Hall of Fame defenseman Chris Chelios, a three-time Stanley Cup champion, will be getting yet another personal accolade to add to his resume.
The Chicago Blackhawks, whom he captained during a portion of his NHL career, announced late last night that they'd be retiring his #7 jersey number later in the upcoming season. The ceremony will take place on February 25 prior to Chicago facing the Detroit Red Wings, whom Chelios played for after being traded from Chicago in a surprising 1999 trade.
Of course, Chelios was one of the players that Red Wings fans absolutely loved to loathe, and for good reason. And for the future Red Wings blue liner, the feeling was mutual. He infamously once said that he'd never suit up for the Red Wings - of course, that was prior to the deadline deal in '99 that brought him to the place he never once thought he'd be.
The announcement comes at a time when the Blackhawks are still attempting to deal with the fallout of their having covered up the sexual assault of Kyle Beach during the 2010 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Chelios, who is far more known for his successful time with the Red Wings than his years in Chicago, played in 1,651 games during his 26-year career, the second-most all-time by an NHL defenseman.
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