The Chicago Blackhawks took on the Toronto Maple Leafs at United Center on Sunday evening. Part of what made this game special is that Frank Pellico played the organ for Chicago for the final time.
Pellico has been on the keys for Chicago since 1991 and has become a legend in town. He was responsible for playing some of the most incredible national anthem renditions along with catchy tunes for years.
Carrie Marcotte, who has been patterning with Pellico since the 2018-19 season, is going to take over full-time for the Chicago Blackhawks. Frank leaves the team in good hands as Carrie is also very good at playing.
Carrie became the seventh full-time organist in United Center/Chicago Stadium history. Before her and Frank Pellico, who account for two of the seven, came Nancy Faust, Ron Bogda, Bob Raatz, Ralph Emerson, and Al Melgard.
Pellico’s last game with the Blackhawks was a two-anthem game, as the Toronto Maple Leafs were the opponent. Thus, “O Canada” was played alongside “The Star-Spangled Banner.” It was also the last visit to the United Center for an Original Six team.
Throughout the evening, the Blackhawks did a good job honoring Pellico during his last game. That included a pre-game showing, a video tribute narrated by public address announcer Gene Honda, and various opportunities to celebrate him throughout.
When you think of the eras that Pellico has been a part of, it’s hard not to appreciate him for continuing to find a way to make his playing interesting. Nothing ever felt stale or out of style. He was wonderful at his craft.
On the ice, the Blackhawks have had everything good and bad happen to them during Pellico’s tenure. He’s seen it all as a fan. He's been there whether they were a lottery team, playing in the Stanley Cup Final, or hosting an outdoor game.
During a few of his moments with the crowd, it was clear that Pellico was emotional about this day, and rightfully so.
The Blackhawks did a good job of sending him off with class. He played the organ well and earned hockey fans' respect in Chicago spanning multiple decades. The response to it being his last game tells how special he is.
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