Player » Stan Mikita

Ahhh, the great Stanislav "Stan" Mikita. The best center of the decade ? the great 1960s. Standing only 5' 9? and weighing 170 pounds soaking wet, I think he was the best player in the game of his era, pound-for-pound. The amount of inquries we get regarding Stan Mikita Blackhawks autographed memorabilia testifies to this account of NHL, Canadian and Slovakian hockey history. Cool stuff. A very innovative player, Mikita was the first NHL player to use a ?curved? stick, and the first to wear a helmet full-time. As the story goes, one game he caught his stick in the gate door to the penalty box (where he spent much of his time), and it bent the blade. He went back on the ice before he could get a new stick, and noticed he could pick up the puck a bit more and give it a spin he could not get with a flat blade. Pretty soon, Mikita and HHOF star and teammate Bobby Hull were bending blades with propane torches. The rest is NHL history, and great history at that.

Just as his play is great history, so are his signed and certified hockey collectibles, of which we have a nice collection for sale. As one of the best players on face-off, Mikita led the league in scoring four times during the 1960s, which tied Bobby Hull's season scoring record of 97 points. Stan Mikita was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1983, and into the Slovak Hockey Hall of Fame in 2002. (Who knew?) What a player he was. Hardcore, but also very funny, and a generous man who helped disabled hockey players after retirement. His ?Donut Shop? spoof in Wayne's World is classic, and his repuation as a pro golfer is well-esteemed. Sadly, Mikita inherted a disease that has affected his brain, and he cannot recall that he played hockey. Nonetheless, this blazing star's value as a player and HOF member will never be forgotten, living on through his personally signed hockey memorabilia. Come check it out. Here are a few interesting items.