OTD: Stosh, Golden Jet Elected to HOF
Stan Mikita and Bobby Hull, the cornerstones of the Chicago Blackhawks Stanley Cup winning team in 1961, were named as inductees into the Hockey Hall of Fame along with former rival Montreal goaltender Ken Dryden on this date 39 years ago.
Mikita totaled 541 goals and 926 assists for 1,467 points in 1,394 regular season games during an NHL career that began in 1958 and ended in 1979. In 155 playoff games, he had 59 goals and 91 assists.
The native of Czechoslovakia, was named to the NHL all-star team eight times, six on the first team and was the first player ever to win the Ross, Hart and Lady Byng Trophies the same season, accomplishing the hat trick in the 1966-67 campaign and repeating the feat again the next season.
Mikita is the Hawks all-time leader in points (1,467), assists (926), games played (1,396) and +/- (329).
Hull began his pro career in 1957, went on to compile 610 goals and 560 assists in 16 NHL seasons, winning the Hart Trophy twice and the Lady Byng once. He is the Hawks all-time goals leader with 604 and his 98 game-winning goals are also a franchise record.
The Golden Jet, as he was dubbed by the media, also enjoyed an impressive career in the World Hockey Association. He created quite a stir when he signed a million-dollar contract with the Winnipeg Jets of the WHA for the 1972 season, giving the new league instant credibility. In seven WHA seasons, Hull had 303 goals and 335 assists.
But perhaps the greatest moment for Hull and Mikita came in the 1961 playoffs, when they helped lead the Hawks to a six-game defeat of the Detroit Red Wings in the Stanley Cup final. It was Chicago's first NHL championship since 1938.
| POLL | ||
Do you think anyone will eclipse Mikita and Hull's records? | ||
| Yes, Kane has best chance | 116 | 56.9 % |
| Not in this day and age | 43 | 21.1 % |
| No one will come close | 45 | 22.1 % |
| List of polls | ||
