Stan Mikita RIP

[DisgruntledHawkFan]

He was the only player in NHL history to win the Hart, Ross and Lady Byng trophies in the same year – he did that twice.

RIP Stan.

 

[Rick C137]

He was the only player in NHL history to win the Hart, Ross and Lady Byng trophies in the same year – he did that twice.

RIP Stan.

Too add on to that, two years before his first Lady Byng... he actually led the league in penalty minutes. Down from 154 minutes to 12. That’s a pretty crazy stat in itself.

RIP

 

[hawksfan50]

He and Bobby were the reasons I became a Blackhawks fan when I was 9 years old .and have so remained since...The best Center we ever had and against the toughest competition. ..only 6 original teams ...when being an NHL player was even harder to achieve for the limited number of jobs in the league. SO the heroes were of a larger scope to the imago atom of young fans...A legend of the game and of Chicago. ..now gone..RIP Stan.

 

[pvr]

Many wonderful memories of those late 60’s and early 70’s teams. Thanks for being a part of those memories, Mr. Mikita.

 

[Salvaged Ship]

First class hockey player on the ice, first class human being off the ice. Legend

 

[hector morrison]

From my birth town...He was my grandpas favorite!.We all had curved plastic blades for ball hockey as kids cause of Stan...May he skate eternal shiny and chrome on that great sheet of ice! They are waiting to drop the puck...

 

[Sarava]

Sad day. RIP Stan

 

[Hawkaholic]

Always tough losing a legend. Too young to witness him, but his impact is obvious. RIP

 

[Al14]

Rest in Peace Stan Mikita.

 

[BrianE]

RIP Stan, thanks for all the great memories.

 

[Artorius Horus T]

Just woke up and one of the first news i red this morning was; Mikita dies at 78.....permission to post a really bad curse word?

 

[plank]

 

[Bubba88]

Sad to hear.

RIP

 

[Enyaw]

Very Sad ......... my favorite Hawk

God Bless you Stan ....... rest in peace

 

[Putt Pirate]

Very sad day for Hawks fans. A class act all the way

 

[Blue Liner]

They had Tallon on 670 this morning talking about it. You could absolutely hear in his voice the entire interview how emotional he is right now and what a loss this is.

 

[AmericanDream]

They had Tallon on 670 this morning talking about it. You could absolutely hear in his voice the entire interview how emotional he is right now and what a loss this is.

yep, he was on NHL Network as well...Tallon spent a lot of years here in Chicago, he always talked about Mikita on air.

 

[HawkNut]

He's my favorite Hawk historically, not just because he was a legend, but because he played his whole career with the team. Bobby played elsewhere. Glenn played elsewhere. Tony played elsewhere. Pierre played elsewhere. Steve, Doug, Chris, Ed, Denis, they all played elsewhere.

This team was all Stosh ever knew. R.I.P.

 

[Cement Head]

I wrote my only fan letter back in 1975 or 1976 to Mr. Mikita asking him for an autograph picture. He never responded and I never sent another fan letter. I guess he must have been my favorite Chicago athlete at that time. I remember commending him about his work with deaf kids trying to get them involved with ice hockey. I kept waiting for a couple of months for his letter and then I gave up realizing he gets many requests and mine must have slipt through the cracks and into oblivion. I still liked him but he was pretty much past his prime but still effective and then my favorite athlete of all time had a break out year in 1976 for the Bears and the Hawks couldn't even have their away games on television for one year so by the time Stan retired after the 1979-80 season he was an after thought to me. The next season 1980-81 was Dennis Savard's rookie season so the Hawks quickly had a new face for the franchise.

I was happy that Stan and Bobby became Hawk ambassadors after years of estrangement and was really bummed when Stan's wife informed the public about his severe dementia. Maybe hockey played a role with his condition. I read in Gordie's autobiography that he gave Stan some elbows to the head, this was before he wore a helmet.

Anyways, Stan will always be remembered in the history books of the Blackhawks, he was great.

 

[BrianE]

I wrote my only fan letter back in 1975 or 1976 to Mr. Mikita asking him for an autograph picture. He never responded and I never sent another fan letter. I guess he must have been my favorite Chicago athlete at that time. I remember commending him about his work with deaf kids trying to get them involved with ice hockey. I kept waiting for a couple of months for his letter and then I gave up realizing he gets many requests and mine must have slipt through the cracks and into oblivion. I still liked him but he was pretty much past his prime but still effective and then my favorite athlete of all time had a break out year in 1976 for the Bears and the Hawks couldn't even have their away games on television for one year so by the time Stan retired after the 1979-80 season he was an after thought to me. The next season 1980-81 was Dennis Savard's rookie season so the Hawks quickly had a new face for the franchise.

I was happy that Stan and Bobby became Hawk ambassadors after years of estrangement and was really bummed when Stan's wife informed the public about his severe dementia. Maybe hockey played a role with his condition. I read in Gordie's autobiography that he gave Stan some elbows to the head, this was before he wore a helmet.

Anyways, Stan will always be remembered in the history books of the Blackhawks, he was great.

Great post Cement Head!

Not to go off topic but Gordie gave more than his share of opponents an elbow to the head, in the late 60's a Hawk rookie (can't recall his name and will have to look it up in my Harvey Wittenburg book) said that you really had better watch out for Gordie otherwise he would punch you in the face when the ref was not looking and that is no lie.

He said Gordie was testing you. Lol almost seems like some of those Flyers goons from the 70's or Tiger Williams.

 

[BrianE]

I saw Stan play quite a few times in the old barn but will never forget when he sat down on the bench during an entire pregame, my Pop and i still talk about that to this day. My Dad says it was his last game but really do not recall the situation but just seeing him sitting there is something i'll never forget.

Another great memory is when my Dad brought me to a Sunday matinee (afternoon game, that's what they called them at the time) and the Hawks played the Pens, Stan scored two beautiful goals from in between the circles right into the corners, i think Denis Herron was in goal if i recall.

The Hawks beat the Pens 9 to 1, in that particular game Dave the Hammer Schultz set an NHL record, all he was doing was fighting and raising hell the entire game (his actions on the ice is something today's fans would never imagine nor tolerate for even a minute) and guess who scored the only Pens tally? Schultzy.

Ah the good ole days of hockey, i mean i love these 3 cups but i miss all those great memories when you went to a game and could not predict how many goals would be scored unlike today's game.

 

[BobbyJet]

That's a great pic of the "Scooter Line". Possibly the best line ever to play in Chicago. Unfortunately, they have all passed.

 

[featherhawk]

so sad to hear this the other day I could not respond. Stan was the reason I became a hawk fan, he is one of the true legends of the game.

 

[ChiHawk21]

my dogs named mikita after this legand. RIP

 

[bernmeister]

Condolences to his family, friends and all of his fans.

A great hockey player, and even more of a class act, like Rod Gilbert of NYR.

ps - his book I don't recall from decades ago as a kid, but do remember it was a good read.