Team History

Chicago's NHL team, the Chicago Blackhawks, have a long history as the city's original NHL hockey team and one of the league's Original Six. Find key dates from their history below. 

 

 

•November 22, 1917 - The National Hockey League organizes in Montreal. 

 

•September 25, 1926 - The city of Chicago receives an NHL franchise. Major Frederic McLaughlin, a coffee baron, is the team owner.

 

•November 17, 1926 - The Chicago Blackhawk Hockey Team plays its first game ever at the Chicago Coliseum against the Toronto St. Pat's. The Blackhawks win 4-1.

 

•December 15, 1929 - The Chicago Blackhawks play their first game at the Chicago Stadium. They win 3-1 against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

 

•April 10, 1934 - The Blackhawks win their first Stanley Cup. They defeated Detroit 1-0 i the 2nd overtime period.

 

•April 12, 1938 - The Blackhawks win their second Stanley Cup. They defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs by 4-1.

 

•March 4, 1941 - Sam Lo Presti makes 80 saves on 83 shots against Boston, but the Blackhawks lose to the Bruins 3-2.

 

•February 20, 1944 - The Chicago Blackhawks and the Toronto Maple Leafs play a "perfect game." The game ended in a scoreless tie (0-0). No penalties were called.

 

•March 23, 1952 - Bill Mosienko scores three goals in 21 second for an NHL record.

 

•April 16, 1961 - The Blackhawks win their third Stanley Cup by defeating the Detroit Red Wings 5-1.

 

•January 17, 1962 - Glenn Hall plays his 500th consecutive game, including playoffs, in goal. He is honored before the game.

 

•March 12, 1966 - Bobby Hull becomes the first player to score more than 50 goals in a season when he gets his 51st vs. the New York Rangers and goaltender Cesare Maniago.

 

•March 12, 1967 - The Blackhawks clinch first place as regular season NHL champions and receive Prince of Wales Trophy for the first time in team history.

 

•February 21, 1970 - Bobby Hull scores his 500th career goal agains New York Rangers goaltender Ed Glacomin.

 

•March 29, 1970 - TOny Esposito records his 15th shutout of the season setting a modern day record.

 

•January 19, 1971 - 11 Blackhawks on the West All-Star team beat the East 2-1 in Minnesota.

 

•March 25, 1972 - Bobby Hull scores his 600th career goal against the Boston Bruins' goaltender Gerry Cheevers.

 

•Stan Mikita scores his 500th career goal against the Vancouver Canucks' goaltender Cesare Maniago.

 

•October 19, 1980 - The Blackhawks retire the first jersey number in their history to honor Stan Mikita, no. 21.

 

•March 22, 1982 - Denis Savard breaks Bobby Hull's single season point record of 107. Savard ends the season with 32-87 = 119 points.

 

•March 20, 1983 - Al Secord becomes the second Blackhawk in team history to score 50 goals in a season. He scored his 50th against Mike Palmateer of the Toronto Maple Leafs at the Chicago Stadium.

 

•December 18, 1983 - The Chicago Blackhawks retire the second jersey in their history. They honor Bobby Hull and the no. 9.

 

•November 20, 1988 - The Blackhawks retire two more jerseys in a ceremony honoring goaltenders Glenn Hall, no. 1, and Tony Esposito, no. 35.

 

•March 14, 1991 - Ed Belfour sets the Blackhawk record for wins in a single season as he records his 39th win in a 6-3 win over Los Angeles.

 

•March 31, 1991 - The Blackhawks beat the Detroit Red Wings 5-1 to win their first President's Trophy as regular season champions.

 

•March 7, 1992 - Jeremy Roenick becomes the third Blackhawk to score 50 goals in a season, which he netted in a 2-1 victory against the Bruins. Roenick, the first American-born Blackhawk to reach this milestone, achieved it in his hometown of Boston.

 

•May 22, 1992 - The Blackhawks win their 11th straight playoff game, which is a team record. They achieved this against Edmonton and win a spot in the Stanley Cup Finals.

 

•April 28, 1994 - The Blackhawks play their final game at Chicago Stadium against the Toronto Maple Leafs. It's a Western Conference Quarterfinals game. Toronto won the game 1-0 and took a 4-2 lead in the series.

 

•January 25, 1995 - The Blackhawks played their first hockey game at the United Center against the Edmonton Oilers. The Blackhawks won 5-1. Joe Murphy scored the first goal at the United Center.

 

•Janury 1, 2009 - The Chicago Blackhawks play the Detroit Red Wings in an outdoor game hosted at Wrigley Field and called the Winter Classic. The Red Wings win 6-4.

 

•April 3, 2009 - The Blackhawks beat the Nashville Predators 3-1 at the United Center to clinch a spot in the playoffs.

 

•April 27, 2009 - The Blackhawks defeat the Calgary Flames, 4-1, and win the Western Conference Quarterfinals 4-2 to advance to the Semifinals against Vancouver.