Blackhawks Hall of Famer Stan Mikita has brain disorder

CHICAGO (AP) - The family of Stan Mikita said Friday that the Chicago Blackhawks Hall of Famer has been diagnosed with a suspected brain disorder and is "facing some serious health issues."

He "is currently under the care of compassionate and understanding care givers," his family said in a statement. They offered no other information on Mikita's condition other than noting that he may suffer from Lewy body dementia.

Mikita, 74, played his entire 22-season career for the Chicago Blackhawks from 1958 to 1980 and was on the Blackhawks team with Bobby Hull that won the Stanley Cup in 1961. He is the franchise's all-time leader in games played, points and assists and is second in goals.

Mikita was inducted in the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1983 and has been a Blackhawks team ambassador since 2007. Mikita was at a ceremony in 2011 when the Blackhawks unveiled bronze statues of him and Hull outside the United Center. In 1980, Mikita's No. 21 was the first ever retired by the Blackhawks.

"We are thinking of Stan and his family at this difficult time and wish him well," the team said in a statement.

Lewy body dementia is a progressive disease that causes problems with thinking, movement, behavior and mood. It's associated with abnormal protein deposits in the brain called Lewy bodies. There's no known cure, but people can live with the disease for a number of years. How quickly symptoms develop varies from person to person.

"The family of Stan Mikita truly appreciates the support he has received over the many years he has played, worked and lived in the Chicago area," they said in the statement. "They hope the fans will keep him in their thoughts and prayers and respect his privacy during this difficult time."