You can’t call Chicago anything but a hockey town & Blackhawks fans prove it

The Chicago Blackhawks have a reputation for being among the best in the NHL. This reputation goes beyond being insanely supportive of their club.

It’s all about the noise.

Anyone who knows anything about hockey cannot deny that Chicago is a hockey town. Sure, there are other cities and states known for their love of hockey. Detroit is the official “Hockeytown.” Minnesota is the most hockey-crazy state in America.

But there’s something about Chicago that makes the rest pale in comparison

As a kid growing up in the 1980s, there was a certain fear that opposing clubs had playing at the old Chicago Stadium. The Madhouse on Madison was the loudest building in the NHL. That raucous atmosphere made it extremely intimidating for opposing teams to play.

But the most incredible part was during the National Anthem. Fans would remain silent during its rendition, but right toward the end, the home crowd would explode in a deafening uproar that drowned out the final notes.

Blackhawks fans cheered so loudly that even TV broadcasts had to tone it down for a few moments. The camera would shake as fans clapped and cheered right before the opening face-off.

It was a period in NHL history that, sadly, will not return. The need for new arenas across the league forced teams to move on from time-honored buildings. But the great part is that the same tradition didn’t have to go very far. It just moved across the street to the United Center, where Blackhawks fans continue to prove their right up there with everyone else.

Blackhawks fans have stuck with their team through thick and thin

The Blackhawks are an Original Six franchise. They helped mold the NHL into what it is today. But it wasn’t always roses for Chicago fans. There was a period in the 1940s and 50s when the Blackhawks were terrible.

There was a period where the Blackhawks made the playoffs once in 12 seasons. From 1946 to 1958, the Blackhawks didn’t come close to winning a Stanley Cup. Things turned around as they won in 1961, only to come close time and time again, but come away empty-handed.

The Blackhawks missed the playoffs just once from 1959 to 1997. Along the way, there was a painful loss to Mario Lemieux and the Pittsburgh Penguins in the Stanley Cup Final.

Blackhawks fans would be rewarded for their loyalty following a painful rebuild. The Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews era brought three Cups to Chicago. And, while it’s been five seasons since the Blackhawks last made the postseason, Blackhawks fans aren’t going anywhere.

Unlike other rebuilding clubs, the Blackhawks don’t have attendance issues. The United Center is always booming. Even if the on-ice product isn’t necessarily the best, fans are willing to stick by their club no matter what.