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 One
of the most clever and successful
forwards in league history, Stan "Stosh"
Mikita won awards in numbers not
seen again until Wayne Gretzky
arrived in the NHL. A slick
playmaker with a gifted scoring
touch, Mikita had a career that
spanned four decades, from the late
1950s until 1980. His longevity and
consistency were nearly as
impressive as his raw talent and
left him near the top of a number of
NHL categories when he retired after
22 seasons...Book
Stan Mikita for Your Event
During his first seven NHL seasons,
he was considered a "chippy" player.
Mikita's habit of winding up in the
penalty box frustrated his coaches,
who preferred to see his immense
talent remain on the ice. He
recorded more than 100 penalty
minutes four times and seemed far
from ever winning the Lady Byng
Trophy. But after his daughter
questioned his style of play, Mikita
vowed to clean up his act and did
just that by registering only six
minor penalties in 1966-67.
Consequently, he became the first
player in NHL history to win the Art
Ross, Hart and Lady Byng trophies in
the same season.
Mikita enjoyed another stellar year
in 1967-68 and repeated his
unprecedented trophy haul. During
the late 1960s, he continued to work
well with Mohns and with Wharram
before Wharram suffered a
career-ending heart attack prior to
the 1969-70 season. A serious back
injury midway through the 1968-69
season hampered Mikita's play to
varying extents through the
remainder of his career. In 1970-71,
he scored 18 points in as many games
while helping the Hawks reach the
finals for the first time in six
years. There they lost in a tough
seven-game series to the Montreal
Canadiens.
After suffering a concussion, Mikita
designed a helmet according to his
own specifications to protect his
head. This turned into a lucrative
business, as the "Stan Mikita style"
of helmet became increasingly
popular in the amateur and pro ranks
during the 1970s.
The skillful forward left the NHL as
one of most popular stars and
all-time leading scorers with 541
goals and nearly 1,500 points.
Mikita was elected to the Hockey
Hall of Fame in 1983 along with
former teammate Bobby Hull.
Book
Stan Mikita for Your Event
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