The voting for fans and media has closed for the inaugural Blackhawks Hall of Fame class. At some point between now and the Centennial season beginning we’ll learn which two individuals will join the legends whose numbers have been retired in the first class of inductees.
But there might be one more individual who will join the former players.
When the Blackhawks initially announced the team would have a hall of fame, the release included this:
“Additionally, the Blackhawks may induct one Builder such as a broadcaster, coach or other contributor for inclusion in the annual class through committee selection.”
This obviously limits each annual induction class to one, but who are some folks who should be at least considered, if not inducted, into the Blackhawks Hall of Fame in the Builder category? Let’s look at the three categories with some names that should be considered this year and in the future. Please note I am not considering ownership here.
Blackhawks Coaches
Billy Reay
At some point, Reay needs to be in the Blackhawks Hall of Fame. He’s the only head coach to spend more than 1,000 games behind the bench (1,012) and remains the franchise’s all-time wins leader (516). The 117 postseason games he coached with the Blackhawks is second in franchise history as well.
Rudy Pilous
Pilious was behind the bench for six seasons (387 games between 1958-63) and led the Blackhawks to a Stanley Cup championship in 1961.
Mike Keenan
Keenan was only behind the bench in Chicago for four years (320 games between 1989-92) but became a legendary coach for the Blackhawks during that brief time. Those 320 regular-season games are still fifth-most in franchise history for a head coach. He led the Blackhawks to one Stanley Cup Final.
Joel Quenneville
Quenneville has a complicated legacy in Chicago. There is no denying this is a polarizing name to consider. We cannot ignore the revelations that came from the investigation surrounding the sexual assault of Kyle Beach. And there have been serious consequences for Quenneville’s career since that report was published. He is also the greatest head coach in Chicago Blackhawks history, leading the team to three championships. Q ranks second behind Reay in all-time wins as a Blackhawks’ head coach (452) and is the franchise’s all-time leader in postseason games (128) and playoff wins (76).
Blackhawks Broadcasters
Lloyd Pettit
For many Blackhawks fans, Pettit’s is the voice they will forever associate with the team. From 1967 to 1981 he worked on radio and television broadcasts of the Blackhawks, and also did some baseball in Chicago. He was an iconic game caller, known for exclaiming “there’s a shot… and a goal!” He left a huge role to be filled when he stepped away from the mic in 1981. Pettit was presented with the Foster Hewitt Memorial Award by the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1986.
Pat Foley
One person who grew up and fell in love with the Blackhawks in large part because of Pettit’s voice was Foley. His voice became synonymous with the Blackhawks for the generations that followed Pettit. He spent most of four decades with the team with a brief gap in the mid-2000s. From “Savoir-Faire” to the dynasty teams, he was the voice of the Chicago Blackhawks. Foley was presented with the Foster Hewitt Memorial Award by the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2014.
John Wiedeman
Wiedeman has been the radio voice (and occasionally television) for the Blackhawks for two decades. There are plenty of fans who will have an earbud in to listen to John and Troy on WGN radio while in the United Center. At some point he should get a call from Toronto and join Pettit and Foley in the Hall.
Blackhawks Special Contributors
Dale Tallon
Tallon did everything with the Blackhawks organization. He spent five years on the blue line. He then spent nearly two decades broadcasting Blackhawks games alongside Foley and others. Eventually, he moved into the front office and, as the general manager, assembled many of the pieces that became the dynasty teams. If you’re looking for a “special contributor” to the history of the Chicago Blackhawks, Tallon checks almost every box.
Eddie Olczyk
Not many individuals have represented the Blackhawks from a fan level to the ice and into other capacities on a local and international level as well as Olczyk. Edzo was selected third overall by the Blackhawks in the 1984 NHL Draft and still holds many “young Blackhawks player to do ____” in franchise history. He appeared in 322 regular-season games for his hometown Blackhawks during a career that earned him enshrinement in the USA Hockey Hall of Fame. He was also an exceptional partner for Foley in the broadcast booth.
Troy Murray
Murray may not have grown up in Chicago like Edzo, but he was drafted by the Blackhawks and was a terrific player for 12 years with the organ-I-zation in his own right. Murray has a Selke at home (and a Stanley Cup ring from 1996 with the Avalanche). He joined the Blackhawks’ broadcast team(s) in 1998 and has been a fixture in the booths since.
Harvey Wittenberg
Recent generations of Blackhawks fans associate the in-stadium experience at the United Center with the booming voice of Gene Honda. But Wittenberg was the voice of the Chicago Blackhawks as the public address announcer from 1961-2002. He’s also written two books about the Blackhawks and contributes online for the team.
Wayne Messmer
The end of the relationship here would undoubtedly complicate this being possible, but the National Anthem tradition at Blackhawks home games will forever be associated with two voices: Messmer and Jiim Cornelison. Messmer did it big and loud at the Chicago Stadium. And no Anthem has ever come close to the one at the 1991 NHL All-Star Game.
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