I always respected Stan Mikita as the common man, who played for Chicago.

As a young man, I always admired Stan Mikita. Not only as a player, but as an innovator. Hockey equipment companies quickly complied with Mikita’s innovation regarding curved stick blades. His experimentation and success with the curved blade had a profound impact on the game of hockey on how sticks were designed and manufactured. The National Hockey League exploded with notable hockey player such as Bobby Hull to quickly adapt to the advantages of curved sticks when it came to shooting and puck handling. No wonder hockey companies like Northwood, Sherwood and Easton CCM titan design their sticks with curved blades eventually making the blades the new normal in professional hockey. Mikita’s parents Pavel and Emilia did not immigrate with him to North America. He was sent to St. Catherines, Ontario to live with his aunt and uncle. Mikita was born in Slovakia and moved there at the age of 8 in 1948.

His parents remained in Slovakia, where they lived out their lives. This separation was a significant event in young Mikita's life, but he later expressed gratitude for the opportunities his adoptive parents provided him in Canada, which allowed him to develop into one of hockey’s all-time greats. St. Catherines was a hockey hub whereby the working class was able to uplift their aspirations with their hockey community. The war had devastated much of Europe, and Slovakia, which was part of Czechoslovakia at the time, faced significant challenges in rebuilding its economy and infrastructure. While Stan was sent to Canada at a young age to live with his aunt and uncle, his parents remained in Slovakia. They did their best to prosper in a difficult post-war environment. Despite the hardships, they worked to support themselves and their family. The decision to send Stan to Canada was one born of love and hope, as they wanted to provide him with better opportunities for education and a brighter future, even though it meant a difficult separation.

Though Stan's parents did not emigrate, they kept in touch with their son, and Stan later spoke about their influence on his life, recognizing their sacrifices in helping him find success in North America. Slovakia is an independent country. It became fully independent on January 1, 1993,following the peaceful dissolution of Czechoslovakia into two separate nations: the Czech Republic and Slovakia.This event is known as the Velvet Divorce. Since gaining independence, Slovakia has become a member of various international organizations, including the European Union (EU), NATO, and the United Nations (UN),solidifying its status as a sovereign nation. Over the years, Mikita maintained ties with his family in Slovakia, visiting when he could and never forgetting where he came from. He was also proud of his Slovak heritage and spoke fondly of it, especially considering the challenges his family faced in Slovakia. His story represents resilience and a deep appreciation for his roots, showing that even though he built a new life in Canada, his connection to Slovakia remained an important part of who he was. Stan Mikita had an illustrious career as one of the greatest players in hockey history. His accomplishments span numerous records, awards, and achievements, particularly with the Chicago Blackhawks, where he spent his entire NHL career. Mikita helped lead the Chicago Blackhawksto a Stanley Cup championshipin 1961, the team's first in 23 years. He won the Art Ross Trophyfor being the league's top scorer four times (1964, 1965, 1967, and 1968).

Mikita was known for being a pioneer of the curved stick blade, which revolutionized shooting and passing in hockey. He was a leader on the Blackhawks, often wearing the captain's "C" for many seasons, and his leadership both on and off the ice was a significant part of his legacy. What people do not realize about Mikita, he ushered in the golden age of hockey sticks and the production of curved player and goalie sticks that enabled manufacturers to not only grow their stick production but to cater to individual hockey players needs of different stick curve patterns. Stan Mikita created the real industrialization of hockey sticks that we see today. Mikita is not only a great hockey player, but a common man that sustains himself and his family in a difficult world. When he died, we all knew a great person and hockey player had passed away, who still loved his parents, who gave him the strength and opportunity to succeed in North America. Stan Mikita was deeply affected by his wife, children and parents. His great contribution is to hockey and goalie stick curves which became the norm in the national hockey league.