The Chicago Blackhawks are bringing back a familiar look as the club continues to celebrate their centennial season.

This morning, the team announced the return of their popular black alternate uniform, a design that is essentially a black version of their longstanding home red and road white set. The team had a little bit of fun with the announcement of the sweater on their social media channels by parodying Michael Jordan’s famous “I’m back.” press release from 1995.

This uniform simply shifts the familiar Blackhawks design onto a black base, creating a look that slides in alongside the existing red and white uniforms seamlessly, which, in my opinion, is what an ideal alternate uniform should do. The familiar Blackhawks logo is on the chest with red and white stripes around the waist and each sleeve. Player numbers are white with red outlines.

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“This alternate home sweater isn’t merely a throwback, but an upgrade that amplifies everything that makes the Blackhawks visually iconic as the franchise celebrates 100 years of hockey heritage during the ongoing Centennial celebration,” the team said in its own press release.

The black uniform first appeared in the Blackhawks’ wardrobe in the 1996-97 season, they continued to wear it through 2008-09. A futuristic version of the design was trotted out for their appearance in an outdoor Stadium Series game played in 2014.

“Originally worn by Tony Amonte, Chris Chelios, Eric Daze and Denis Savard in the 1990s-2000s, these jerseys defined an era and became a symbol of the grit, strength, commitment and legacy that still holds true to today’s era of Blackhawks hockey,” said Blackhawks chairman and CEO Danny Wirtz.

On the ice, the Blackhawks will debut the black alternate on Black Friday, November 28, at home against the Nashville Predators, followed by another “Blackout” game on Sunday, November 30, versus the Anaheim Ducks. The team is encouraging fans to wear black to both games to match the look of the players on the ice.

“We’re not just revisiting our past. We’re reactivating one of hockey’s most striking visual statements. Our fans were part of making it an icon under the United Center lights. They’ve been asking for this moment, and we couldn’t wait to give this back to them as the next generation takes the ice,” added Jaime Faulkner, President of Business Operations.

In all, the Blackhawks will wear the black alternate seven times during the 2025-26 season. After the two November “Blackout” dates, the sweater returns for a series of Friday Night Hockey games starting on January 9, 2026, against the Washington Capitals. Other black uniform games include January 23 versus the Tampa Bay Lightning, January 30 against the Columbus Blue Jackets, March 14 versus the Vegas Golden Knights, and March 20 against the Colorado Avalanche.