The Blackhawks will honor Phil and Tony Esposito with its “One More Shift” ceremony prior to the team’s game against the Blues on Wednesday, April 3 at the United Center.
The Blackhawks’ “One More Shift” program is an ode to former players that allows fans to recognize them one more time as they skate on the United Center ice. The Esposito brothers will take the ice during the national anthem after starting lineups are announced. In-arena elements will also feature highlights of his career with the Blackhawks.
Tony is a three-time Vezina Trophy winner as the NHL’s top goaltender (1970, ‘72, ‘74) and won the Calder trophy in 1970 as the best rookie. He holds franchise records for career wins (418), shutouts (74) and single-season shutouts (15). His No. 35 was retired by the Blackhawks in 1988 at Chicago Stadium. He currently serves a Blackhawks Ambassador.
Phil played for Chicago from 1964-67 before being traded to the Bruins. He scored 53 goals and 113 points in 208 regular-season games and added four goals and eight points in 27 playoff contests for Chicago. Most of Phil’s success came with Boston, where he posted six 100-point seasons and won the Art Ross Trophy five times (‘69, ‘71, ‘72, ‘73, ‘74) and the Hart Trophy twice (‘69, ‘74). He’s now a radio analyst for the Lightning, a franchise he was a founder and general manager for its first seven seasons.
Phil and Tony were inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1984 and 1988, respectively. In 2017, they were both named to the “100 Greatest Players in NHL History” by the league.
The Esposito brothers will be the third and fourth participants in the “One More Shift” program this season after current television color commentator and former forward Eddie Olczyk did so in November and Dennis Hull in January.