The Chicago Blackhawks will wear a patch on their sweaters throughout the 2023-24 NHL season, paying tribute to William Rockwell “Rocky” Wirtz, the principal owner and chairman of the Blackhawks from 2007 up until his death in July at the age of 70.
The memorial patch will be worn on the upper right corner of the Blackhawks home red and road white jerseys. It will feature Wirtz’s “Rocky” nickname in bold white lettering placed on a black circle trimmed in white and black.
The patch design is similar in style to those worn to honour former Blackhawks players Tony Esposito and Stan Mikita in recent years. During the 2007-08 season, the Blackhawks wore a patch honouring the memory of Wirtz’s father, William Wadsworth “Bill” Wirtz, which featured his initials “WWW” on a black oval with a single red feather from the team’s logo off to the side.
Rocky Wirtz was the owner of the Blackhawks during their three most recent Stanley Cup Championships in 2010, 2013, and 2015.