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A posthumous study of Stan Mikita's brain showed that the Hockey Hall of Fame was suffering from chronic traumatic encephalopathy at the time of his death a year ago.
Dr. Ann McKee, Director of BU CTE Center, announced the findings of this dinner at the Chicago Dinner Dinner hosted by the Concussion Legacy Foundation on Friday night at the request of Mikita's family.
CTE is a degenerative brain disease associated with repeated blows to the head. It is known to cause memory loss, violent moods and other cognitive problems. It can only be diagnosed after the death.
Mikita is the eighth former NHL player to have been diagnosed with CTE at the VA-BU-CLF Brain Bank, which also includes Derek Boogaard, Bob Probert and Reggie Fleming.
"The NHL is nowhere on it," said McKee. "They completely denied a link. They have denied any responsibility and it is clear that they only protect the bottom line. "
NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman has always denied the existence of a decisive link between repeated blows to the head and the CTE. On Friday night, a message was left asking the league's comments on Mikita's diagnosis.
The NHL formed a concussion study group in 1997, repressed some blows after the 2004-05 lockout, put in place a formal protocol and a rule against contact with the head in 2010, and added observers in 2015.
McKee stated that she thought the concussion guards were too lax to have the players examined.
"They have to really, really just be very conservative on what represents a blow," she says, "because what looks like a minor blow to you or to me when we look at it can be a devastating blow to the player, and we have to keep those players safe, and that's how these leagues became. "
Mikita, who helped Chicago win the 1961 Stanley Cup title, died last August at the age of 78. He was in poor health after being diagnosed with Lewy body dementia – a progressive disease that causes problems with thought, movement, behavior and mood.
McKee stated that Mikita was suffering from a stage III CTE and a Lewy body disease.
"What was interesting is that he does not have only CTE, which we know is associated with contact sports," she said, "but we discover that there are other neurodegenerative diseases, in particular Lewy's disease, Parkinson's disease. Believe it or not, it's a disease that is spreading in your brain and is associated with contact sports. "
Mikita spent her entire career with the Blackhawks from her NHL debut in 1959 to retirement after playing 17 games in the 1979-1980 season. He is the career leader of the franchise for assists (926), points (1,467) and games played (1,394). He is second behind Bobby Hull with 541 goals.
He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1983. He was also the first player to have his jersey removed by the Blackhawks in 1980.
Mikita's family refused to talk to the media at dinner. Mikita's daughter, Jane, accepted the Courage 2019 award on behalf of the family.
"While my father's accomplishments in professional hockey are numerous, we are very proud of his legacy of giving and loving others," said Jane in her speech.
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