For new hockey fans, understanding the past and present of their team can be overwhelming. From franchise name changes to Stanley Cup championships, current leaders and past legends who created the team you see today, there is a lot to learn to pass the "fair-weather fan" stage.

Hunter felt the same way, so with the help of his wife Em, a long-time Blackhawks fan, they created Hunter Learns Hockey to educate new fans in easily digestible segments. To get you started, Hunter made a list of 7 must-know facts for any new Blackhawks fan.

1. Inaugural season - 1926

The Black Hawks, as they were called until 1986, began play in 1926 and joined the NHL in 1942 as part of the Original Six teams. Along with the other five Original teams, the Boston Bruins, Detroit Red Wings, Montreal Canadiens, New York Rangers, and Toronto Maple Leafs, these 6 teams remained the only NHL teams until the first expansion in 1967 that doubled the league's size.

2. Arena - United Center

The Blackhawks moved to the United Center in downtown Chicago, Illinois in January, 1995 following the NHL lockout to start the 1994-95 season. For their first 3 seasons, the Blackhawks played at the Chicago Colliseum, then moved to the Chicago Stadium where they stayed until 1994. Due to the Stadium's smaller-than-regulation-sized rink, the Blackhawks moved across the street into the United Center. Located on Madison Street, the UC is commonly referred to as the Madhouse on Madison by fans, announcers, and foes alike.

3. Fun Fact - Blackhawks named after military division

The Blackhawks are not directly named after Sauk leader Black Hawk. The initial owner, Frederic McLaughlin, named hims hometown Chicago-based team, the “Black Hawks” after the 333rd Machine Gun Battalion of the 86th Infantry Division. McLaughlin was a commander in this division during World War I. The Division was called the “Blackhawk Division” after the renowned historical leader from Saukenuk, Illinois, Chief Black Hawk.

4. Franchise Achievements - 6-time Stanley Cup Champions

Among countless individual achievements, the Blackhawks team has won the Stanley Cup 6 times in their near 100-year history. The last 3 Stanley Cups came in a 6-year span, with the last win happening on home ice in 2015.

• Stanley Cup Championships: 1934, 1938, 1961, 2010, 2013, and 2015

• President’s Trophy (best regular season record): 1991, 2013

• Campbell Bowl (Western Conference Champions): 1992, 2010, 2013, 2015

5. Head coach - Luke Richardson

Luke Richardson began his first season as a head coach with the Blackhawks for the 2022-23 schedule after spending 4 years behind Montreal's bench as an assistant coach.

Previously, the team was led by interim head coach Derek King after the premature departure Jeremy Colliton. King remains on the Hawks' coaching staff as an assistant.

6. Captains - Jonathan Toews (C), Patrick Kane (A), Seth Jones (A), and Connor Murphy (A)

Captain

Jonathan Toews

Jonathan Toews (#19) has been captain since July 2008. He became the franchise's youngest captain at 20 years, 79 days, and has become the longest-tenured captain, playing his 15th season with the 'C' on his sweater. In his captaincy, Toews earned 3 Stanley Cups, 2 Olympic gold medals (2010, 2014), the Conn Smythe Trophy (2010), the Frank J. Selke Trophy (2013), and the Mark Messier NHL Leadership Award (2015). In 2022, Toews played his 1,000th game, a milestone less than 400 players have ever reached.

Alternates

Patrick Kane

Patrick Kane (#88), a permanent alternate captain since the 2021-22 season, was part of the Blackhawks’ core winning 3 Stanley Cups, Calder Memorial Trophy (2008), Conn Smythe Trophy (2013), Hart Memorial Trophy (2016), Ted Lindsay Award (2016), and Art Ross Trophy (2016). He also surpassed the 1,000 point and 1,000 games-played marks in 2020 and 2021, respectively.

Seth Jones

Seth Jones (#4) sports the ‘A’ as the home game alternate captain and team’s number 1 defenseman. The 3-time All-Star was traded from Columbus to Chicago in 2021 and immediately signed an 8-year contract. Jones was selected for the 2022-23 All-Star weekend in Sunrise, FL.

Connor Murphy

Connor Murphy (#5) serves as an alternate captain on the road in his 6th season with the Blackhawks. He joined Chicago from Arizona in 2017 in exchange for 3-time Stanley Cup champion Niklas Hjalmarsson. In 2021, Murphy signed a 4-year contract extension through the 2025-26 season.

7. Legendary Players

The 3-time Stanley Cup winning core team

Seven Blackhawks players remained with the team through all 3 Stanley Cup wins: Jonathan Toews (Captain), Duncan Keith (A), Brent Seabrook (A), Patrick Sharp (A), Patrick Kane, Marian Hossa (number retired 2022 as pictured), Niklas Hjalmarsson. Also, important to note is Corey Crawford who joined the Blackhawks in the 2010-2011 season, backstopping the final two Cups for Chicago.

Historic

With the Blackhawks being nearly a century old, many players have made a lasting impact on the franchise.

Forwards

Stan Mikita

Stan Mikita, captain, (#21), was the best overall franchise player whose tribute statue stands outside the United Center. Mikita’s the only player to win the Art Ross, Hart, and Lady Byng Trophies in a single season, not once, but twice consecutively in 1966-67 and 1967-68.

Denis Savard

Denis Savard, captain, (#18) set and broke his own franchise points record at 131 points, later becoming an assistant then head coach for the Blackhawks. After splitting 4.5 seasons between Montreal and Tampa, Savard returned to Chicago in 1995 for his final 3 seasons.

Steve Larmer

Steve Larmer, alternate captain, (#28) played 11 seasons which the Blackhawks racking up 884 consecutive regular-season games, during which he scored at least 70 points each season.

Defensemen

Chris Chelios

Chris Chelios, captain, (#7), “The Godfather of USA Hockey,” played in 4 Olympics (1984, 1998, 2002, and 2006) and 9 of his 26 seasons with his hometown Chicago Blackhawks, retiring at age 48. What’s more impressive than Chelios’ lengthy career was his leadership to change team cultures, 11 All-Star team appearances, and 3 Norris Trophy wins.

Goaltenders

Glenn Hall

Glenn Hall (#1), called “Mr. Goalie,” completed 502 consecutive regular season games and 50 consecutive playoff games, split between his previous time in Detroit then Chicago. Hall backstopped the Black Hawks to a 23-year drought-breaking Stanley Cup championship in 1961, all without wearing a mask.

Tony Esposito

Tony Esposito (#35), nicknamed “Tony O”, filled big shoes at Glenn Hall’s successor. Secured for just $25,000 from the Monreal Canadiens, Esposito holds the franchise record for the most shutouts and wins over 15 seasons with Chicago, earning 3 Vezina Trophies.

If you're interested in learning more about iconic players from each franchise, stay tuned for our next series, "Old Players for New Fans." There we'll dive deeper into franchise legends, their role in building the team that takes the ice today, and the lasting impact they have on players and fans alike.