As a kid growing up in Winnipeg, Jonathan Toews decided to pursue a life in hockey not only because of his talent and love for the game but also because he understood its power to unite communities.
"[When you] go to an NHL game, you just feel that inspiration," Toews said. "It makes you feel some kind of emotion that inspires you to do your best and try to be great at what you do.
"It's what we love about sports: you never know what's going to happen. To put your heart and soul into something, and be able to have that impact and inspire people in that way, is what makes our sport special."
Throughout Toews' 16 years in Chicago, he never lost sight of that power. He cared about forming a bond with Blackhawks fans and Chicagoans as a whole, and form a bond he did.
On Monday at the United Center, Toews and Hawks fans got to re-establish that bond, at least for one night.
Twice as many fans, many waving "Welcome Back No. 19" signs, watched Jets warmups as watched Hawks warmups. Later, anthem singer Jim Cornelison had to fight back a smile when fans, briefly shown Toews on the video board, began cheering through his rendition of O Canada.
And then, at the first TV timeout, came an ovation for Toews that seemed to never end. One laps, then two, then three weren't enough to satiate a sold-out crowd, which kept roaring and roaring until Toews signaled they simply had to get on with the game.
An ovation that never ends for Jonathan Toews: pic.twitter.com/8d3OBiDiSj
— Ben Pope (@BenPopeCST) January 20, 2026
It was a marathon of appreciation, and it didn't matter that Toews wears blue instead of red now — just like it didn't matter how Patrick Kane wore a different shade of red when he returned for the first time as a Red Wing in February 2024. They're both honorary Chicagoans forever.
"I went to play in the world championship after my last year in college [in 2007], and all the guys there were always like, 'Chicago is such a great sports city. Once the team gets going, it's going to be a great place to play,'" Toews said.
"Sure enough, that really came true within a couple years of being here. All the things lining up — and being able to take advantage of those opportunities — was all pretty special."
Kane was the icon of those Hawks, and Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook were the workhorses. But it was Toews who really built and maintained the bridge between the team and the city.
Connor Murphy, one of seven remaining Hawks who overlapped with Toews, got to witness that firsthand.
"He’s the one teammate I've ever had where you go out with him in public and people won’t just say they’re a 'big fan,'" Murphy said. "They’ll almost give an emotional 'thank you' to him. They’ll literally say, ‘Thank you for making my life better.’
"Because of the impact that he made representing as a leader in the community and...putting his heart on his sleeve with how he played, and always being team-first and community-first, that really resonated with people."
Toews recalled fans coming up and sharing stories about where they were for Cup wins or other unforgettable moments, and he was always happy and grateful to hear those stories.
Plenty more stories were shared over dinner Sunday with some of the alumni who stuck around after their centennial ceremony Saturday to meet up with Toews. He mentioned seeing Kris Versteeg, Andrew Shaw, Marian Hossa, Johnny Oduya and Troy Brouwer; Versteeg and Shaw sounded the horn before puck drop Monday.
He and Kane got to face each other for the first time on NHL ice on New Year's Eve in Detroit, too. Toews' assist in that game seemed to spark a mid-season surge for him after he struggled through November and December.
