Today is the fifth anniversary of the passing of Blackhawks icon Stan Mikita. If we’re going to have any conversation about the best players to ever play for the Blackhawks, it starts with Mikita. And I would argue no individual associated with the organization has represented it with as much class on and off the ice as Stosh.
Born in Czech, Mikita moved to Canada and pursued his hockey career. After three seasons with the St. Catharines Teepees in the OHA, Mikita joined the Chicago Blackhawks for three games during the 1958-59 season. The following year he was in the NHL full-time. He would wear the Blackhawks’ sweater for the following 21 years.
Mikita appeared in 1,396 regular-season games and 155 playoff games — all with the Blackhawks. He was one of the best players of his generation, leading the league in points four times and assists three times. He won the Hart Trophy twice, the Lady Byng Trophy twice and the Art Ross four times.
For two generations of Blackhawks fans, Mikita was the Chicago Blackhawks.
Fo♛r many fans, he still represents the gold standard for excellence.
In a terrific tribute to Mikita when he passed for on the day he passed, Dave Stubbs spoke with a number of his former teammates and opponents. But this from Glenn Healy, who was the executive director of the NHL Alumni Association at the time of Mikita’s passing.
“Stan’s a guy who helped build the game and pave the road for many, many players to drive,” said Healy, a goalie who broke into the NHL five years after Mikita retired. “He was an absolutely genuine person who was respected by everybody. Tough as nails, pound for pound. But I always found that Stan’s heart was in the right place with this sport.”
“The stuff you can’t buy, Stan had,” he said. “You can’t buy respect, being genuine and being respected by every one of your peers. And Stan had it.”
If you ever ran into Stan at the United Center or out in public, he was always gracious. He signed autographs, took pictures, shook hands. And it wasn’t an act for the fans; he was that guy all the time. Growing up, I remember seeing Mikita occasionally because he lived hear my grandparents. He always greeted my grandpa with a smile. There was no superstar in Stan Mikita. He was a gentleman who happened to be one of the greatest hockey players who ever lived.
So on this anniversary of his passing, let’s take a moment and tap our sticks in memory of the greatest to ever do it in Chicago.
