Chicago Blackhawks: 3 memorable Stan Mikita moments

1961 Stanley Cup champion

Mikita made an early impact in only his second full season with the Blackhawks in 1961, leading them to a Stanley Cup victory. Mikita shined in the playoffs, leading the league in goals over the entirety of the playoffs with six. While the Blackhawks wouldn’t win another cup during Mikita’s tenure, he led the team to four more Stanley Cup Finals appearances and always stood out.

The Blackhawks and the city of Chicago were in a long championship drought leading up to the team’s win in 1961. The Blackhawks hadn’t won a cup since 1938 at that time, and the last championship team was the Chicago Cardinals in 1947. The city was ready for a new champion.

Even though the Blackhawks brought home the cup, they had to stay in Detroit after beating the Red Wings in game six. There was a massive snowstorm hitting Chicago at the exact same time, so there would be no hero’s welcome like we’ve seen for recent Blackhawks teams that brought home the hardware. Still, the city was excited to finally have a championship team to celebrate.

Mikita’s greatness was not limited just to the 1961 season and the team’s historic cup win. He shined throughout the 1960s and is considered the best center of that era.