Blackhawks' Legend Stan Mikita Dies

[Deleted]

Stan Mikita, who was the class act of the Chicago Blackhawks for 22 seasons and arguably the best center in the National Hockey League for most of those years succumbed to Lewy Body Dementia today. He was 78.

For those of us who grew up in the '60s, Mikita was the prime example of intelligence, skill, and toughness in a game where most players had only two out of the three at their best. Mikita showed up with all three every night. He started out as an undersized and chippy player who soon found out that you can't score from the penalty box. As a result, he carted off with the Art Ross (leading scorer), Hart (most valuable player), and Lady Byng (most gentlemanly player) trophies two years in a row in 1966-67 and 1967-68.

Mikita's passion for the underdog and kids with disabilities led him to establish a local Chicago program that became the American Hearing Impaired Hockey Association and has been affiliated with the Special Olympics for years.

You will not find a former professional athlete who was more liked, respected, and admired after finishing his playing career.

Tragically, Mikita was stricken with Lewy Body Dementia about three years ago. This type of dementia is particularly quick and aggressive, and it literally took Mikita's entire memory in a matter of months. Within a year of being diagnosed, he forgot his family, his hockey career (including the Hawks' 1961 Stanley Cup win), and everything he did after retiring.

In the past few years, hockey has lost three of its class acts---Jean Beliveau, Gordie Howe, and now Stan Mikita.

RIP, Stosh.

[daleko]

Aug 8, 2018 16:38:41 GMT -5 @kelliers said:

Stan Mikita, who was the class act of the Chicago Blackhawks for 22 seasons and arguably the best center in the National Hockey League for most of those years succumbed to Lewy Body Dementia today. He was 78.

For those of us who grew up in the '60s, Mikita was the prime example of intelligence, skill, and toughness in a game where most players had only two out of the three at their best. Mikita showed up with all three every night. He started out as an undersized and chippy player who soon found out that you can't score from the penalty box. As a result, he carted off with the Art Ross (leading scorer), Hart (most valuable player), and Lady Byng (most gentlemanly player) trophies two years in a row in 1966-67 and 1967-68.

Mikita's passion for the underdog and kids with disabilities led him to establish a local Chicago program that became the American Hearing Impaired Hockey Association and has been affiliated with the Special Olympics for years.

You will not find a former professional athlete who was more liked, respected, and admired after finishing his playing career.

Tragically, Mikita was stricken with Lewy Body Dementia about three years ago. This type of dementia is particularly quick and aggressive, and it literally took Mikita's entire memory in a matter of months. Within a year of being diagnosed, he forgot his family, his hockey career (including the Hawks' 1961 Stanley Cup win), and everything he did after retiring.

In the past few years, hockey has lost three of its class acts---Jean Beliveau, Gordie Howe, and now Stan Mikita.

RIP, Stosh.

Hell of a golfer. RIP Stoshu. W Bobby Hull the first to curve their stick blades.

[Deleted]

Aug 8, 2018 21:35:06 GMT -5 daleko said:

Aug 8, 2018 16:38:41 GMT -5 @kelliers said:

Stan Mikita, who was the class act of the Chicago Blackhawks for 22 seasons and arguably the best center in the National Hockey League for most of those years succumbed to Lewy Body Dementia today. He was 78.

For those of us who grew up in the '60s, Mikita was the prime example of intelligence, skill, and toughness in a game where most players had only two out of the three at their best. Mikita showed up with all three every night. He started out as an undersized and chippy player who soon found out that you can't score from the penalty box. As a result, he carted off with the Art Ross (leading scorer), Hart (most valuable player), and Lady Byng (most gentlemanly player) trophies two years in a row in 1966-67 and 1967-68.

Mikita's passion for the underdog and kids with disabilities led him to establish a local Chicago program that became the American Hearing Impaired Hockey Association and has been affiliated with the Special Olympics for years.

You will not find a former professional athlete who was more liked, respected, and admired after finishing his playing career.

Tragically, Mikita was stricken with Lewy Body Dementia about three years ago. This type of dementia is particularly quick and aggressive, and it literally took Mikita's entire memory in a matter of months. Within a year of being diagnosed, he forgot his family, his hockey career (including the Hawks' 1961 Stanley Cup win), and everything he did after retiring.

In the past few years, hockey has lost three of its class acts---Jean Beliveau, Gordie Howe, and now Stan Mikita.

RIP, Stosh.

Hell of a golfer. RIP Stoshu. W Bobby Hull the first to curve their stick blades.

Bobby Hull lived 2 or 3 streets over from me growing up in Addison, IL circa '63-'66. Brand new brick track houses at the time out in suburbia.

[daleko]

Aug 8, 2018 21:59:28 GMT -5 @kelliers said:

Aug 8, 2018 21:35:06 GMT -5 daleko said:

Hell of a golfer. RIP Stoshu. W Bobby Hull the first to curve their stick blades.

Bobby Hull lived 2 or 3 streets over from me growing up in Addison, IL circa '63-'66. Brand new brick track houses at the time out in suburbia.

How was your TV reception back then?

[Deleted]

Aug 8, 2018 22:05:42 GMT -5 daleko said:

Aug 8, 2018 21:59:28 GMT -5 @kelliers said:

Bobby Hull lived 2 or 3 streets over from me growing up in Addison, IL circa '63-'66. Brand new brick track houses at the time out in suburbia.

How was your TV reception back then?

Fine. I remember days of nothing but Kennedy on all three channels late '63. Good old rabbit ears. We moved further out to Medinah across from the country club in '66. Pretty nice digs for the 60's. We finally fled Chicago right after the '68 convention. Crazy times.

[daleko]

Aug 8, 2018 22:14:49 GMT -5 @kelliers said:

Aug 8, 2018 22:05:42 GMT -5 daleko said:

How was your TV reception back then?

Fine. I remember days of nothing but Kennedy on all three channels late '63. Good old rabbit ears. We moved further out to Medinah across from the country club in '66. Pretty nice digs for the 60's. We finally fled Chicago right after the '68 convention. Crazy times.

I thought maybe the airport with the planes in and out created issues.

[Deleted]

I don't remember ever having bad reception. O'Hare was far enough away to not cause any probs I suppose. Watched a helluva lot of 3 stooges, Flash Gordon, Bozo and Cap'n Kangaroo at the time. And Cubs, Packers and 'Hawks of course.

[oujour76]

Aug 8, 2018 16:38:41 GMT -5 @kelliers said:

Stan Mikita, who was the class act of the Chicago Blackhawks for 22 seasons and arguably the best center in the National Hockey League for most of those years succumbed to Lewy Body Dementia today. He was 78.

For those of us who grew up in the '60s, Mikita was the prime example of intelligence, skill, and toughness in a game where most players had only two out of the three at their best. Mikita showed up with all three every night. He started out as an undersized and chippy player who soon found out that you can't score from the penalty box. As a result, he carted off with the Art Ross (leading scorer), Hart (most valuable player), and Lady Byng (most gentlemanly player) trophies two years in a row in 1966-67 and 1967-68.

Mikita's passion for the underdog and kids with disabilities led him to establish a local Chicago program that became the American Hearing Impaired Hockey Association and has been affiliated with the Special Olympics for years.

You will not find a former professional athlete who was more liked, respected, and admired after finishing his playing career.

Tragically, Mikita was stricken with Lewy Body Dementia about three years ago. This type of dementia is particularly quick and aggressive, and it literally took Mikita's entire memory in a matter of months. Within a year of being diagnosed, he forgot his family, his hockey career (including the Hawks' 1961 Stanley Cup win), and everything he did after retiring.

In the past few years, hockey has lost three of its class acts---Jean Beliveau, Gordie Howe, and now Stan Mikita.

RIP, Stosh.

YW

Nice man, met him couple of times when I was doing work with the Hawks’ years ago. RIP

[beuycek]

He was before my time so I never saw him play but his stats and his personality more than speak for themselves.