The Chicago Blackhawks celebrated their status as defending champions to open the 2015-16 NHL regular season Wednesday night by raising their sixth banner to the rafters. The pregame ceremony involved many of the team’s all-time greats, as well as the family of Stan Mikita, helping usher in the new season.
The team raised two banners on Wednesday night — one for the Western Conference title and one for the Stanley Cup. The Hawks have won the Cup six times (1933-34, 1937-38, 1960-61, 2009-10, 2012-13, 2014-15) to match the six titles of their United Center roommates, the Chicago Bulls.
The new banner. https://t.co/LxgZl9jzIu
— Second City Hockey (@2ndCityHockey) October 8, 2015
Marian Hossa, Corey Crawford, Brent Seabrook and Patrick Kane helped hook the banner up before it was raised up to the UC rafters.
And that makes six. https://t.co/SUcJVSS5Jt
— Second City Hockey (@2ndCityHockey) October 8, 2015
The ceremony also involved welcoming the 2015-16 team onto the ice. Here’s your new first line saying hello:
Your new first line. These guys are gonna kick ass. https://t.co/KZKc1KlhNE
— Second City Hockey (@2ndCityHockey) October 8, 2015
Here’s to hoping we can do this again sometime soon.