Chicago Blackhawks History
The Blackhawks were founded in 1926 and were part of the "Original Six" group of franchises, which constituted the NHL from 1942 until league expansion in 1967. The club won Stanley Cup Championships in the 1933-1934 and 1937-1938 seasons, but success proved largely elusive over the next two decades, except for one appearance in the final in 1943-1944. The 1960s signaled a rebirth for the franchise, with future Hall of Famers Stan Mikita, Bobby Hull, Pierre Pilote, and Glenn Hall leading the way. The Blackhawks defeated the Detroit Red Wings in the 1961 Stanley Cup Final, collecting their third championship.
The addition of eventual Hall of Fame goaltender Tony Esposito ahead of the 1969-1970 season marked the start of an era during which the team earned a Playoff berth in 28 consecutive seasons. In 1971 and 1973 the Blackhawks reached the Stanley Cup Final, losing both times to the Montreal Canadiens. More excellence followed in the 1990s, aided by the likes of Ed Belfour and Jeremy Roenick, as the Blackhawks finished with the league's best record in 1990-1991 and made the Stanley Cup Final in 1991-1992.
By selecting their eventual captain Jonathan Toews third overall in the 2006 NHL Draft, the Blackhawks began stocking up on young talent, also adding Patrick Kane first overall the following year. They returned to the Playoffs in 2008-2009, and in the very next season, Chicago defeated the Philadelphia Flyers for their first Stanley Cup Championship in 49 years. They added championships in 2013 -- beating the Boston Bruins in a thrilling series that included three overtime games -- and 2015, topping the Tampa Bay Lightning in six games.
Chicago Blackhawks Team Info
Conference: Western
Division: Central
Year Founded: 1926
Team Colors: Black, Red
Team Rivals: Minnesota Wild, St. Louis Blues, Nashville Predators, Detroit Red Wings
Chicago Blackhawks at United Center
Home to the Chicago Blackhawks and Chicago Bulls, United Center -- which opened in 1994 -- is the largest NHL arena in the United States, with a capacity of 19,717 for hockey games. The idea for the arena was created in 1988 by William Wirtz, owner of the Chicago Blackhawks, and Jerry Reinsdorf, majority owner and Team Chairman of the Chicago Bulls. The United Center has hosted the Stanley Cup Finals three times: in 2010, 2013 and 2015. The Blackhawks won the Stanley Cup Championship in 2015 against the Tampa Bay Lightning at home in the sixth game -- the first time since 1938 that the franchise clinched the Cup in Chicago.
