Blackhawks Family Lose Two Alumni From the 1961 Stanley Cup Team

The Chicago Blackhawks family lost two members of the 1961 Stanley Cup Championship team this week.  Ron 'Chico' Maki passed on Wednesday at the age of 76.  Today, Al Arbour passed away at the age of 82.

Chico Maki, (who doesn't love to say that name), was one of the longest tenured Blackhawks.  He played his entire 15-year career with the 'Hawks from 1961 to 1976, while playing in 841 games, gathering 143 goals, 292 assists, for 435 points.

Maki appeared in 3 All-Star games.  Although he only appeared in one game in 1961 as a rookie, he was still part of the Stanley Cup winning team.  Maki played a bigger role to help bring the Blackhawks back to the Stanley Cup Finals in 1962, 1965, 1971, and 1973.  Unfortunately, he couldn't help them bring home Lord Stanley's Cup during that time.


Al Arbour, played 626 games in the NHL.  Of those, he played 170 games, 3 seasons, with the Blackhawks, including the 1961 team.  Over his playing career, he won 4 Stanley Cups (Montreal, Chicago, Toronto (2)).  Arbour though is more known for his coaching career with the New York Islanders.  He coached a total of 1500 games in the NHL and led the Islanders to 4 straight Stanley Cups from 1980 to 1983.  He ranks 2nd All-Time in coaching victories with 782 only to Scotty Bowman (1244).

Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families of both, Chico Maki, and Al Arbour.

LET'S GO HAWKS!!!