Blackhawks legend Mikita dies at 78

Stan Mikita, the hockey great who helped the Chicago Blackhawks to the 1961 Stanley Cup title while becoming one of the franchise’s most revered figures, died Tuesday. He was 78. Mikita’s family announced his death in a statement released by the team. No further details were provided, but the hall of famer had been in poor health after being diagnosed with a brain disorder called Lewy body dementia. “He was surrounded by his loving family whom he fiercely loved,” the family said. Mikita spent his entire career with Chicago, beginning with his NHL debut in 1959 and running through his retirement after playing 17 games in the 1979-80 season. He is the franchise’s career leader for assists (926), points (1,467) and games played (1,394), and is second to former teammate Bobby Hull with 541 goals. Mikita remains the only NHL player in history to win the Art Ross (scoring champion), Hart (MVP) and Lady Byng (sportsmanship) trophies in the same season, and he accomplished the feat in consecutive years in 1967 and 1968. He was named one of the top 100 NHL players of all time by The Canadian Press in 2017. Born in the Slovak Republic before moving from Czechoslovakia to St. Catharines, Ont., as a young boy, Mikita was on Canada’s roster for the 1972 Summit Series, but was limited to two games due to injury. Mikita’s relationship with the Blackhawks deteriorated over time, but the franchise reached out to the former captain after longtime owner William Wirtz died in 2007 and his son, Rocky, took over. Mikita and Hull each became a team ambassador and were honoured with bronze statues outside the United Center. “I was proud to wear the Indianhead uniform for 22 years,” Mikita said when he was honoured before a 2008 home game.