Mikita, Stan (1940-2018), was one of the greatest players in the history of the National Hockey League (NHL). From 1958 through 1980, the tough and durable Mikita starred for the Chicago Black Hawks (later Blackhawks ), compiling 541 goals and 926 assists. Mikita made eight NHL All-Star teams; won the Art Ross Trophy as the league leader in points four times; won back-to-back Hart Memorial Trophies as the NHL’s most valuable player; and twice won the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy for sportsmanship. Mikita is the only player to have won the Ross, Hart, and Byng trophies in the same season—and he did it twice. The Black Hawks retired Mikita’s sweater number 21 in 1980, and he was elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1983.
Mikita was born Stanislav Gvuth on May 20, 1940, in Sokolče, Czechoslovakia (part of modern-day Slovakia ). In 1948, his parents decided to send him to live with his Uncle Joe and Aunt Anna Mikita in St. Catharines, Ontario . His uncle and aunt formally adopted him, and his surname became Mikita. Stan learned to play hockey in Canada , and he excelled at the sport. In 1956, he began playing for the St. Catharines Teepes, the top junior hockey team of the Black Hawks organization. At age 18, Mikita was briefly called up to Chicago , and he became a full-time NHL player during the 1959-1960 season.
Mikita quickly became a prominent scorer, and he helped lead Chicago to a Stanley Cup title in 1961. Mikita’s 89 points (39 goals and 50 assists) were tops in the NHL for the 1963-1964 season, and he led the league in points again in 1964-1965, 1966-1967, and 1967-1968. Mikita was named the NHL’s most valuable player in 1967 and 1968. Mikita continued to be one of the league’s best players until his retirement after an injury-plagued 1979-1980 season.
Mikita was among the first NHL players to use a curved stick and to wear a protective helmet. He remains the Blackhawks all-time leader in assists (926), points (1,467), and games played (1,394). His 541 goals for the Chicago team are second only to Bobby Hull ’s 604. Both Mikita and Hull are honored with statues outside the United Center, the Blackhawks home stadium. In his later years, Mikita served as a Blackhawks ambassador. His autobiography, Forever a Blackhawk, was published in 2011. He died on Aug. 7, 2018.
