Stan Mikita

Stan Mikita (born Stanislav Guoth; May 20, 1940 – August 7, 2018) was a Slovak-born Canadian retired professional ice hockey centre. He was known for playing with the Chicago Blackhawks for his entire career.

Early life
Mikita was born as Stanislav Guoth in Sokolče, Slovak Republic.  He was raised in a small farming community until 1948, when he moved to St. Catharines, Ontario. He was adopted by his aunt and uncle, Anna and Joe Mikita, who had emigrated from Slovakia to Canada. He studied at St. Catharines Collegiate.

Career
Mikita played a career total of 22 years in the National Hockey League (NHL). He played his entire NHL career with the Chicago Black Hawks. He was often regarded as the best centre of the 1960s.

He won the Stanley Cup with the Chicago Black Hawks in 1961. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1983. He was also inducted into the Slovak Hockey Hall of Fame in 2002.

He worked as an good will ambassador for the Chicago Blackhawks.

Death
Mikita died at the age of 78 on August 7, 2018 from complications of Lewy body dementia in Chicago. After his death, an autopsy revealed that Mikita had been suffering from Stage 3 chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). He became the first Hall of Famer to be diagnosed with the disease.

References

Other websites

Category:1940 births
Category:2018 deaths
Category:Art Ross Trophy winners
Category:Canadian ice hockey centres
Category:Chicago Blackhawks players
Category:Deaths from dementia with Lewy bodies
Category:Disease-related deaths in Chicago
Category:Hart Memorial Trophy winners
Category:Hockey Hall of Fame inductees
Category:Lady Byng Memorial Trophy winners
Category:Slovak ice hockey forwards
Category:Stanley Cup champions
Category:People from Berwyn, Illinois