When the pleasantries were done, and Hossa had given thanks to just about everyone in the building, fans, and teammates alike, he walked with his wife, his mother and father, and his three daughters to the site of the banner, hidden in an electronic container that displayed the words "Only One 81."įacing the east-side of the arena, they watched as the pristine white pennant rose. In his acknowledgment of his time spent with the other clubs, the home crowd wasn't afraid to let him know what they thought about the latter.Īfter a smidgen of boos, the crowd chanted, "Detroit (stinks)! Detroit (stinks!) Hossa played 19 years in the NHL with the Senators, Atlanta Thrashers, Penguins, and the Red Wings. Five hundred and thirty four of those games, 186 of those goals, 229 of those assists, and 415 of those points came with the team in Chicago. 3), Bobby Hull, Denis Savard, Stan Mikita, and Tony Esposito, respectively.Īcross the entirety of his career, Hossa played 1,309 games, scored 525 goals and 609 assists for a total of 1,134 points.
The numbers 1, 3, 9, 18, 21, 33 are the only Blackhawks numbers that look down from their perches in the United Center, belonging to Glenn Hall, Pierre Pilote, Keith Magnuson (who also wore No. It was about honoring the first and last player to don the number 81 for one of the oldest franchises in the NHL, Marian Hossa. It was about bringing the family together again, with former members of those teams in attendance. The Hawks were set to face the Penguins after the ceremony, but Sunday night was about honoring the first of what will likely be several more core players from the Blackhawks teams that won three Stanley Cups in six years. "Hossa! Hossa! Hossa!" the crowd chanted as the legendary Slovak right winger cruised up the black matting.
A giant white 81 structure was lit up with a buzzing neon red outline, and opaque white banners that produced images of the player who wore that number for nine years with the Blackhawks fell from the rafters.
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