Chicago Blackhawks

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Lore & Background

The Blackhawks' original owner was Frederic McLaughlin, a "hands-on" owner who fired many coaches during his ownership and led the team to win two Stanley Cup titles in 1934 and 1938. After McLaughlin's death in 1944, the team came under the ownership of the Norris family, who acted as their landlord as owners of the Chicago Stadium, and also owned stakes in several of the NHL teams. At first, the Norris ownership was as part of a syndicate fronted by longtime executive Bill Tobin, and the team languished in favor of the Norris-owned Detroit Red Wings. After the senior James E. Norris died in 1952, the Norris assets were spread among family members, and James D. Norris became the owner of the Blackhawks. The younger Norris took an active interest in the team, which won another Stanley Cup title under his ownership in 1961. After James D. Norris died in 1966, the Wirtz family became owners of the franchise. In 2007, the team came under the control of Rocky Wirtz, who is credited with turning around the organization, which had lost fan interest and competitiveness; under Wirtz, the Blackhawks won the Stanley Cup three times, in 2010, 2013 and 2015. Rocky died in July 2023, and his son, Danny Wirtz, was named chairman of the Blackhawks.

In Their Own Story

The Blackhawks began play in the 1926–27 season. In their first season, they finished third with a 19–22–3 record but lost the first-round playoff series to the Boston Bruins. After that series, owner Frederic McLaughlin fired head coach Pete Muldoon. According to sportswriter Jim Coleman, Muldoon responded by yelling, "Fire me, Major, and you'll never finish first. I'll put a curse on this team that will hoodoo it until the end of time." This became the "Curse of Muldoon," though Coleman later admitted he fabricated the story. The team never finished first in the regular season during its first 39 years, despite winning three Stanley Cups. In 1937–38, the Black Hawks had a 14–25–9 record, nearly missing the playoffs. They stunned the Canadiens and New York Americans on overtime goals, advancing to the Stanley Cup Final against the Toronto Maple Leafs. With goaltender Mike Karakas injured, Chicago pulled minor-leaguer Alfie Moore out of a Toronto bar to win game one. Karakas returned with a special skate for his injured toe, and the Hawks won their second championship.

Reader's Guide

The Blackhawks were founded on May 15, 1926, when the NHL awarded an expansion franchise for Chicago to a syndicate headed by Huntington Hardwick. Hardwick purchased the players of the Portland Rosebuds for $100,000, but sold out to Frederic McLaughlin a month later. McLaughlin named the team after the Blackhawk Division, a military unit he served with in World War I. The team's name was spelled as two words, 'Black Hawks', until 1986, when it officially became 'Blackhawks'. The Black Hawks began play in the 1926–27 season. Under McLaughlin, the team won Stanley Cups in 1934 and 1938. After McLaughlin's death, the Norris family took over, and the team won the Cup in 1961. The Wirtz family then owned the team, with Rocky Wirtz overseeing three more Cup wins in 2010, 2013, and 2015.

Did You Know?

• The team's name was spelled 'Black Hawks' until 1986, when it officially became 'Blackhawks' based on the spelling in original franchise documents.
• The Blackhawks are one of the 'Original Six' NHL teams.
• The team has won six Stanley Cup championships: 1934, 1938, 1961, 2010, 2013, and 2015.
• The 1937–38 Black Hawks had the poorest regular season record of any Stanley Cup champion.