HIGHLIGHTS
- Jonathan Toews received 4-minute standing ovation at United Center on Monday
- Former Blackhawks captain returned as member of Winnipeg Jets for first time
- Watch video of Toews’ emotional tribute in Chicago below
Jonathan Toews got the ovation he deserved.
The former Chicago Blackhawks captain received a four-minute standing ovation at United Center on Monday night in his first game back as a visitor with the Winnipeg Jets. The arena of 19,894 erupted when the Blackhawks played a tribute video during the first TV timeout.
And the crowd wouldn’t stop.
Toews jumped over the boards to acknowledge it, waving and patting his heart as fans chanted his name. He took multiple laps around the ice, laughing and shaking his head in disbelief. The building was packed with No. 19 jerseys and fans holding “WELCOME BACK 19” posters.
Check out the emotional ovation in its entirety below:
“One of the greatest welcome back ovations I’ve ever seen. The Chicago crowd would not stop cheering for Jonathan Toews,” wrote longtime Blackhawks reporter Charlie Roumeliotis.
Toews spent 15 seasons with the Blackhawks and won three Stanley Cups in 2010, 2013 and 2015. He served as captain from 2008 onward, becoming the 34th captain in franchise history at just 20 years old.
The 37-year-old center had 883 points in 1,067 games with Chicago. His playoff legacy is even better. Toews had 119 points in 137 playoff games and won the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP in 2010 at age 22.
Say what you want about the end of his career, but Toews at his peak was the most complete two-way center in the game. He won the Selke Trophy in 2013 and anchored those Cup runs while taking every tough defensive assignment. Guys like that don’t come around often.
Chicago chose not to re-sign him after the 2022-23 season. Toews sat out two years dealing with health issues before returning with his hometown Jets this season. He never got a proper send-off from the organization, which made Monday night even more special.
Former teammates Kris Versteeg and Andrew Shaw sounded the horn before the opening faceoff. The Blackhawks had just celebrated their Stanley Cup teams Saturday as part of their centennial season festivities.
Toews has seven goals and 11 assists in 47 games with Winnipeg this season. The production isn’t what it used to be, but that doesn’t diminish what he meant to Chicago hockey for a decade and a half.
Connor Bedard watched from the bench as the building saluted Toews. That’s gonna be him one day if he brings a Cup back to Chicago.
