Frederic McLaughlin

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Lore & Background

Born in Chicago, Illinois, McLaughlin inherited the successful 'McLaughlin's Manor House' coffee business from his father, who died in 1904. He was a graduate of Harvard University and served in the United States Army during World War I, achieving the rank of Major. In May 1926, the NHL granted an expansion franchise to former football star Huntington Hardwick and his syndicate of investors. On 1 June, McLaughlin, who had no experience in the ice hockey business, purchased the Chicago expansion franchise from Hardwick. He named the team the Black Hawks after the nickname of his army unit, the 86th Infantry 'Blackhawk' Division. Most of the Hawks players were from the Portland Rosebuds of the Western Hockey League, purchased from WHL owner Frank Patrick for $100,000. During his 18 years as owner, McLaughlin led the franchise to two Stanley Cup wins, in 1934 and 1938. At the time he acquired the Black Hawks, he was married to Irene Castle, a famous dancer and film actress. She is credited with creating the 'Indian head' design of the first Black Hawks sweater. McLaughlin was a 'hands on' owner and made 13 coaching changes in 18 years. He was fiercely patriotic and at various times tried to fill his roster with as many Americans as possible. The 1938 Stanley Cup victory came with eight Americans on the roster, coached by Bostonian Bill Stewart. Stewart was fired early the next season. McLaughlin feuded with other owners, including James Norris of Detroit, who set up a competing Chicago team in the American Association, locking the Hawks out of the Chicago Stadium. The Norris family eventually purchased the Hawks after McLaughlin's death. Conn Smythe called McLaughlin 'the strangest bird and, yes, perhaps the biggest nut I met in my entire life.' In 1963, McLaughlin was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame as a builder. In 2024, amid the Chicago Blackhawks name and logo controversy, Frederic's granddaughter Castle McLaughlin argued the NHL and Wirtz family should do away with the racist Blackhawks name and logo.

In Their Own Story

The 1938 Stanley Cup victory stands as a defining moment of McLaughlin's ownership, achieved despite his contentious relationships within the league. That year, the roster featured eight Americans and was led by Bostonian coach Bill Stewart, fulfilling McLaughlin's desire to field an all-American lineup. However, true to his volatile nature, Stewart was fired early in the following season despite the championship win. Tensions with other owners also shaped this era; James Norris of Detroit set up a competing team in the American Association, which locked the Hawks out of their home arena, Chicago Stadium. The conflict highlighted McLaughlin's isolation but did not stop his pursuit of excellence. After his death on 17 December 1944, the Norris family eventually purchased the Hawks. Years later, Conn Smythe, manager of Toronto, summarized McLaughlin's unique character with a memorable quote: 'Where hockey was concerned, Major McLaughlin was the strangest bird and, yes, perhaps the biggest nut I met in my entire life.' His legacy endured through his induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame as a builder in 1963.

Reader's Guide

McLaughlin died of heart disease in Lake Forest at age 67. He was interred at Calvary Cemetery in Evanston.

Did You Know?

• McLaughlin served in the 333rd Machine Gun Battalion of the 86th Infantry 'Blackhawk' Division.
• One Hawk coach, Godfrey Matheson, got the job when he met McLaughlin on a train and impressed him with his hockey knowledge, but lost the job after two games.
• On October 28, 2018, the Blackhawks did a giveaway featuring a soccer jersey inspired by the team's early branding, and Manor House Coffee was seen on the jersey where sponsors are normally put on soccer jerseys.