History of the Chicago Blackhawks

Just like the other Original Six NHL teams, the Chicago Blackhawks has its own captivating story to tell. A story that goes as far back as September 25, 1926 when the National Hockey League awarded the franchise to the Harvard-educated coffee magnate, Frederic McLaughlin.History of the Chicago Blackhawks

Although, McLaughlin did not have a background in the sport, he served as the general manager of the Chicago Blackhwaks. Naming the team was far from being difficult because all McLaughlin had to do was look back on his past.

Minor League Affiliates: - Rockford Icehogs (AHL) – Toledo Walleye (ECHL)

Stanley Cups: 

(4) (1933 – 34, 1937 – 38, 1960 – 61, 2009 – 10)

Conference Championships:

(2) (1991 – 92, 2009 – 10)

Presidents’ Trophies:

(1) (1990 – 91)

Divison Championships:

(14)  (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)

When McLaughlin purchased the Portland Rosebuds of the Western Hockey League for $200,000, several great players were automatically moved to the Chicago Blackhawks, setting the foundation for the team. Not long after, the Chicago Blackhawks began reaping winnings and awards.

The first season of the Blackhawks wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t grand either. The team finished only 3^rdplacein the NHL’s old American Division with a record of 19-23-3 and made the playoffs. However, the Chicago Blackhawks experienced an early setback after they were eliminated from the opening playoff round. McLaughlin fired then head coach Pete Muldoon and over the next 13 years, the team has had 14 coaches taking turns.

Early Achievements of the Chicago Blackhawks

Chicago Blackhawks are based in Chicago, Illinois. Just a little less than two months since the team’s inception, it made its debut in front of 9,000 fans at the Chicago Coliseum. The date to remember was November 17, 1926 when the Blackhawks defeated Toronto St. Pat’s by a score of 4-1.

Moving to the Chicago Stadium allowed the Blackhawks to enjoy some wonderful successes. They played their first game in the arena on December 16, 1929 and won against the Pittsburg Pirates by a score of 3-1.

In 1934, the Blackhawks had their first-ever Stanley Cup win after defeating the Detroit Red Wings by a score of 1-0 in double overtime. Blackhawk’s best goaltender, Charlie Gardiner, who joined the team in 1927 and led the Blackhakws to the Stanley Cup Finals championship, became the only goalie to be engraved on the Stanley Cup as a Captain. Sadly, less than two months after winning the Cup, Gardiner passed away due to massive brain tumor.

Artist's rendition of Chicago Stadium.

The team refused to be bogged down and in 1938they won their 2^nd Stanley Cup against the Toronto Maple Leafs by a score of 3-1.

But it appears that even with the two Stanley Cup victories under the Blackhawk’s belt, things didn’t come very easy for the team, especially after McLaughlin’s death in 1944. From the 1946-47 through the 1957-58 seasons, the Hawks made the playoffs only once. And for 15 years, between 1946-47 and 1959-60 seasons, the team continued to lose regular-season records.

In 1961, the Hawks was back to the Stanley Cup limelight. Making their first appearance since 1944, the team bested the Detroit Red Wings in the best-of-seven series.

The team made it to the Cup Finals twice more in the 1960s but lost against the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1962 and the Montreal Canadiens in 1965.

Ron Murphy and Eric Nesterenko battle in front of the Toronto net

From 1967-68 season through 1972-73 season, the Blackhawks traded several of its team members to other professional hockey teams, including Piloteto the Maple Leafs for Jim Pappin in 1968; and Phil Esposito, Ken Hodge and Fred Stanfield to Boston Bruins for Pit Martin, Jack Norris and Gilles Marotte in 1967. But the biggest blow came in 1972-73 when Bobby Hull jumped to the Winnipeg Jets for a million-dollar contract.  Hull led the Chicago Blackhawks to the Stanley Cup in 1961, which marked the team’s 3^rdStanley Cup win.

For the rest of the 1970s, the Blackhawks made it to the playoffs each year and won division championships, but failed to take home the Stanley Cup.

The Chicago Blackhawks in the 20^thand 21^stCentury

The Blackhawks won the President’s Trophy in the 1990-91 season for best regular-season record.

Jonathan Toews, at age 20, became the third youngest captain in history in 2008.

In 1991-92, the team reached the elusive Final after 19 years. Jeremy Roenick(scoring 53 goals) and Steve Larmer(scoring 29 goals)were becoming key players of the team. In 1992, the Blackhawks finished an 11-game post-season winning streak, advancing to the Stanley Cup Finals before being swept by the Pittsburgh Penguins. Game 2 proved to be Blackhawk’s lackluster game after the team loss by a score of 3-1. This was followed by another loss in Game 3 by a score of 1-0.

In 1993-94, the Blackhawks marked their last game at the old Chicago Stadium. The team moved into the new United Center in the lockout shortened 1994-95 seasons. They made it into the Western Conference Final but lost to the Detroit Red Wings.

The 21^st century didn’t particularly start off good for the Blackhawks. They were consistently out of the playoffs until the 2008-09 seasons. One of the team’s leading stars, Tony Amonte, joined the Phoenix Coyotes in 2002.

In February 2004, ESPN named the Chicago Blackhawks as the worst franchise in professional sports. The fate of the team became bleaker after the team’s owner Bill Wirtz raised ticket prices to an average of $50 and did not allow home games to be aired in the Chicago area. The Chicagoans have viewed the Blackhawks with so much aloofness and hockey fans began supporting the American Hockey League’s Chicago Wolves.

The 2009 Winter Classic at Wrigley Field.

The team did not enjoy much success and winnings for the succeeding years until Bill Wirtz ended his battle with cancer. His son took over the team and drastically changed some policies. Some of the team’s home games began airing on television again after the franchise partnered with Comcast SportsNet Chicago and WGN-TV. Marketing was bolstered and the new management was able to bring back former Blackhawks greats, such Tony Esposito, Stan Mikita and Bobby Hull. After several trade-offs and some more marketing push, the Blackhawks are back in the game. They hosted the 2009 NHL Winter Classic and finished second place in the 2008-2009 regular season, with a record of 46-24-12.

Prior the 2009-10 NHL season, the Blackhawks acquired Marian Hossa,TomasKopecky, John Madden, and Richard Petiot. Although the team run across a temporary ordeal involving their free restricted agents, it managed to solidify the Chicago Blackhawks paving the way for their 4^th Stanley Cup in 2010.

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