Hall of Fame defenseman Chris Chelios is set to have his No. 7 retired by the Chicago Blackhawks, the team announced on Friday.
Chelios, 61, retired from the NHL in 2010 after playing a whopping 26 seasons, equalling Gordie Howe for the most in league history. Chelios spent seven with the Montreal Canadiens, nine with the Blackhawks and 10 with the Detroit Red Wings before finishing his career with the Atlanta Thrashers. Chelios will be honored before the Blackhawks host the Detroit Red Wings during a pregame ceremony at the United Center on Feb. 25, 2024.
“We are entering a new era of Blackhawks hockey on the ice, but the importance of honoring past members of this organization is, and always will be a priority,” said Blackhawks chairman and CEO Danny Wirtz.
Wirtz added, “Chris Chelios represents not only the Blackhawks but, given his roots here, the city of Chicago,” while also mentioning that his late father Rocky Wirtz, the former Blackhawks owner, wanted Chelios “to be the next Blackhawk to have his jersey retired and would have loved to see this moment.”
Over a total of 664 career games in Chicago, Chelios registered 92 goals with 395 assists. The defenseman won two of his three career Norris Trophies in 1993 and 1996 while a member of the Blackhawks organization in addition to being named to a first-team All-Star five teams. He also served as the Blackhawks captain from 1995-1999.
Chelios was selected 40th overall by the Montreal Canadiens in the 1981 NHL Draft. He won three Stanley Cups in his career, including one in 1986 with the Canadiens and two with the Red Wings in 2002 and 2008. Chelios was officially inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2013.
The news Chelios would be having his No. 7 retired was initially revealed during a Pearl Jam concert at United Center on Thursday. Chelios, who is a close friend of the band’s frontman, Eddie Vedder, was brought on stage for the surprise announcement.
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