Emotional Scene Unfolds as Jets Honor Departing Veterans With On-Ice Tribute

The Winnipeg Jets defeated the Chicago Blackhawks 5-4 in the shootout in last night's game at United Center, one of the last games of the year for the struggling Windy City franchise that once again missed the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Earlier in the week, it was announced by a pair of veterans on the Blackhawks that this would be their final year in the NHL; both Pat Maroon and Alec Martinez, who have 5 Stanley Cups between them, are calling it a career.

After the game, the Jets stayed on the ice to shake hands with both Maroon and Martinez in a show of class after what was the final home game of their respective careers:

Maroon is a 3-time Stanley Cup champion, having won with his hometown St. Louis Blues in 2019, followed by consecutive Cup wins with the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2020 and 2021.

During the Blues' run to their 1st Cup in franchise history, he scored the Game 7-winning 2OT goal over the Dallas Stars to send his club to the Western Conference Final:

Martinez is a multi-Cup winner in his own right, having won with the Los Angeles Kings in 2014 and with the Vegas Golden Knights in 2023.

He scored one of the most iconic goals in NHL history, the 2OT Cup-winning goal over the New York Rangers in 2014 to give the Kings their 2nd championship in 3 years:

Both players will now head off into their future endeavors within hockey and beyond after such a special moment in their final game.