Stan Mikita Legacy

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Mikita's career was defined by innovation and a dramatic shift in conduct. Initially among the most penalized players, he changed his game after his daughter asked why her father spent so much time sitting in the penalty box on TV. This led to two Lady Byng Trophies for sportsmanlike play. On the ice, he revolutionized equipment; after a stick blade bent accidentally in a bench door, he began using a propane torch to curve blades deliberately, gaining an advantage until the NHL limited curvature to ½" in 1970. He also became one of the first to wear a helmet full-time following an ear injury in December 1967. Mikita formed the "Scooter Line" with Ken Wharram and others, combining skilled defense with elite faceoff ability. In 1972, he became only the sixth player to record 1,000 points, followed by becoming the eighth to score 500 goals in 1977.

In Their Own Story

In the summer of 1967, Mikita returned to his country of origin, Czechoslovakia, to visit family and played several exhibition games. However, his defining international moment came during the 1972 Summit Series. Though named to Team Canada, injuries limited him to just two games, both played in Canada against the Soviet Union. He also participated in two additional exhibition games against Sweden in Stockholm and Czechoslovakia in Prague. Back in Chicago, his legacy extended beyond hockey; in 1973, he co-founded the American Hearing Impaired Hockey Association (AHIHA) with Irv Tiahnybik and established the Stan Mikita School for the Hearing Impaired. His off-ice contributions included helping bring the Special Olympics to Chicago, where he volunteered alongside his family.

Reader's Guide

Mikita's number 21 was retired by the Blackhawks on October 19, 1980, making him the first player in franchise history to receive this honor. A statue honoring him stands at Gate 3½ of the United Center, erected in fall 2011. Fans can also find his name in pop culture; he appeared as himself in the 1992 film Wayne's World, which spoofed Tim Hortons with a "Stan Mikita" doughnut shop. Real-life locations named after him opened at Kings Dominion and Paramount Carowinds in 1994. As of January 2022, he ranks 15th in regular-season points in NHL history. His life ended on August 7, 2018, at age 78. A posthumous study by the Boston University CTE Center revealed he suffered from stage 3 chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), marking him as the first Hall of Famer diagnosed with the disease.

Did You Know?

• Mikita was the first and only player to win the Hart, Art Ross, and Lady Byng trophies in the same season, achieving this feat in consecutive years (1966–67 and 1967–68).
• He began using curved sticks after his blade bent accidentally in a bench door, later creating deliberate curves with a propane torch until the NHL banned the practice.
• Mikita became only the sixth player in NHL history to record 1,000 points (in 1972) and the eighth to score 500 goals (in 1977).
• He was diagnosed with stage 3 CTE posthumously, becoming the first Hall of Famer ever identified with the disease.
• After his daughter asked why he spent so much time in the penalty box on TV, Mikita transformed his style to win two Lady Byng Trophies for sportsmanship.