The Chicago Blackhawks will launch a team Hall of Fame and host a series of other events to celebrate the franchise’s 100th anniversary next season.
The Hawks on Thursday announced plans for their centennial celebrations — themed “Always An Original” — because the NHL Board of Governors awarded them and the Detroit Red Wings franchises on May 15, 1926. Both were admitted into the league formally on Sept. 25, 1926.
Along the way, the Hawks won six Stanley Cups, have 47 players in the Hockey Hall of Fame (39 skaters and eight goaltenders have played at least one game for the franchise) and made contributions to hockey such as the curved stick (thank Stan Mikita for that).
“Since our inception, the Chicago Blackhawks have been more than just a hockey team — we’ve been an integral part of Chicago’s identity and a driving force in the evolution of the sport,” Hawks Chairman and CEO Danny Wirtz said in a team statement. “This centennial celebration isn’t just about honoring our past achievements, but also about recommitting ourselves to innovation, community impact and excellence for the century ahead.”
The team’s new Hall of Fame will be based on votes from fans, alumni and media. Inductees will be based on two ballots: modern (2000-01 season or later) and heritage eras. Two alumni will be selected from each ballot each year.
The inaugural ballot will be open mid-July at Blackhawks.com/HOF and will include the following players:
Modern-era ballot
- Tony Amonte
- Brian Campbell
- Corey Crawford
- Éric Dazé
- Niklas Hjalmarsson
- Duncan Keith
- Brent Seabrook
- Patrick Sharp
- Andrew Shaw
- Steve Sullivan
- Jocelyn Thibault
- Alexei Zhamnov
Heritage-era ballot
- Ed Belfour
- Doug Bentley
- Johnny Gottselig
- Dirk Graham
- Dennis Hull
- Cliff Koroll
- Steve Larmer
- Chico Maki
- Mush March
- Pit Martin
- Bill Mosienko
- Troy Murray
- Eric Nesterenko
- Jeremy Roenick
- Doug Wilson
Players who have had their jersey numbers retired are included in the Hawks Hall of Fame automatically. They are: Chris Chelios, Tony Esposito, Glenn Hall, Marian Hossa, Bobby Hull, Keith Magnuson, Mikita, Pierre Pilote and Denis Savard.
Meanwhile, the Hawks’ centennial celebration will unfold in four chapters, and each will include special game nights, interviews and giveaways.
Fans who buy full season ticket packages by May 31 will receive exclusive centennial jackets and other perks. At an unspecified date in the fall, the Hawks will celebrate the team’s first game with a fan event. More details will be announced with the league’s schedule release this summer.
“What makes this celebration truly special is how it bridges generations of Blackhawks hockey,” Jaime Faulkner, Hawks president of business operations, said in the statement. “When our young fans see decades-worth of alumni sharing the ice with our current roster on opening night, they’ll understand they’re part of something much bigger than just today’s team — they’re part of a legacy that has shaped the sport itself and will continue to do so for generations to come.”