Chris Chelios Jersey Retirement Night

Chris Chelios gave his generation of fans the stories and nostalgia they sought while simultaneously making new fans out of the younger generations during a heartfelt, big-budget Blackhawks jersey retirement ceremony Sunday at the United Center. With his 90-year-old mother, Sue, and his four kids and former Hawks teammates including Jeremy Roenick and Ed Belfour in attendance, as well as a star-studded collection of friends ranging from Wayne Gretzky to John McEnroe to Dennis Rodman to Eddie Vedder, Chelios blew well past his allotted speaking time to no one’s surprise and everyone’s enjoyment.

In his first return to the United Center, Patrick Kane initially made one lap around the neutral zone, thanking Blackhawks fans for their deafening ovation. Then the ovation continued long enough to necessitate a second lap. And then long enough to necessitate a third lap. For two minutes that felt more like two hours, the season-high crowd of 21,141 at the United Center continuously roared in appreciation.