This Day in Hockey History – June 9, 2010 – Windy City Ends Drought

Anyone who thought the snapping of a 42-year dry spell (in 1997) was amazing, just had to wait until 2010 to see an even longer drought come to an end. After nearly half a century, on June 9, 2010, the Chicago Blackhawks won their first Stanley Cup championship since 1961, when they still used the space in Black Hawks.

The Blackhawks began turning their franchise around in 2007, when they drafted Patrick Kane first overall. Of Chicago’s changes in marketing and management, Commissioner Gary Bettman said, “I think (the changes) were bold, they were aggressive, they were innovative, and they were just what the doctor ordered.” The improved team finished the 2009-10 season with 112 points (52-22-8) as first in the Central Division and third in the NHL. Chicago kept the momentum as they knocked out the Nashville Predators (4-2), Vancouver Canucks (4-2), and the San Jose Sharks (4-0).

In the Stanley Cup finals, the Blackhawks took on the Philadelphia Flyers. Throughout the first five games, each team won whenever on home ice. Game 6 took place at Philadelphia’s Wachovia Center, but that’s where the Blackhawks checked the pattern. They scored first and had the lead until the final four minutes. Then, Scott Hartnell scored his second goal of the game to deadlock the score at 3-3.

At 4:06 into overtime, Kane deked around defenseman Kimmo Timonen then, he shot from a sharp angle as he skated past the net the goal line. The puck slid by goalie Michael Leighton to get stuck in the back netting. No one but Kane seemed to see what happened to the puck. He said afterwards, “I knew it was in right away. I just kind of tried to take off and book it to the other end and try to start the celebration.” He sprinted away from the net raising his arms in celebration and then ditched his gloves and stick on the way. Still, it took a moment for officials to catch on that the goal was good. Calling the game, WGN-AM 720’s John Wiedeman exclaimed, “It’s in the back of the net! The Hawks have won the Stanley Cup! Blackhawk fans around the world, you’ve endured 49 years of frustration, but your patience has finally paid off!” Kane commented, “It was crazy. At the moment it’s just like, ‘We won the Stanley Cup’ and that’s all you’re thinking about. To play this game, this is the only thing I want to do in the world and be a part of moments like this”

With the 4-3 victory, Chicago’s goalie, Antti Niemi, had a team-record 16th postseason win. His teammate, Marian Hossa, had finally won the Stanley Cup, in his third consecutive season playing in the finals. Hossa had lost with the Penguins in 2008 and the Red Wings in 2009. He was so used to heartbreak that he double-checked with an official that they had won before beginning to celebrate. “I’m so glad. What a relief. Third time is the lucky charm. I got a Stanley Cup. What a feeling.” He was able to carry the Cup second.

Their captain, Jonathan Toews, then the youngest captain in the NHL at 22, hoisted the Cup first. “So many great things have happened for this team and this is the height of it all. It was awesome,” said Toews. “I just wanted to rip (the Cup) off that table and go give it to the boys. It’s everything it was hyped up to be.” He was named MVP (just as he had with the Olympic team) and received the Conn Smythe Trophy. “The most special thing is to be on the two special teams like that, but nothing compares to grinding every single day and every single week with a group of these guys for the city of Chicago. Winning a Stanley Cup, I don’t think compares to anything. To be at the center of that is the most amazing feeling and the most you can ask out of the game of hockey.” Toews had pretty much said it all.

Chicago’s coach, Joel Quenneville, added his own comments, “It’s just the greatest feeling. We had some good momentum and mostly positive and upsides all year long. From the start of the year to the end of the year, you can’t ask for a better bunch of guys to work with.”

Many of those guys went on to win the Cup for Chicago again in 2013 and 2015.

Additional Sources:

• Mike Commito, Hockey 365: Daily Stories from the Ice(Toronto: Dundurn, 2018), kindle version.
• “Champs!” Chicago Tribune, 10 June 2010, section 1, pp. 1 and 4.
• “The Cup,” Chicago Tribune, 10 June 2010, section 2A.