Champs Raise The Banner
CHICAGO (AP) - The Blackhawks are celebrating their long-awaited Stanley Cup title one more time before getting the home opener under way.
The United Center crowd cheered again Saturday night when the banner in honor of the Chicago's first Stanley Cup victory since 1961 was raised to the rafters before Chicago faced the Detroit Red Wings.
That was the culmination of a 30-minute ceremony commemorating the fourth Cup title in team history. Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews skated on to the ice with the Cup at the end of player introductions, and placed the trophy on a pedestal.
The banner was unfurled by five members of the 1961 team - Bobby Hull, Stan Mikita, Pierre Pilote, Eric Nesterenko and Ab McDonald - and players from last season's club skated it the length of the ice before it was lifted over the east end of the rink.
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