Outside of Chicago Blackhawks prospects competing in the annual prospect tournament in Traverse City, Michigan, there may be no clearer sign the new NHL season is on the horizon like the Indian head being painted on the United Center ice.
Defenseman Brandon Manning, who sign a two-year deal worth $2.25 million with Chicago in July as a free agent, helped paint the famous logo Monday morning along with a select group of Chicago Public Schools students. It’s the second straight year a new Blackhawk has been given the task to paint the logo as Connor Murphy did so in 2017.
“Pretty good if I do say so myself,” Brandon Manning said as he admired his work. pic.twitter.com/alzOGjuOix
— Madeline Kenney (@madkenney) September 10, 2018
New Blackhawk Brandon Manning (aka @mandog1990) had a few helpers to paint the ice today.
Congrats to the students from @ChiPubSchools who got this opportunity through their participation in the @FutureGoalsSTEM program! pic.twitter.com/mM8jBM5Z1U
— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) September 10, 2018
The Blackhawks open training camp at 10 a.m. Friday at MB Ice Arena, with their annual Training Camp Festival on Saturday at the United Center. A scrimmage will begin at 11 a.m. and run until 12:45 p.m. Chicago will have 12 practices during training camp open to the public at MB Ice Arena. The three closed practices will be prior to home preseason games.
A complete training camp roster has yet to be announced.