Honouring NHL Hall of Famer and Blackhawks legend 21 Stan Mikita

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Tyler
July 26, 2022 (0:11)

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NHL Draft?

Stan Mikita was never drafted, but this isn't another piece about undrafted players; there simply just wasn't a draft until 1963.

Instead Mikita played for the OHA-jr. St. Catharines Teepees, from 1956-57 to 1958-59, recording three seasons of work, totaling up to 149 games played, where he scored 85 goals, 137 assists for 222 points.

At the end of the 1958-59 season, Mikita was called-up to the Chicago Blackhawks, making his NHL debut during the 1958-59 season, playing three games - recording one assist. The following season saw Mikita suit-up for 67 games, recording eight goals, 18 assists for 26 points in his rookie season. His real breakout was during the 1960-61 season, Mikita played 70 games, scoring 25 goals, 52 assists for 77 points, eclipsing the point per game plateau.

The Slovakia native played 1,394 games, scoring 541 goals, 926 assists for 1,467 career NHL points, throughout his 22-year career. Mikita led his team to a Stanley Cup win in 1960-61; scoring 6 goals throughout the playoffs, leading in that department. Mikita posted 59 goals, 91 assists for 150 career NHL Stanley Cup playoff points in 155 games played.

Mikita was inducted into the Illinois Hockey Hall-of-Fame in 2007-08. He played every game that he laced-up for with the famous Chief Blackhawk logo on his sweater.

In 2017, Mikita was voted as one of the NHL's 100 greatest players.

His sweater number 21 was raised to the rafters during his number retirement ceremony on October 19, 1989., in Chicago, Illinois at the �Madhouse on Madison'.

Mikita left a legacy behind, when he passed away of complications associated with his diagnosis of Lewy body dementia, a neurological disorder that deteriorates the brains memory lobe, and causes sleep disorders and hallucinations.

«He has lost his mind,» explained Jill Mikita , Stan Mikita's wife, regarding the state at which Stan's brain has degenerated.

RIP #21 forever remembered as one of the best Slovakian players to ever lace up a pair of skates; skating his way to many career accolades and memories.