The 2017 National Hockey League Draft Will Be Held In Chicago

By Mae Rice in Arts & Entertainment on Feb 11, 2016 4:54PM

Chicago will host the an National Hockey League draft for the first time ever in 2017, according to reports from ESPN and the Sun-Times.

Though there has been no official announcement yet, Blackhawks management is slated to make a “special announcement” at United Center this afternoon, according to a tweet from Tribune sports reporter Chris Kuc.

The NHL draft takes place in the June after the hockey season, and will—along with the Blackhawks’ assorted Stanley Cups—help solidify Chicago’s status as a hockey town. (Not that anyone who attended the 2013 Blackhawks victory parade, which made St. Patrick’s Day look like a lazy Sunday, doubted it for one second.)

So if you’ve ever wanted to see a hockey draft in the flesh, you’re in luck! I feel like the most exciting hockey action is at the games, but who am I to judge.