Today, the hockey world took a huge hit. Blackhawks’ legend and hockey innovator, Stan Mikita, has passed away. Although Stan is gone, he will never be forgotten, especially in the hearts of the Blackhawks’ faithful.
One of the greatest Blackhawks of all time, Stan Mikita.#ForeverABlackhawk pic.twitter.com/jOdghQic7g
— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) August 7, 2018
At the beginning of his NHL career, Mikita was a physical force and extremely aggressive. He had a change of heart after his young daughter questioned why her dad was sitting all by himself while her “uncles” sat on the bench with each other. From here on out, Stan was a different man.
He traded in penalty minutes for points. A year after getting the most penalty minutes in the league, Mikita actually won the Lady Byng trophy for sportsmanship and he did it twice in his 22-year career. Although Stan Mikita was a superstar on the ice, he did not act like one off the ice.
He was known for his warm-hearted, down to earth personality. Blackhawks’ team historian, Bob Verdi, even went as far as calling Mikita the “least pretentious superstar you could imagine.” Many fans, coaches, and players share the same sentiment as Bob Verdi.
For 22 years, Stan Mikita was the soul of the #Blackhawks. #ForeverABlackhawk https://t.co/d4gmGmokXp
— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) August 7, 2018
Life Before the NHL for Stan Mikita
Stan Mikita was born in what was formerly known as Czechoslovakia. In hopes of a better life, Stan was adopted by his aunt and uncle and moved to Canada at the age of 8. This is where Mikita’s hockey career began.
Stan had not even heard of or seen the game of hockey prior to moving to Canada. He saw the local kids in the street playing hockey and wanted in on the action. Mikita was then given the nickname, “Stosh”, because of his Slovakian heritage.
From the streets to the rink, Mikita went on to play for the Chicago Blackhawks’ amateur hockey team, the St. Catharines Teepees, for 3 years. Before being called up to the Blackhawks’ NHL roster, Mikita netted 97 points and led the entire Ontario Hockey Association (OHA) in scoring during his final season with the Teepees.
Stan Mikita Left His Mark On The NHL
After signing on with the Chicago Blackhawks, Stan Mikita went on to have an illustrious 22-year career and set multiple team records. Many of which still stand to this day. Here, you can see just how successful Mikita was in the NHL and he made it look easy.
Scor Scor Scor Goal Shot Season Age Tm Lg GP G A PTS +/- PIM GW S% Awards 1958-59 18 CBH NHL 3 0 1 1 4 0 1959-60 19 CBH NHL 67 8 18 26 13 119 1 6.3 Calder-4 1960-61 20 CBH NHL 68 19 34 53 27 94 5 9.3 1961-62 21 CBH NHL 70 25 52 77 12 97 5 12.0 AS-1 1962-63 22 CBH NHL 65 31 45 76 26 69 6 13.2 AS-1Hart-2 1963-64 23 CBH NHL 70 39 50 89 21 146 7 12.8 AS-1Hart-5Ross-1 1964-65 24 CBH NHL 70 28 59 87 29 154 6 10.9 AS-2Ross-1 1965-66 25 CBH NHL 68 30 48 78 6 58 1 12.3 AS-1 1966-67 26 CBH NHL 70 35 62 97 40 12 5 12.5 AS-1Byng-1Hart-1Ross-1 1967-68 27 CBH NHL 72 40 47 87 0 14 8 13.2 AS-1Byng-1Hart-1Ross-1 1968-69 28 CBH NHL 74 30 67 97 14 52 2 10.0 1969-70 29 CBH NHL 76 39 47 86 27 50 8 11.1 AS-2Hart-4 1970-71 30 CBH NHL 74 24 48 72 20 85 4 10.9 1971-72 31 CBH NHL 74 26 39 65 16 46 6 14.1 1972-73 32 CBH NHL 57 27 56 83 31 32 5 15.3 Hart-7 1973-74 33 CBH NHL 76 30 50 80 24 46 1 17.5 Hart-6 1974-75 34 CBH NHL 79 36 50 86 14 48 6 14.2 AS-6 1975-76 35 CBH NHL 48 16 41 57 -4 37 1 10.1 1976-77 36 CBH NHL 57 19 30 49 -9 20 4 14.8 1977-78 37 CBH NHL 76 18 41 59 17 35 2 9.0 1978-79 38 CBH NHL 65 19 36 55 3 34 1 12.9 1979-80 39 CBH NHL 17 2 5 7 2 12 0 7.1 Career NHL 1396 541 926 1467 329 1264 84 12.1
Provided by Hockey-Reference.com: View Original Table
Mikita played alongside Bobby Hull for 14 years and they were one of the best tandems in NHL history. The two legendary Blackhawks were able to bring home a Stanley Cup in 1961 and came close again in 1971, but suffered a heartwrenching loss to the Montreal Canadiens in Game 7.
Stan Mikita Was a Visionary and An Innovator
Besides the stats, trophies, and Stanley Cups, Mikita also helped to revolutionize the game in other ways. Stan Mikita took a shot to the head in 1968 which resulted in a concussion and severed ear. He would go on to design his own helmet with the help of an engineer from Riddell. Mikita was one of the 1st players in the NHL to wear a helmet.
On this day in 1966, Stan Mikita played with a helmet for the first time in his NHL career #Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/pSo3pVHH6N
— Mike Commito (@mikecommito) February 6, 2018
Stan Mikita also was the first to play with a curved stick blade, but he actually discovered it by accident.
Want to know why maskless goalie Glenn Hall hated practicing with his @NHLBlackhawks? Here’s one of Stan Mikita’s sticks. No wonder Glenn stayed on his farm in Stony Plain, Alta., to paint the barn. (Marty McSorley, all is forgiven for 1993.) pic.twitter.com/uosqkkKw7N
— Dave Stubbs (@Dave_Stubbs) August 7, 2018
Here, Mikita tells the story of how he stumbled upon the idea of curving his stick blade to Sarah Spain, who now works for ESPN.
Fun Facts About Stan Mikita
Stan Mikita had deep ties to the city of Chicago, especially in the sports world. Fellow Blackhawk, Bobby Hull, and Mike Ditka of the Chicago Bears stood up in Mikita’s wedding.
Fun fact: Mike Ditka (and Bobby Hull) stood up in Stan Mikita’s wedding. pic.twitter.com/YyXznmbFYa
— Kevin Kaduk (@KevinKaduk) August 7, 2018
Stan Mikita also had a cameo in the 1992 comedy Wayne’s World which was set in Aurora, Illinois.
In 2011, the Blackhawks had statues built to honor Stan Mikita and Bobby Hull.
If you haven’t been down to the @UnitedCenter to see up close, the Stan Mikita statue, you’re missing out #Chicago ~! pic.twitter.com/5mZ2RVGsiA
— Chicago History (@Chicago_History) January 31, 2015
Stan Mikita was not just another meathead hockey player. He was a man with integrity and the drive to be the best. He wanted to make everyone around him better as well. Mikita singlehandedly changed the game of hockey forever and made it what it is today. There is no doubt in my mind that his legacy will live on forever. He truly transcends hockey and the sport would not be what it is today without him.
Stan will surely be missed by family, friends, and the entire hockey community. On behalf of everyone here at Sports Mockery, I would like to extend our condolences to his family and friends at this difficult time.
For more Blackhawks news and updates, follow the author @Certified_TonyG on Twitter.
