 | Winnipeg, Manitoba |
| 58 | |
MacKenzie Entwistle | RW | R | 25 | 2018 | Mississauga, Ontario |
| 8 | |
Jack Johnson | D | L | 38 | 2022 | Indianapolis, Indiana |
| 52 | |
Reese Johnson | RW | R | 26 | 2019 | Regina, Saskatchewan |
| 90 | |
Tyler Johnson | C | R | 34 | 2021 | Liberty Lake, Washington |
| 82 | |
Caleb Jones | D | L | 28 | 2021 | Arlington, Texas |
| 4 | |
Seth Jones (A) | D | R | 30 | 2021 | Arlington, Texas |
| 88 | |
Patrick Kane (A) | RW | L | 36 | 2007 | Buffalo, New York |
| 14 | |
Boris Katchouk | LW | L | 26 | 2022 | Vancouver, British Columbia |
| 16 | |
Jujhar Khaira | LW | L | 30 | 2021 | Surrey, British Columbia |
| 23 |  |
Philipp Kurashev | C | L | 25 | 2018 | Munsingen, Switzerland |
| 24 | |
Sam Lafferty | C | R | 30 | 2022 | Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania |
| 6 | |
Jake McCabe | D | L | 31 | 2021 | Eau Claire, Wisconsin |
| 51 | |
Ian Mitchell | D | R | 26 | 2017 | St. Albert, Alberta |
| 34 |  |
Petr Mrazek | G | L | 33 | 2022 | Ostrava, Czechoslovakia |
| 5 | |
Connor Murphy (A) | D | R | 32 | 2017 | Boston, Massachusetts |
| 41 | |
Isaak Phillips | D | L | 23 | 2020 | Barrie, Ontario |
| 11 | |
Taylor Raddysh | RW | R | 27 | 2022 | Caledon, Ontario |
| 32 | |
Alex Stalock | G | L | 37 | 2022 | St. Paul, Minnesota |
| 25 | |
Jarred Tinordi  |
D | L | 33 | 2022 | Burnsville, Minnesota |
| 19 | |
Jonathan Toews (C) | C | L | 37 | 2006 | Winnipeg, Manitoba |
Retired Numbers
The Blackhawks have honored several legendary players by retiring their jersey numbers. This means no other player on the team can wear that number again.
| No. | Player | Position | Years Played | Retirement Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Glenn Hall | G | 1957–1967 | November 20, 1988 |
| 3 | Keith Magnuson 1 | D | 1969–1980 | November 12, 2008 |
| Pierre Pilote 1 | D | 1955–1968 | ||
| 7 | Chris Chelios | D | 1990–1999 | February 25, 2024 |
| 9 | Bobby Hull | LW | 1957–1972 | December 18, 1983 |
| 18 | Denis Savard | C | 1980–1990 1995–1997 |
March 19, 1998 |
| 21 | Stan Mikita | C | 1958–1980 | October 19, 1980 |
| 35 | Tony Esposito | G | 1969–1984 | November 20, 1988 |
| 81 | Marian Hossa | RW | 2009–2017 | November 20, 2022 |
Notes:
- 1 Both players who wore No. 3 were honored.
- The NHL retired Wayne Gretzky's No. 99 for all its teams in 2000.
Hockey Hall of Fame Members
The Chicago Blackhawks have many players and builders (like coaches and owners) who are in the Hockey Hall of Fame. This is a special place that honors the best people in hockey history.
Players
- Sid Abel
- Ed Belfour
- Doug Bentley
- Max Bentley
- Georges Boucher
- Frank Brimsek
- Chris Chelios
- Paul Coffey
- Lionel Conacher
- Roy Conacher
- Art Coulter
- Babe Dye
- Phil Esposito
- Tony Esposito
- Bill Gadsby
- Charlie Gardiner
- Doug Gilmour
- Michel Goulet
- Glenn Hall
- Marian Hossa
- Bobby Hull
- George Hay
- Dick Irvin
- Duke Keats
- Hugh Lehman
- Ted Lindsay
- Harry Lumley
- Mickey MacKay
- Stan Mikita
- Howie Morenz
- Bill Mosienko
- Bert Olmstead
- Bobby Orr
- Pierre Pilote
- Jeremy Roenick
- Denis Savard
- Earl Seibert
- Clint Smith
- Allan Stanley
- John Stewart
- Harry Watson
- Doug Wilson
Builders
- Al Arbour
- Tommy Ivan
- John Mariucci
- Frederic McLaughlin
- James D. Norris
- James E. Norris
- Rudy Pilous
- Bud Poile
- Arthur Wirtz
- Bill Wirtz
Team Captains
The team captain is a leader on the ice. Here is a list of all the players who have been captain for the Blackhawks.
- Dick Irvin, 1926–1929
- Duke Dukowski, 1929–1930
- Ty Arbour, 1930–1931
- Marvin Wentworth, 1931–1932
- Helge Bostrom, 1932–1933
- Charlie Gardiner, 1933–1934
- Johnny Gottselig, 1935–1940
- Earl Seibert, 1940–1942
- Doug Bentley, 1942–1944, 1949–1950
- Clint Smith, 1944–1945
- John Mariucci, 1945–1946, 1947–1948
- Red Hamill, 1946–1947
- Gaye Stewart, 1948–1949
- Jack Stewart, 1950–1952
- Bill Gadsby, 1952–1954
- Gus Mortson, 1954–1957
- Ed Litzenberger, 1958–1961
- Pierre Pilote, 1961–1968
- Pat Stapleton, 1969–1970
- Pit Martin, 1975–1976
- Pit Martin; Stan Mikita; Keith Magnuson, 1976–1977
- Keith Magnuson, 1977–1979
- Terry Ruskowski, 1979–1982
- Darryl Sutter, 1982–1987
- Bob Murray, 1985–1986 (interim)
- Denis Savard, 1988–1989
- Dirk Graham, 1989–1995
- Chris Chelios, 1995–1999
- Doug Gilmour, 1999–2000
- Tony Amonte, 2000–2002
- Alexei Zhamnov, 2002–2004
- Adrian Aucoin, 2005–2007
- Martin Lapointe, 2006 (interim)
- Jonathan Toews, 2008–2023
- Nick Foligno, 2024–present
Top Scorers in Team History
Regular Season Scoring Leaders
These are the top ten players with the most points in the Blackhawks' regular season history.
- * – current Blackhawks player
Note: Pos = Position; GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; P/G = Points per game
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Playoff Scoring Leaders
These are the top ten players with the most points in the Blackhawks' playoff history.
- * – current Blackhawks player
Note: Pos = Position; GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; P/G = Points per game
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See also
In Spanish: Chicago Blackhawks para niños
- List of Chicago Blackhawks award winners
- List of Chicago Blackhawks draft picks
- List of Chicago Blackhawks general managers
- List of Chicago Blackhawks head coaches
