Chicago Blackhawks

The NHL selected Chicago for a new franchise in May 1926 and formally voted to admit the Blackhawks on September 25. The franchise was initially awarded to an investor group led by former HarvardHarvard UniversityHarvard University is a private research university in Massachusetts, established by the Massachusetts Bay Colony legislature in 1636 and named in 1639 for early benefactor John Harvard. Its principal campuses are in Cambridge and the Allston and Longwood neighborhoods of Boston. It includes Harvard College, graduate and professional schools, and the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study. Two governing boards share oversight. Alan M. Garber was president as of October 2026, and the endowment stood at $56.9 billion at the end of fiscal 2025.Open the full entry athlete Huntington Hardwick, which soon transferred its controlling interest to coffee businessman Frederic McLaughlin, who is credited as the team’s founder. To assemble a roster, McLaughlin paid $200,000 for the players of the Portland Rosebuds of the defunct Western Hockey League. He named the team after the U.S. Army’s 86th Blackhawk Division, in which he had served during World War I.⁠[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8]

The team played its first game at Chicago Coliseum on November 17, 1926, defeating the Toronto St. PatricksToronto Maple LeafsToronto Maple Leafs is an NHL ice hockey team in Toronto, Ontario, playing at Scotiabank Arena.Open the full entry 4–1. In its inaugural season, it finished third in the American Division and qualified for the playoffs, losing to Boston in the first round. McLaughlin then fired inaugural head coach Pete Muldoon. This later gave rise to the legend of the ‘Muldoon curse’: the club did not finish first in the NHL’s regular-season standings until 1966–67.⁠[9][2][10][4][11]

The Blackhawks won the Stanley Cup in 1934 and again in 1938 during McLaughlin’s ownership. He frequently changed head coaches, employing a double-digit number during his 18 years as owner.⁠[9][7][5][3]

McLaughlin died on December 17, 1944. In 1946, a group led by longtime team executive Bill Tobin and including the Norris and Wirtz families acquired his controlling interest. The two families had obtained control by 1952. The new owners hired Tommy Ivan from Detroit as general manager in 1954.⁠[12][13][14][14][15][16]

The Blackhawks won their third Stanley Cup in 1961 while James D. Norris owned the team. During this period, players developed through the farm system, including Stan Mikita, Bobby Hull and Pierre Pilote, became central members of the roster.⁠[9][16][5][17][18]

After co-owner James Norris died in February 1966, the Wirtz family took sole control, with Bill Wirtz becoming president and Arthur Wirtz chairman. The family continues to own the team. In 1966–67, the Blackhawks finished first in the NHL’s regular-season standings for the first time.⁠[19][14][12][11]

The team’s name was long written as two words, Black Hawks, before officially becoming Blackhawks in 1986.⁠[9][20][20][15]

After 65 years at Chicago Stadium, the team moved to United Center in 1994. The arena has been its home since the 1994–95 season and is shared with the NBANBAThe National Basketball Association (NBA) is a North American professional basketball league with 30 teams.Open the full entry’s Chicago BullsChicago BullsThe Chicago Bulls are a professional basketball team in the National Basketball Association (NBA), competing in the Eastern Conference’s Central Division and playing at the United Center in Chicago. Founded in 1966 by a group led by Dick Klein, they began NBA play in 1966–67 as the city’s third NBA franchise. In the Michael Jordan era, the Bulls achieved two three-peats and won six NBA titles, in 1991, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997 and 1998. They finished the 1995–96 regular season 72–10. A group led by Jerry Reinsdorf has controlled the club since 1985.Open the full entry.⁠[21][9][22]

After Bill Wirtz died in September 2007, his son Rocky became chairman on October 5. He restored local television broadcasts of the team’s games and invited former stars including Tony Esposito, Bobby Hull, Stan Mikita and Denis Savard to return as team ambassadors. The Blackhawks had selected Jonathan Toews third overall in 2006 and Patrick Kane first overall in 2007.⁠[23][24][23][25][26]

On June 9, 2010, Patrick Kane scored 4 minutes and 6 seconds into overtime to give the Blackhawks a 4–3 victory over the Philadelphia FlyersPhiladelphia FlyersThe Philadelphia Flyers are a professional ice hockey team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) and play at Xfinity Mobile Arena.Open the full entry and the Stanley Cup, ending a 49-year championship drought.⁠[27][27][28]

The Blackhawks won another Stanley Cup in 2013 and clinched the championship at home in 2015. The latter was their first Cup-clinching victory on home ice in 77 years and their third title in six years.⁠[3][5]

On March 1, 2022, the club appointed Kyle Davidson as the tenth general manager in its history. He had served as interim general manager since October 26, 2021, and worked in the front office during the 2013 and 2015 championship seasons.⁠[29][29][29][30]

On May 8, 2023, the rebuilding Blackhawks won the NHL Draft Lottery. They subsequently selected Connor Bedard first overall in the 2023 draft. Their previous first-overall selection had been Patrick Kane in 2007.⁠[31][32][32][32]

Chairman Rocky Wirtz died on July 25, 2023, aged 70. The Blackhawks won three Stanley Cups during his ownership. His son Danny, who was already chief executive officer, subsequently became team chairman and, in late July, chairman and president of the parent Wirtz Corporation.⁠[9][24][33][9][34][35]

In June 2024, Connor Bedard received the Calder Memorial Trophy as the NHL’s top rookie for 2023–24, becoming the tenth player in franchise history to win the award.⁠[36][36]

On September 15, 2026, the club named Connor Bedard the 37th captain in its history and its second-youngest. General manager Kyle Davidson said Bedard was ready to take on the responsibility.⁠[37][37][37][38]

The Wirtz family owns the Blackhawks through Wirtz Corporation, with Danny Wirtz serving as chairman. As of September 2026, Kyle Davidson was general manager. The Blackhawks are one of the NHL’s Original Six teams, alongside the Detroit Red WingsDetroit Red WingsThe Detroit Red Wings are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, Michigan. An Original Six member of the National Hockey League (NHL), they play at Little Caesars Arena.Open the full entry, Montreal CanadiensMontréal CanadiensThe Montreal Canadiens, known in French as the Canadiens de Montréal, are a professional ice hockey team based in Montreal, Quebec. They compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) and play at the Bell Centre.Open the full entry, Toronto Maple Leafs, Boston BruinsBoston BruinsBoston Bruins is a professional ice hockey team headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts, United States, competing in the NHL’s Eastern Conference and playing at TD Garden. On November 1, 1924, Charles Adams secured the NHL’s first U.S. franchise; the team played its first league game on December 1 that year and later became one of the NHL’s Original Six. Boston has won six Stanley Cups, in 1929, 1939, 1941, 1970, 1972 and 2011. The team is operated by Boston Professional Hockey Association, Inc., and has been owned by Jeremy Jacobs since 1975. Its president is Cam Neely, general manager Don Sweeney and head coach Marco Sturm. David Pastrnak became the franchise’s 28th captain on September 27, 2026.Open the full entry and New York RangersNew York RangersThe New York Rangers are a professional ice hockey team based in New York City. They compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) and play at Madison Square Garden in Manhattan.Open the full entry.⁠[9][34][37][9][35][39][2]

Chicago Blackhawks: Official website: https://www.nhl.com/blackhawks/ (opens in a new window)⁠[14]

Chicago Blackhawks: X: https://x.com/NHLBlackhawks (opens in a new window)⁠[40]

Chicago Blackhawks: YouTubeYouTubeYouTube is Google’s video-sharing and creator platform, founded in 2005 by Steve Chen, Chad Hurley, and Jawed Karim and acquired by Google in 2006. Built around video uploading, viewing, and creator earnings, the platform has developed Shorts, YouTube Music, Premium, YouTube TV, and products for children, and is headquartered in San Bruno, California, United States.Open the full entry: https://www.youtube.com/@blackhawks (opens in a new window)⁠[41]

Chicago Blackhawks: LinkedInLinkedInLinkedIn is a social networking platform for professionals. It was founded in 2002 by Reid Hoffman and others, launched in 2003, and listed on the New York Stock Exchange in 2011; after Microsoft acquired it for approximately $26.2 billion in 2016, it became a wholly owned Microsoft subsidiary. Its revenue comes from membership subscriptions, advertising, and recruitment solutions.Open the full entry: https://www.linkedin.com/company/chicago-blackhawks/ (opens in a new window)⁠[5]