Stan Mikita: 'Wayne's World' star Mike Myers pays tribute to 'hockey legend'

Bryan Alexander | USA TODAY

Chicago Blackhawk hockey legend Stan Mikita had a devoted and unusual Hollywood fan — diehard Toronto Maple Leafs supporter and "Wayne's World" star Mike Myers.

Myers propelled Mikita back into the pop culture spotlight with his hit 1992 comedy, centering the story around the fictional Stan Mikita's Donuts in Aurora, Illinois.

Wayne (Myers) and Garth (Dana Carvey) hung out in their hometown diner as a giant Mikita stood face-off ready on the roof and the waitresses wore Chicago Blackhawks sweaters with Mikita's 21 number.

Myers paid tribute to Mikita who died at 78 Tuesday.

“He was a hockey legend and a gentleman. Meeting him was one of the highlights of my life," Myers said in a statement to USA TODAY.

Myers recalled that Mikita kindly agreed to allow his likeness to be used in his first film and visited the set.

More: Blackhawks legend, Hockey Hall of Famer Stan Mikita dies at 78

Also: 25 things you didn't know about 'Wayne's World' on its 25th anniversary

"I was humbled in his presence. I didn’t know what to say, because I get very star-struck around hockey players. It was just a fantastic experience," Myers told Sports Illustrated in 2017, adding it was "a dream come true to have Stan Mikita be part of it, part of my life."

Hockey got the nod over any other Chicago-area sports due to Myer's influence. And Mikita fit the bill perfectly.

"He just looked like a hockey player, you know what I mean? Just an awesome, awesome hockey player," Myers added.

Mikita had a cameo in the film, and the addition of Stan Mikita's Donuts seemed like destiny.

"It’s just one of those things. You couldn’t imagine it not being Stan Mikita’s Donuts. Sometimes when you just wish it, you know that it’s right, the universe rewards, you know? Which is very lovely," said Myers. "It’s a little like 'Bohemian Rhapsody,' where it’s like, ‘Yeah, it’s got to be 'Bohemian Rhapsody.'’ It has to be Stan Mikita."

Even growing up in the Toronto suburbs, Myers admired Mikita who spent his 22-year Hall of Fame career, from 1958 to 1980, with the Blackhawks. The Hall of Fame hockey player was particularly tough playing against his Leafs.

"There were certain teams and players that we liked to call defoliants, i.e., they would destroy the Leafs. Stan Mikita was one of those guys who seemed to always score a clutch goal against us," Myers told Sports Illustrated. "He’d often get a Gordie Howe hat trick—a goal, an assist and a fight. We just wished he played for the Leafs, basically."