49 years- I was there in ’92 when we lost to the Penguins.  I thought it was great that the Hawks reconnected with Hull, Esposito, Mikita, Pilote and other ex-Hawks so that they could share in this.  It’s such a tough trophy to win, who knows when we will see it again.

This is really silly, but my memory of Stan Mikita is about that helmet he wore following his injury. He was the only guy I ever saw, outside of pee wee, high school and college, who ever wore a helmet. Lots of guys called him a sissy.  Of course, when I played hockey we goalies didn’t wear masks, and I’d bet that if Plante hadn’t been the first goalies still wouldn’t be wearing them.

Isn’t the reason Mr. Plante donned a mask is that he got severly nailed in the forehead by a slapshot?