CHICAGO HOCKEY INSIDER | NHL TEAM | CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS

January 17 is a date Chicago Blackhawks fans will want to circle

PUBLICATION

Sam Walker
December 19, 2025 (3:03 PM)

SHARE THIS STORY

January 17 suddenly matters for Chicago Blackhawks fans, mixing Duncan Keith nostalgia, Cup-winning alumni, and a reminder of how loud the United Center used to feel.

The organization confirmed this week that Duncan Keith bobblehead night will double as a full-on reunion, with more than 25 Stanley Cup champions expected in the building. The news dropped Thursday and immediately stirred memories of banners, parades, and playoff runs that defined a decade.

Keith, now 42, remains one of the defining defensemen in franchise history. Drafted 54th overall in 2002, he logged 1,192 regular season games with Chicago, piling up 106 goals and 519 points while averaging heavy minutes for years.

That success peaked with Stanley Cup wins in 2010, 2013, and 2015. Keith won the Conn Smythe Trophy in 2015 after posting 21 points in 23 playoff games while routinely playing more than 30 minutes a night.

The alumni angle pushes this night beyond a simple giveaway. According to the CHGO Blackhawks podcast, the following Cup-winning alumni are slated to attend.

Duncan Keith
Brent Seabrook
Marian Hossa
Corey Crawford
Patrick Sharp
Niklas Hjalmarsson
Andrew Shaw
Dave Bolland
Brandon Saad
Johnny Oduya
Michal Handzus
Antti Raanta
Scott Darling
Tomas Kopecky
Ben Smith
Kris Versteeg
Brian Campbell
Andrew Ladd
Dustin Byfuglien
Adam Burish
Troy Brouwer
Michal Rozsival
Kimmo Timonen

Loading from Twitter ...

Duncan Keith anchors Chicago Blackhawks reunion

Seeing those names together hits hard if you lived through that era. Fans still talk about those teams like they were family, and this night feels designed to tap straight into that shared memory.

The timing also matters for a rebuilding club still searching for its next identity. Chicago has struggled in the standings this season, but nights like this reconnect the present to standards set not long ago.

The United Center crowd should reflect that emotional pull. Expect standing ovations, long applause, and plenty of old sweaters pulled from closets for one night only.

Loading from Twitter ...

For one evening, wins and losses take a back seat. January 17 is about honoring what worked, celebrating who did it, and reminding everyone what the crest once represented.

Previously on Chicago Hockey Insider

Edmonton Oilers acquire Chicago Blackhawks' Laurent Brossoit in intriguing trade proposed

One side at a major advantage in Blackhawks vs. Senators Saturday with players return from injury

Bedard's Olympic Dreams Hang in the Balance as Canada Weighs Roster

POLL
DECEMBRE 19 \| 54 ANSWERS January 17 is a date Chicago Blackhawks fans will want to circle Which part of January 17 matters most to Chicago Blackhawks fans?
Duncan Keith	17	31.5 %
Alumni reunion	24	44.4 %
Bobblehead night	3	5.6 %
Cup memories	10	18.5 %
List of polls

January 17 is a date Chicago Blackhawks fans will want to circle

January 17 suddenly matters for Chicago Blackhawks fans, mixing Duncan Keith nostalgia, Cup-winning alumni, and a reminder of how loud the United Center used to feel.

Duncan Keith anchors Chicago Blackhawks reunion

Which part of January 17 matters most to Chicago Blackhawks fans?