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Blackhawks set to honor franchise legend Saturday vs. Maple Leafs
Photo credit: Tony Tomsic-USA TODAY NETWORK
The Chicago Blackhawks are set to honor late franchise icon Tony Esposito, as the first 8,000 fans at the United Center against the Maple Leafs will get a souvenir bobblehead.
The Chicago Blackhawks will host the Original 6 foe, the Toronto Maple Leafs, at the United Center on Saturday night, and the Blackhawks will be celebrating a late iconic member of their organization.
The late Tony Esposito, one of the best goalies in Blackhawks franchise history, will be honored with a special bobblehead that the first 8,000 fans in attendance will be receiving.
"Tony Esposito bobblehead night on Saturday. First 8,000 fans at the United Center. And a pregame ceremony for The Originals Centennial Celebration Night"
It will be Chicago's first matchup against the Maple Leafs this year, and both teams seem to be going in different directions.
The Blackhawks, who haven't made the playoffs since 2020, are off to a vastly improved start this year, and the Maple Leafs have struggled to put together any kind of consistency and would miss the playoffs if the season ended today.
Tony Esposito Was One Of The Best Goalies In Blackhawks History
Esposito passed away in 2021 at 78 after complications from pancreatic cancer, and among the outpouring of tributes that came in was from NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, who said the following:
"It was Esposito's style, charisma, and heart that endeared him most to hockey fans not only in Chicago but across the NHL. The hockey world will miss him greatly. "
Esposito won 423 career games during his time in the NHL and also won multiple awards, including three Vezina Trophies as the league's best goalie.
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