Utah HC Trolls Chicago Blackhawks Fans by Changing Arena Wi-Fi Name During Season Opener

PUBLICATION

Daniel Lucente
October 9, 2024 (1:59 PM)

SHARE THIS STORY

The Utah Hockey Club trolled the Chicago Blackhawks during last night's game by changing the WIFI network's name to mock NBA legend Michael Jordan.

In 1998, Jordan's memorable game-winning shot in Game 6 of the NBA Finals helped the Chicago Bulls clinch another championship. The play, to this day, has been shrouded in controversy; some Utah Jazz fans are convinced Jordan pushed off Byron Russell to clear enough space for the shot. Fast-forward to 2024, and it seems Utah sports fans haven't quite let it go. This long-borne resentment showed up as a light dig at the fans of the Blackhawks, using that infamous moment for a light jab in the stirring rivalry.

Excitement was building up as the Chicago Blackhawks were pitted against Utah's brand-new NHL team in the first game of the season. The Blackhawks, eager to come off last year's hard season, had moved a few key guys around during the summer and were looking to impress with their revamped roster. Meanwhile, the Utah HC was set to make a strong impression in its inaugural season opener.

The atmosphere in Utah's debut at the Delta Center was electrifying. The deal that finally got put together by team owner Ryan Smith and former Arizona Coyotes owner Alex Morello with NHL commissioner Gary Bettman brought it into reality. The seats were filled, and fans were abuzz to finally see their new team skate onto the ice. It was quickly evident that this was going to be a strong hockey team in the community right from the start.

An exciting night at the Delta Center, unfortunately, wasn't exactly great on the ice for the Blackhawks. The Blackhawks fell 5-2 to Utah, even though Taylor Hall and Connor Bedard were brilliant. Each got a few dangerous sequences in front of Utah HC goalie Connor Ingram. They'll now turn their attention to their Canadian road swing, starting October 11 against the Winnipeg Jets.

At least that effort gave the Blackhawks some hope, even though the result didn't quite go their way. The rest of this season will no doubt be interesting for both Chicago and Utah as their teams jell and take shape.