I’m usually the first to criticize a peer for conveniently jumping on a team’s bandwagon amidst a wining streak or following a championship victory.

But I must concede, I’m guilty of this same shallow behavior when it comes to the Chicago Blackhawks.

The Hawks’ record-breaking start to the 2013 campaign has been widely publicized and duly noted by their fans and opponents alike. Through 20 games, they have earned 37 points, winning an astounding 17 games and suffering only 3 overtime losses.

As the Blackhawks continue to produce points on the ice, their play has also sparked a resurgence of interest among the fair-weather crowd, including yours truly.

I’ve always myself identified as a Blackhawks fan, but hockey has always taken a backseat to baseball, basketball, football and soccer for me. In fact, I typically don’t tune in to their games on a regular basis until the postseason begins. However, my attention has steadily shifted over the past few weeks due to the incredible performances by this Blackhawks team

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As of today, just two months into the season, I’ve watched more Blackhawks games this year than I did during their entire 2011-2012 regular season campaign. Granted, I’ve only watched four games in their entirety (and fragments of about three more), but for an admittedly pedestrian hockey fan, this is a significant statistic.

If the growing display of Blackhawks apparel worn around campus is any indication, I’m not the only one who has been captivated by the Hawks’ thrilling undefeated streak. But with the way this team has been playing, can you blame us? Obviously the historic stretch is impressive, yet this is not merely due to the fact that they’ve avoided defeat, but how they’ve managed to do so.

Sure, head coach Joel Quenneville’s squad hasn’t exactly been dominant thus far, but what the club lacks in dominance, they compensate with consistency and suspense. Nearly every game has been a nail-biter, as exemplified by their eight overtime games, five of which have been decided by shootouts. Their knack for squeezing out wins in dramatic fashion has made watching Hawks games addictive, qualifying as must-watch sports entertainment. Needless to say, the Blackhawks bandwagon gains more and more passengers with each exhilarating victory.

As one of the famed original six members of the NHL, the Chicago Blackhawks are a storied franchise, not only in hockey, but in all of major professional sports. Playing in arguably the greatest American sports city, they certainly aren’t shorthanded in terms of fan support. But considering the reliably disappointing nature of other Chicago sports teams in recent years, the Blackhawks are deservedly the talk of the town.

The more avid Hawks fan is likely to dismiss those who have recently climbed on-board during this remarkable run, as they did when the team won the Stanley Cup in 2010. Nevertheless, I encourage them to accept us this time around, if not simply for my own sake. Even though I am violating my own decree against fair-weather fanaticism, let’s face it: rules—not unlike records—are meant to be broken. So let’s make an exception for those hopping on the Blackhawks bandwagon and enjoy the ride while it lasts.

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Now up to 19 straight games without a regulation loss, they have solidified themselves as a legitimate Stanley Cup contender.

The Hawks have notched 35 out of a possible 38 points during this 2012-13 campaign — a labor strike-shortened 48 games — and are clicking every time the skates hit the ice, dropping a contest in a shootout or overtime just three times.

Well, we may be witnessing history. Perhaps the best season in Chicago sports history.

There are three teams that provide the biggest competition for that title: the 1985 Bears, 1995-96 Bulls, and 2005 White Sox.

The ’85 Bears are probably the most legendary team in the entire sports landscape in Chicago and its surrounding area. Even today, any member or former coach of that team is introduced as such and remain a major part of the Bears franchise.

That team, coached by Mike Ditka, notched a 15-1 overall record and then coasted in the playoffs to 18-1 overall and Super Bowl champions. The Bears rattled off 12 straight wins before falling to the Miami Dolphins, but it was always clear — evident by the midseason “Super Bowl Shuffle” — they would cement their place in NFL history.

Not much to say about the Bulls of the 90s, as they won six total titles under coach Phil Jackson.

Led by Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, and Dennis Rodman, the Bulls went 72-10 and won playoff series 3-0, 4-1, and 4-0 before securing their fourth of six championships of the decade. At one stage, the Bulls were 41-3 in the standings.

The last challenger are the 2005 White Sox, managed by Ozzie Guillen. The Sox won 99 games in the regular season before posting 11 playoff wins and the 2005 World Series championship.

These are all historic performances, with a blend of both immense regular season success and postseason greatness, but coach Joel Quenneville and Co. have something special brewing.

Nearly halfway through the season already, the Hawks have yet to lose in regulation and are a plus-24 in goal differential.

Let’s see if the Hawks lose in a seven-game series this spring and then we can talk.

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