Chicago Blackhawks Timeline
A few important dates in Hawks history
  • 1926
    • September 25
      • The city of Chicago receives an NHL franchise. The team owner is Major Frederic McLaughlin, a coffee baron.
    • November 17
      • The newly formed Chicago Blackhawk Hockey Team plays its first game ever at the Chicago Coliseum against the Toronto St. Pats, winning 4-1.
  • 1929
    • March 28
      • Chicago Stadium opens to the public with a boxing match. The Stadium was the enterprise of Paddy Harmon, a sports promoter, built at the cost of $7,000,000.
    • December 15
      • The Blackhawks play their first game in Chicago Stadium. They win 3-1 over the Pittsburgh Pirates.
  • 1931
    • April 5
      • Over 18,000 fans jammed Chicago Stadium for Game #2 of the 1931 Finals, setting a new single-game attendance record. Blackhawks' left wing Johnny Gottselig tallied in double overtime as Chicago defeated Montreal 2-1.
  • 1933
    • March 14
      • The Blackhawks forfeit their only game in team history when the players refuse to return to the ice after their Coach, Tom Gorman is ejected by referee Bill Stewart. Boston is given a 1-0 victory.
    • March 19
      • The first afternoon game ever in the NHL is played in Chicago. Detroit wins 4-3.
  • 1934
    • April 10
      • The Chicago Blackhawks earned their first Stanley Cup with a 1-0 overtime victory over Detroit to win the best-of-five Final 3-1. Harold "Mush" March scored the Cup-winner at 10:05 of the second overtime period.
    • June 13
      • Outstanding Blackhawk goaltender Charlie Gardiner dies of a brain tumor at age 29, just eight weeks after the team wins the Stanley Cup.
  • 1938
    • April 3
      • Alfie Moore plays his one and only game as a Blackhawk against Toronto in a Stanley Cup game and helps the team beat the Maple Leafs 3-1.
    • April 12
      • The Blackhawks win their 2nd Stanley Cup defeating the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-1. Eight American-born players--Carl Dahlstrom, Roger Jenkins, Virgil Johnson, Mike Karakas, Alex Levinsky, Elwin "Doc" Romnes, Louis Trudel and Carl Voss--skated for Chicago in the Finals to set a new Stanley Cup record for United States talent on a championship team.
  • 1940
    • March 18
      • The first chartered flight in NHL history occurs as the Blackhawks fly to Toronto for the first round of the Stanley Cup Finals.
  • 1941
    • March 4
      • Sam LoPresti makes a record 80 saves on 83 shots against Boston. The Hawks lose to the Bruins 3-2.
    • March 16
      • Coach Paul Thompson , in the season's last game, pulls goaltender Sam LoPresti for an extra attacker. This was the first time this tactic was used in an NHL game.
  • 1944
    • February 20
      • The Toronto Maple Leafs and Chicago Blackhawks played the only scoreless, penalty-free game in NHL history. The game, handled by referee Bill Chadwick, took one hour and 55 minutes to play.
    • December 17
      • Major McLaughlin, first owner of the Blackhawks, dies.
  • 1945
    • March 4
      • Chicago Blackhawks' forward Clint Smith netted an NHL record four goals in one period, tying the mark then held by Busher Jackson and Max Bentley. Smith's third-period outburst lifted the Blackhawks to a 6-4 win over the Montreal Canadiens in Chicago.
  • 1947
    • October 13
      • Chicago Blackhawks left wing Doug Bentley scored the game-winning goal to lead the NHL All-Stars to victory over the Stanley Cup-champion Toronto Maple Leafs before a sellout crowd at Maple Leaf Gardens in the first NHL All-Star Game.
    • November 4
      • The Blackhawks trade Max Bentley to Toronto for Gus Bodnar, Gaye Stewart, Bob Goldham, Bud Poile, and Ernie Dickens.
  • 1948
    • November 3
      • Chicago hosts its first all-star game as the All-Stars defeat Toronto 3-1.
  • 1952
    • January 17
      • Bill Mosienko scores his 200th career goal.
    • March 23
      • Bill Mosienko of the Chicago Blackhawks scored at 6:09, 6:20 and 6:30 of the second period to establish an NHL record for the fastest three goals by one player (21 seconds). All three of Mosienko's goals were assisted by Gus Bodnar, who set a new record for the fastest three assists. The Blackhawks defeated the New York Rangers 7-6 at New York.
    • September 11
      • Bill Tobin sells his controlling interest in the Blackhawks to the owners of the Chicago Stadium: James D. Norris, Sr., James D. Norris, Jr., and Arthur M. Wirtz.
    • December 4
      • James Norris, Sr. dies of a heart attack.
    • December 6
      • The Detroit Red Wings shut out the Chicago Blackhawks 2-0 in a rescheduled game played at Indianapolis, the first time a regular-season NHL contest had been held in that city. The game was originally scheduled for Nov. 4 in Chicago but was postponed due to the Presidential election in the United States. It marked the first time since 1928 that a regular-season game had been played outside an NHL city.
  • 1954
    • July 8
      • Tommy Ivan is named General Manager of the Blackhawks.
    • November 30
      • 4,506 fans were in attendance at the AK-SAR-BEN Coliseum in Omaha, Nebraska to see the Chicago Blackhawks and Montreal Canadiens face off in a regular-season game. The Blackhawks had played poorly at home the previous season and were attempting to shed the "Stadium Jinx" by playing six "home" games on the road during the 1954-55 season. In addition to Omaha, the Blackhawks played four games in St. Louis and one in St. Paul.
  • 1961
    • March 26
      • Murray Balfour scores at 52:12 of a Stanley Cup overtime game to beat Montreal 2-1.
    • April 16
      • The Blackhawks win their 3rd Stanley Cup defeating the Detroit Red Wings 5-1.
  • 1962
    • January 17
      • Glenn Hall plays his 500th consecutive game (including playoffs) in goal.
    • November 7
      • Glenn Hall's regular season NHL record streak of 502 consecutive games ends after he leaves the game with a pinched nerve.
  • 1966
    • February 25
      • James D. Norris, co-owner of the Blackhawks, dies at age 59. William Wirtz assumes the position of President.
    • March 12
      • Chicago Blackhawks' left wing Bobby Hull became the first player in NHL history to record 50-or-more goals in two different seasons. Hull, who scored his 50th goal of the 1965-66 campaign against Detroit Red Wings' netminder Hank Bassen in a 5-4 win at Chicago, had previously notched 50 goals during the 1961-62 season.
  • 1967
    • March 12
      • The Blackhawks clinch the first place regular season champion Prince of Wales Trophy for the first time in team history.
  • 1969
    • January 30
      • The Hawks win their biggest shutout ever; 12-0 at Philadelphia.
    • March 30
      • Pat Stapleton became the first defenseman in over 25 years to register six assists in one game, tying the League record set by Babe Pratt on Jan. 8, 1944. Stapleton paced the Blackhawks to a 9-5 home-ice win over the Detroit Red Wings.
    • June 15
      • The Blackhawks claim rookie goaltender Tony Esposito from the Montreal Canadiens for $25,000.
  • 1970
    • February 21
      • Left wing Bobby Hull of the Chicago Blackhawks notched his 500th goal in his 861st career game, a 4-2 win over the New York Rangers.
    • March 29
      • Tony Esposito records his 15th shutout of the season setting a modern day shutout record.
  • 1971
    • December 12
      • Assisting teammate Chico Maki's goal at 7:59 of the first period, Bobby Hull of the Chicago Blackhawks became the fifth player in NHL history to score 1,000 points. Hull, who later concluded his career with a 610-560-1,170 total in 1,063 NHL games, helped his club to a 5-3 win over the Minnesota North Stars.
  • 1972
    • June 27
      • Bobby Hull signed with the Winnipeg Jets of the upstart World Hockey Association.
  • 1973
    • May 8
      • The Chicago Blackhawks and Montreal Canadiens combined to set an NHL record with 15 goals in one Finals game. Led by Stan Mikita's two-goal, two-assist performance, the Blackhawks edged the Canadiens 8-7 in Game Five at the Montreal Forum. Montreal went on to win the series four games to two.
  • 1975
    • April 6
      • The Blackhawks win their 1200th game with a 5-0 victory over Minnesota. It's also the 500th win in the NHL for Coach Billy Reay.
  • 1976
    • February 26
      • Billy Reay wins his 500th game as Blackhawk coach.
  • 1977
    • February 27
      • Chicago Blackhawks' center Stan Mikita notched his 500th career goal in his 1,221st game, a 4-3 loss to the Vancouver Canucks. The milestone goal made Mikita the eighth player in NHL history to accomplish the feat.
    • July 6
      • Bob Pulford takes over as Head Coach and General Manager of the Blackhawks.
  • 1980
    • October 19
      • The Blackhawks retire the first number in team history, honoring Stan Mikita, No. 21.
  • 1982
    • March 22
      • Denis Savard breaks Bobby Hull's single season point record of 107 points.
    • April 4
      • Doug Wilson scores his 39th goal--a record for Blackhawk defensemen.
  • 1983
    • July 21
      • Arthur Wirtz, owner and Chairman of the Board of the Blackhawks, dies.
    • October 15
      • The Chicago Blackhawks and Toronto Maple Leafs combined to score five times within 1:24 to set the NHL record for the fastest five goals by two teams. The scorers were Toronto's Gaston Gingras (16:49), Chicago's Denis Savard (17:12), Chicago's Steve Larmer (17:27), Savard again (17:42) and Toronto's John Anderson (18:13). The first four goals also established a new record for the fastest four goals by two teams. Toronto won the game 10-8.
    • November 5
      • At Minnesota, the visiting Chicago Blackhawks scored the fastest two goals from the start of a period, one team (21 seconds). Ken Yaremchuk scored for Chicago at 0:12 of the second period and Darryl Sutter followed at 0:21.
    • December 18
      • The Blackhawks retire jersey No. 9, honoring the "Golden Jet," Bobby Hull.
  • 1985
    • December 11
      • The Edmonton Oilers and Chicago Blackhawks tied an NHL record with a combined 21 goals in this 12-9 Oilers' victory.
  • 1988
    • June 18
      • The Blackhawks sign free agent goalies Bob Mason and Ed Belfour.
    • November 20
      • The Blackhawks retire Glenn Hall's No. 1 jersey and Tony Esposito's No. 35 jersey in a ceremony honoring both goaltenders.
  • 1990
    • March 4
      • Bob Murray plays his 1000th game as a Blackhawk.
  • 1991
    • March 10
      • Chicago Blackhawks' head coach Mike Keenan recorded his 300th NHL win in a 5-2 decision over the New York Rangers at Chicago Stadium.
    • March 14
      • Ed Belfour sets the Blackhawk record for wins in a single season as he records his 39th win in a 6-3 victory over Los Angeles. Belfour surpasses Tony Esposito's old mark of 38 wins set in 1969-70.
    • March 31
      • The Blackhawks beat the Detroit Red Wings 5-1 to win their first President's Trophy as regular season champions.
  • 1992
    • May 22
      • The Blackhawks win their 11th straight playoff game, a team record with a 5-1 victory at Edmonton. The victory gives the Blackhawks a berth in the Stanley Cup finals.
    • June 1
      • In the first NHL game ever played in the month of June, the Pittsburgh Penguins captured their second consecutive Stanley Cup championship with a 6-5 win over the Chicago Blackhawks at Chicago Stadium.
  • 1993
    • January 10
      • Chicago Blackhawks' left wing Michel Goulet played in his 1,000th career game, an NHL Milestone, as the Blackhawks dropped a 5-4 home decision to the Los Angeles Kings.
    • January 16
      • Chicago Blackhawks' right wing Steve Larmer scored his 400th career goal, reaching an NHL Milestone. Larmer's milestone tally came in a 5-3 Chicago win at Toronto.
    • April 11
      • Right wing Dave Christian of the Chicago Blackhawks played in his 1,000th career game to reach an NHL Milestone. Christian's milestone appearance came in a 3-3 tie with the Tampa Bay Lightning at Chicago Stadium.
    • April 13
      • Chicago Blackhawks' goaltender Ed Belfour posted a 3-2 win over the Minnesota North Stars for his 40th win of the season. Belfour became the fifth goaltender in NHL history to record two 40-win seasons, joining Terry Sawchuk, Jacques Plante, Bernie Parent and Ken Dryden.
  • 1994
    • April 14
      • The Chicago Stadium, the second oldest major league arena in North America, hosted its final regular season game, a 6-4 Toronto Maple Leafs win over the Blackhawks. In a special pre-game ceremony, the retired numbers of four Chicago greats -- Bobby Hull, Stan Mikita, Glenn Hall and Tony Esposito -- were lowered from the Stadium rafters and presented to the four at center ice.
    • April 24
      • Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Gary Suter tallied three goals in a 4-3 overtime win over the Toronto Maple Leafs in Game Four of their Western Conference Quarterfinal series. Suter became the eighth defenseman in Stanley Cup playoffs history to a post a hat-trick, joining Bobby Orr, Dick Redmond, Denis Potvin, Doug Halward, Paul Reinhart (twice), Al Iafrate and Eric Desjardins.
    • April 28
      • Game 6 of the Western Conference Quarterfinals against Toronto marks the final hockey game played in Chicago Stadium. The Maple Leafs won the game 1-0 and the series 4 games to 2.
  • 1995
    • January 25
      • The Chicago Blackhawks played their first-ever regular season game at their new home, the United Center. A sellout crowd of 20,536 watched as the Blackhawks defeated the Edmonton Oilers 5-1.
    • February 7
      • Goaltender Ed Belfour of the Chicago Blackhawks turned aside all 16 shots in a 3-0 win over the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim at the Arrowhead Pond. The shutout was the 25th of Belfour's career, hitting an NHL Milestone.
  • 1996
    • September 14
      • Blackhawk forward Tony Amonte scored the game-winning goal to help the United States capture the inaugural World Cup of Hockey. The goal came at 17:25 of the 3rd period in the third and final game of the series against Canada.
  • 1997
    • July 3
      • Bob Murray takes over as General Manager of the Blackhawks as Bob Pulford steps down.
  • 1998
    • March 19
      • The Blackhawks retire jersey No. 18, honoring Denis Savard.
    • April 15
      • For the first time in 28 years, the Blackhawks are officialy eliminated from being in the playoffs.
    • June 29
      • Former Blackhawk Dirk Graham is named head coach. Former Blackhawk Denis Savard is named an assistant coach.
  • 1998
    • February 22
      • The Blackhawks reassign head coach Dirk Graham and name Lorne Molleken as head coach and Trent Yawney as assistant coach.
    • June 24
      • Tommy Ivan, the Hawks' former General Manager who rebuilt the faltering team in the late 1950's, passes away.

If you know of any significant dates
that are missing, please e-mail me

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