Blackhawks Mourn Passing Of Chico Maki
Former Blackhawks forward Chico Maki has reportedly passed away.
Maki played 841 regular season games in the NHL, all with the Chicago Blackhawks. He scored 143 goals and added 293 assists between the 1960-61 season and the 1975-76 campaign. Maki added 53 points in 113 postseason games with the Hawks. His best season came in 1970-71, when Maki scored a career-high 22 goals and added 26 assists.
He celebrated his 76th birthday less than two weeks ago.
RIP
A sad day. Good ole #16 was my favorite player when I started following the Hawks in the mid-60’s. RIP Chico (Ron).
Like Ebony, Chico Maki was my favourite player for several years in the mid sixties..I met him in person after he retired twice. He is the only Blackhawk that I have an autographed puck from and resides prominently on the wall of my bar next to a framed 60-61 Stanley Cup Cup Champions Team Picture. Chico holds a special place with me forever.
Life time Hawk Fan. I got to play the game and idolized Hull and Mikita, but my guy was Chico Maki – the quiet unsung hero. I got to meet him in the early 70’s and he was the same guy on and off the ice. What a role model – thanks Chico!
A great penalty killer, Chico was never much of a goal scorer, I think his highest total was 22. He played a great deal with Bobby Hull and also formed one third of a productive line with Hull and Phil Esposito for a few years in the mid 60’s.
I was at the Stadium when Chico scored the empty net goal to clinch a 4-2 victory over the New York Rangers in Game 7 of the 1971 semi finals.
He retired for a year in the summer of 1974 when his son suffered a bad foot injury in a farming combine accident. He did not play in the ’74-75 season and Billy Reay convinced him to rejoin the team for the last 20+ games of the 1975-76 season once it became clear winger Joey Johnston was not fully recovered from his injuries.
I was at his last game, a Game 4 series ending loss to Montreal early in the 1976 playoffs. His obit sheds some light on why he wasn’t part of recent Blackhawk fan conventions like other players from his era. His son said he hasn’t been active at events for the last eight years so apparently he was ill or disabled in some fashion.
Really enjoyed watching Chico play, good clean player who could skate. Played his entire career as a Blackhawk.
I watched Hull (both), Mikita and Esposito, was whacked and taught by Mahovolich and other NHL players at Tam O’Shanter Summer Hockey School, played defense in Wilmette League as a kid. The Blackhawks inspired me and many other kids of the 1960s.
Maki was definitely the quiet one compared to the other guys. He made good plays and had a gentlemanly reputation compared to today’s bad boys rule attitude. He’ll be missed.
RIP, Chico Maki, God bless you. Tom said it best above, Chico was the ultimate unsung hero. Through all those seasons he was always there, as steady and dependable a teammate as there ever was. He knew his role and played it so well, making sure #9 got the puck as soon as possible on a turnover or a breakout. By all accounts a perfect gentleman, and a man of good humor. While on the road he liked to answer the phone “Bobby Hull’s room” just to needle his famous roomate.
time is catching up to the teams i grew up watching / Chico is in a team picture on my wall from the 63 Hawks team . he was a consistent player in the old 6 team nhl therefore a talented player .it seems he had his share of unhappy situations in his life . his son injured in a farm accident and then his brother dying of brain cancer .Wayne Maki was involved in an unfortunate altercation with Ted Green when Green was struck in the head after goading Wayne into retaliation . Wayne Maki is gone Stan Mikita has severe dementia time marches on B
I pray for Chico Maki’s surviving family and friends. May they all have a peace that surpasses all understanding. I was an incurable Blackhawk fan from the time I was little and Chico was part of it. Rest in peace, Mr. Maki!
Great to read the memories. Thanks for posting.
RIP Chicago Blackhawk great Chico Maki. My dad bought your 65 convertible thunderbird. His three favorite things were my mom, his Rottweiler Frenchy and this car. Not necessarily in that order… my thoughts and prayers to the Maki family