Replicas
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Jerseys |
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Manufacturer: CCM
Material: Vintage Replica Year: 1959-1961 Home (Red): Stan Mikita Size L |
Manufacturer: CCM
Material: Team Classics Replica Year: 1957-1959 Home (Red): Bobby Orr Size L |
Manufacturer: Reebok
Material: Premier Year: 2007-2011 Home (Red): Denis Savard Size XL |
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Jersey History |
Well I'm not really going to get too much into these jerseys as they're replicas and it's more so about the players than the jerseys.
CCM Vintage Replica: CCM introduced the Vintage line for collectors to get a chance to own older style jerseys. The style of the jersey is exactly what was worn during this time but the logo is just a bit off. I got this jersey to get something that was accurate enough to get Stan Mikita on the back.
CCM Team Classics Replica: CCM introduced this line to basically replace the Vintage line. There's some minor differences in the style as the "C" and tomahawks and the front logo are just a bit off from what was worn during this time. Also names weren't put on the backs of this style but again this is more about the player and autograph. This jersey was gifted to me by a family member who is close with Bobby Orr. I will definitely be getting this framed.
Reebok Premier: The Reebok replicas were dubbed Premiers while the authentics were Edges. Pretty much just the style is the same as the authentic version and Denis Savard never wore this style. A family member also got me this jersey at a raffle and the signature has been certified. This one is also going in a frame.
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Player History |
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Stan Mikita: Stan Mikita is one of the greatest Blackhawks and hockey players in the world. Born as Stanislav Guoth in
Sokolče, Slovak Republic, he moved to Canada at a young age to be adopted by his aunt and uncle who gave him their last name Mikita. Mikita would play three seasons in the junior league before being promoted to the Black Hawks in 1959-60. His second season with the Hawks saw the team winning their third Stanley Cup in franchise history with Mikita leading scoring in the post season. Mikita remained a Hawk throughout his entire career and would be a scoring dynamo along with teammate Bobby Hull. He was the the pioneer in curved blades on hockey sticks. The story goes his stick got caught in the boards during a practice which bent it and gave him a better shooting advantage. He would soon use a blowtorch to bend all his sticks which would catch on around the NHL introducing a new rule of how much curve a blade could have. He also pioneered wearing a helmet full time after a shot tore off a piece of his ear in 1967. The ear was stitched back on luckily. |
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Mikita would start his career with the Hawks as an antagonizer breaking the 100+ PIM barrier 4 times, but would decide to play cleaner earning him the Lady Byng in 1967 and 1968. Being the great goal scorer he was, he never actually broke the 100 point mark surprisingly. He played 22 seasons with the Hawks in 1394 games scoring 541 goals and 1467 points. Mikita would win the Art Ross in 1967 and 1968 as well earning him the Hart Memorial for both of these seasons. He's the only player in the NHL to win the Hart, Art Ross, and Lady Byng trophy in a single season doing it twice in back to back seasons! He was a 9x All Star playing in the 1964, 1967-69, and 1971-75 games. He would be an NHL 1st All Star in 1962-64 and 1966-68 and a 2nd All Star in 1965 and 1970. He would also win the Lester Patrick Trophy in 1976.
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Mikita would represent Canada internationally briefly being named to Team Canada during the Summit Series in 1972, but only played two games due to injuries. Mikita's long career would end at the end of the 1979-80 season. Shortly after his retirement, his number "21" was retired by the Black Hawks becoming the first player to do so. Shortly after this, Mikita was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1983. Mikita still holds the Hawks franchise records for games played, assists, and points. He also holds the 14th spot for NHL all time points, 18th in assists, 31st in goals, and 40th in games played. Mikita would be inducted into the Slovak Hockey Hall of Fame in 2002. He would later become an ambassador for the Hawks and in 2011 was cemented in history, literally, as a statue was erected in his honor at the United Center. Unfortunately as he got older, his health would degrade. He would develop oral cancer in 2011 and Lewy body dementia in January 2015. By June 2015 he had no memory of his former life. Mikita would pass away in 2018 at the age of 78.
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Bobby Orr: This guy! I could write one of these alone for his awards and titles. For only playing a short amount of time he really revolutionized the game. Born in Parry Sound, ON, Orr would play for the Boston Bruins junior team before joining them in the 1966-67 season. His contract was the first to be negotiated by an agent which led to him being the highest paid rookie in NHL history. He made an immediate impact winning the Calder. Orr changed the way defensemen played the game by becoming an offensive force. Until Orr, defensemen were told to just get the puck to the forwards for them to score. Rarely did you see a defensemen carry the puck past the red line. Orr not only held onto the puck but had the skill to burn past the offense and defense of the other team for scoring opportunities. Doing so cemented him as one of the most important players in NHL history. Orr would spend 10 season with the Bruins winning two Stanley Cups in 1970 and 1972. His play style was taxing on his body though as his knees would start to give. This ultimately shortened his career and led to Orr signing with the Black Hawks as a free agent in 1976. The Bruins wanted to reduce the asked salary while transitioning Orr to more of a front office position. Orr's agent did not like that position and ended signing with the Hawks in secret as the Bruins did everything to not let him leave. Due to injuries Orr would only be able to play 26 games with the Hawks before retiring.
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To say Orr was a scoring dynamo is an understatement. In 12 NHL seasons, Orr played 657 games scoring 270 goals and 915 points! He scored 20+ goals twice, 30+ goals 4 times, and had a record high of 46 goals in the 1974-75 season. Orr broke the 100+ point barrier 6 seasons in a row! He's the only defensemen to win the Art Ross doing so twice in 1970 and 1975. He won 8 consecutive Norris titles from 1968-75. He won both Conn Smythe titles for their Stanley Cup wins and won the Hart Memorial in 3 consecutive years from 1970-72. He played in 8 consecutive All Star Games from 1968-75 and was on the NHL 1st All Star Team during this same period. He was only on the 2nd All Star Team in 1966-67. He was the All Star MVP in 1972. He also scooped up the Lou Marsh Trophy in 1970 and Lester B Pearson Award in 1975.
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Orr currently hold some NHL records. He has the most points by a defensemen in a season with 139. He holds the most assists by a defensemen in a season with 102. He has the most 100+ point seasons by a defensemen with 6. He has the highest plus/minus in a season with +124. He's tied with the most assists in one NHL game with 6. He was officially inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1979 becoming the youngest inaugurated member at 31 years old. Orr has represented Canada internationally a couple times. He was selected to the 1972 Summit Series but was unable to play due to injuries. He did play in the 1976 Canada Cup where he was named MVP. Post retirement Orr stayed with the Hawks as an assistant to the general manager and even had a coaching position for some time. Orr ran into some financial difficulties as his agent wasn't being as truthful about his finances as Orr had thought. Eventually Orr would start a player agency to help protect players from agents like his. Orr continued to coach in the Canadian junior leagues and is still around for Bruins events. He wrote an autobiography in 2013 which reached #8 in New York Times best seller. His legacy was also cemented, literally, with a statue erected in his honor outside TD Garden.
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