Is a fan favorite Blackhawks tradition over?

The Chicago Blackhawks held a convention at the Hilton Chicago every summer for 12 years straight, where fans could meet the players and have a fun filled weekend. Not only was this a fan favorite, but players loved to interact with fans and each other during this weekend. It was always a great way for fans to meet new players that were added to the team during the offseason. There were meet and greets, comedy shows, player panels, games, and countless other activities to enjoy.

The convention during the years the team won the Stanley Cup (2010, 2013, and 2015) also allowed for the fans to see the cup in person. It was a great experience all around because not many other teams of any professional sport do something like this for the fans. Both the Cubs and White Sox do something similar, so it may just be a Chicago thing.

It looks like that tradition may be over after the 13th annual convention was canceled in 2020 due to the pandemic. In past years, passes and packages for the convention would go on sale in January, with the event taking place at the end of July. With everything else going back to normal, it looks like the Blackhawks have ended this tradition. Passes for this year never went on sale and it was never mentioned by the organization that it will be held again. It's unknown whether or not it will be back in 2023. Fans will definitely miss it this summer, as it was a way to get everyone pumped up about the upcoming season.

Even with that being said, fans have a lot to look forward to this season. With the confirmation of Luke Richardson as the new head coach, it seems as if the team is going in the right direction and will be successful in their rebuild these next few seasons.