STAN MIKITA: 1940-2018

During the hot summer of 2018, hockey lost one of the best players to hit the ice. "With great sorrow, the Mikita family announces that Stan passed away on Tuesday August 7, 2018 at the age of 78," noted a statement on behalf of the Mikita family. "He was surrounded by his loving family whom he fiercely loved."

Early in his NHL career, which started in 1958-59, Mikita took on the role of being the "pest" on the Chicago Black Hawks. But, he eventually realized this style of play was having a physical impact. Mikita turned over a new leaf after the 1964-65 season when recorded 154 penalty-minutes. The next year, his time in the box dropped to 58-minutes. Although Mikita spent a lot of time in the sin-bin, it didn't hurt his production on offence. He captured the Art Ross (top scorer) in 1964 and 1965. 

In a 1976 interview with the Chicago Tribune, Mikita commented on the change in his game. "I matured there a little, I guess. The players keep getting bigger and bigger, and I keep looking smaller and smaller. I realized somewhere along the line that at 160 pounds, I couldn't continue trying to beat everybody up."

Once Mikita concentrated on applying all his strength on setting up his wingers and increasing his goal numbers, his performance reached a new peak. In the last season of the Original Six era ('66-'67) and the first year of NHL expansion to 12 teams ('67-'68), Mikita hit new heights. When it came time to dish out the NHL silverware in 1967 and 1968, Mikita walked away with the Art Ross, Hart (MVP) and Lady Byng (gentlemanly conduct) trophies. It was (in 1967) the first time in NHL history that a player won three individual awards for his work in one season.

His accomplishments in numbers are impressive. Mikita was a first team All-Star centre in 1962, 1963, 1964, 1966, 1967 and 1968. A Stanley Cup winner in 1961, Mikita led all playoff performers in goals with 6.

Perhaps, one of the most telling aspects of Mikita's big league career is the fact he only skated for the Hawks. Also, on the international stage, he was on the roster for Team Canada 1972 in the historic summit series. 

After hanging up his skates following the 1979-80 campaign, Mikita was selected to become an Honoured Member of the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1983.