Manitoba Moose

The game marks the first time the Chicago Blackhawks will play at MTS Centre, bringing with them their captain, Olympic gold medalist, Conn Smythe Trophy winner, and Winnipeg native Jonathan Toews. Toews was the third overall pick in the 2006 NHL Entry draft, and has a collection of gold medals from both the World Juniors and the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver with Team Canada. Most recently, the 22-year old hoisted the Stanley Cup for the Blackhawks and was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy as the 2010 Playoff MVP. By winning the Stanley Cup in the 2009-2010 campaign, Toews passed Peter Forsberg as the youngest member of the Triple Gold Club. Toews has skated at MTS Centre before in the Superstar Summer Showdown last August and will do so again this summer. However, the exhibition match-up against the Lightning will be a “Manitoba Homecoming” for Toews playing alongside his NHL teammates in front of a home crowd for the first time.

The Blackhawks are one of the original six teams, established in 1926. Since then the club has gone on to win four Stanley Cups, most recently with a 4-3 overtime victory over the Philadelphia Flyers in Game 6 last Wednesday, ending a 49-year Stanley Cup drought. 

The Blackhawks finished third overall in the NHL’s regular season standings, led by Toews and Stanley Cup overtime hero Patrick Kane, assistant captain Patrick Sharp, as well as Norris Trophy nominee Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook on the blueline. The Lightning counter with former first overall pick Steven Stamkos, who tied Sidney Crosby for the most goals in the NHL this season with 51, as well as Vincent Lecavalier, and 2004 Hart Trophy winner Martin St. Louis.