The Chicago Blackhawks are entering a whole new era of hockey, and despite significant changes to the team both on and off the ice over the last two years, one illustrious tradition will always endure.

Longtime PA commentator Gene Honda called players to the blue line for the playing of the US national anthem prior to Thursday night’s Blackhawks preseason opener.

One of the most well-known NHL customs is fans cheering during “The Star-Spangled Banner” at the United Center before to a Blackhawks game. It’s also one that several of his new teammates, including rookie Connor Bedard, encountered for the first time on Thursday.

Yeah, Bedard agreed, “it was really cool.” “Just kind of venturing outside and listening to the throng.” The anthem was, of course, very spectacular.

“Very kind greeting. And having this crowd tonight is really great, and it’s fantastic to get those first few shifts in. Therefore, we truly value that.

Since 2007, Jim Cornelison has been the team’s national anthem vocalist, taking over from a series of Chicago’s Lyric Opera performers. Wayne Messmer held the title prior to that, from 1980 until 1994.

Prior to Game 3 of the 1985 conference finals at Chicago Stadium, the custom of enthusiastically cheering and applauding during the whole national anthem was established. May 9, precisely.

With the Chicago Blackhawks behind Wayne Gretsky’s Edmonton Oilers 0-2 in the series, the team’s supporters were doing everything they could to incite excitement among the crowd. Troy Murray, a player of the Blackhawks at the time, is said to have dubbed the disturbance that Oilers supporters made during the US anthem in Edmonton earlier that series “a slight to the anthem.”

After winning Games 3 and 4 to even the series, the Blackhawks eventually fell short against the Oilers in six games.

Still, the custom endured.

When the NHL All-Star game was held in Chicago in 1991, three days after George H.W. Bush declared the commencement of the Persian Gulf War, the ritual attracted widespread notice.

Frank Pellico, an organist, plays with Cornelison at all United Center home games.