Former Blackhawks D-Man Chris Chelios: Nothing Can Top Having Jersey Retired By Hometown Team

The Blackhawks kicked off the run-up to the retirement of Chelios' No. 7 on Feb. 25 with an appearance by the Hall-of-Fame defenseman and the opening of a pop-up throwback Cheli's Chili Bar at the United Center.

Former Blackhawks defenseman Chris Chelios was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2013, but the Chicago native is looking forward to a bigger honor.

At least one that means more to him.

The Blackhawks will retire Chelios' No. 7 in a ceremony before a game against Detroit at the United Center on Feb. 25. The team officially launched the run-up to the event, and announced details on Friday with the opening of a pop-up Cheli's Chili stand in the atrium on the east side of its arena.

Chelios, from Chicago's South Side, played nine of his 26 NHL seasons with the Blackhawks, from 1990 to 1999. Although the team fell short of winning a Stanley Cup, losing to Pittsburgh in the 1991 finals, he won two Norris Trophies on a mostly competitive team he captained for four seasons.

And Chelios went to battle for the Hawks too. Granted the NHL was rife with wrestling matches and fights in the 1990s, but Chelios still leads the franchise in career penalty minutes with 1,495.

"The Hall of Fame was amazing. I thought that was the last hurrah," "Chelios said Friday at the ribbon-cutting for Cheli's. "So I invited as many people as I could to Canada (Toronto).

"Well, now I've invited triple the amount because nothing can top this. There's nothing after this as far as I'm concerned, no higher accolade to be honored like this: To get my jersey retired in my hometown." See the following video.

Chelios, now 62, retired after a handful of games with the Atlanta Thrashers in 2009-10. 

He debuted with Montréal, the team that had drafted him (In the second round, 40th overall, in 1981.) in March 1984, then became a regular on the Canadiens in 1984-85 and was a runner-up for the Calder Trophy. He won the Stanley Cup as a 24-year-old with Montréal in 1986, skating in 20 playoff games

The Blackhawks acquired Chelios in a blockbuster trade from the Canadiens in June 1990 that sent another future Hall-of-Famer, center Denis Savard, back to his hometown.

It was a big deal to Blackhawks fans too. The slick Savard was beloved, but getting a skilled, feisty hometown kid who had played at Mt. Carmel High School built an extra sense of connection.

Chelios said he realizes that more now

"It wasn't a dream growing up as a kid to play in the NHL," Chelios said. "But you know looking back now, I guess the most important, or thing that is most impressive to me it that it's in my hometown. That's the dream come true."

The Blackhawks traded Chelios to Detroit, for a pair of first-round draft picks (in 1999 and 2001) and D-man Anders Eriksson in March 1999. Chelios went on to play nine more seasons with the Red Wings, winning two Stanley Cup with them.

So having his jersey retired before Chicago's lone home game against Detroit this season his fitting. It also will mark the return of Patrick Kane, a future Hall-of-Famer, to the United Center after Kane signed as a free agent with Detroit in November.

Elaborate on-ice ceremonies on Feb. 25 will start at 3:10 p.m. and the Blackhawks wants fans in their seats at 3 p.m. Puck drop will be at 5 p.m.

Oh, and there's that chili connection too. Chelios' father, Gus was in the restaurant business. He and other family members ran a sports bar called "Cheli's Chili" about a mile east of the United Center in the 1990s, then a similar establisment in Detroit.

The chili, with it's original recipe is being cooked up again at the United Center in February at $7 per cup. The pop-up stand includes memorabilia from Chelios' career and sells merchandise.

"We've always had restaurants and we thought it would be a great way to connect with the community and the Hawks fans," Chelios said. "It didn't matter it is was Hawks players or Bulls players, celebrities or just the average fan. It was a great place to meet, after the games especially."  See the following video.