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Stan "Stosh" Mikita (born Stanislaus Guoth), hockey player (born 20 May 1940 in Sokolče, Czechia; died 7 August 2018 in Chicago, IL). Mikita is regarded as one of Canada’s greatest hockey icons of the 1960s. In addition to winning the Stanley Cup in 1960-61 as a player of the Chicago Black Hawks, he won four Art Ross Trophies (1964, 1965, 1967, 1968), two Hart Trophies (1967, 1968) and two Lady Byng Trophies (1967, 1968), making him the only National Hockey League (NHL) player to win all three awards in a single season. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame (1983), the Slovak Hockey Hall of Fame (2002) and Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame (2005).
Career Highlights
Mikita took the name of his uncle after moving to St. Catharines, Ontario, as a boy. He played junior hockey for the St. Catharines Teepees and joined the Chicago Black Hawks for his first National Hockey League (NHL) season in 1959-60. The Chicago Black Hawks notably won the 1960-61 Stanley Cup. A smooth-skating centre and superb playmaker, Mikita won the Art Ross Trophy (leading scorer) in 1964, 1965, 1967 and 1968.
Mikita received the Hart Trophy (most valuable player) in 1967 and 1968, and after an early career marred with penalties received the Lady Byng Trophy (most gentlemanly player) in 1967 and 1968. He was first all-star centre from 1961-62 to 1963-64 and from 1965-66 to 1967-68. He played his entire NHL career with Chicago, retiring after the 1979-80 season. He scored 541 goals and added 926 assists for 1467 points during his career. As well, he scored 59 goals, 91 assists and 150 points in playoffs.
Mikita also enjoyed international success when he played for Team Canada in 1972, the team that defeated the Soviets in the Canada-Soviet Hockey series. Shortly after, the Canadian team played an exhibition game in Prague against the Czech national team. Mikita was hailed in his home country as a hero. In 1976, Mikita was given the prestigious US award, the Lester Patrick Trophy, while a member of the Black Hawks.
Legacy
Mikita's contribution to the betterment of the sport came when, during the 1972-73 season, he suffered a serious concussion and subsequently designed a protective helmet, the style of which was dubbed the "Stan Mikita style." He is also credited with the accidental invention of the “banana blade”, a curved hockey stick blade resulting in more unpredictable shots.
When he retired after 22 seasons, only Gordie Howe had more assists and points. Stan Mikita was considered one of hockey's best forwards until Wayne Gretzky joined the NHL, and his record remains impressive. Mikita was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1983, into the Slovak Hockey Hall of Fame in 2002, and into Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame in 2005.
