Source: Huliq.com

He is considered by Chicago Blackhawks hockey fans to be one of the greatest hockey players of all time, but he now faces his greatest challenge as it was announced Stan Mikita has cancer.

The statement was released by the Blackawks organization today. The statement was that Mikita was diagnosed with stage 1 oral cancer.

According to Chicago press reports, Mikita was diagnosed with the condition at Loyola Medical Center in downtown Chicago. The report from the team stated that the diagnosis was of early stage tongue cancer. The statement also said that, since the disease was found early, he stands a good chance of responding to treatment.

The release also asked that the press not ask the team for further information about Mikita’s condition. The statement was that it was a personal matter between Mikita and his family and his doctors. No further statements about his condition will be released by the team.

Stan Mikita was originally from Canada. He eventually came to the United States and played in the early days of the NHL. They played for the Chicago Blackhawks in the late 1950s and early 1960s. He was on the team when they beat the Detroit Redwings to win the Stanely Cup in 1961.

Mikita played professional hockey throughout the 1970s. He finally retired due to chronic back pain in 1980. He has been inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame. During his time as a player he was the league MVP twice. He is also reportedly the first player to used the curved blade on his stick.

Even in retirement, Mikita has stayed close to Chicago and the Blackhawks. He made frequent appearances at games and around the city during the team’s Stanley Cup Championship in 2010. He is currently listed by the team as an official Blackhawks Ambassador.