Bobby Hull facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Bobby Hull OC
Hockey Hall of Fame, 1983
Hull with the Chicago Black Hawks in the 1960s
Born	(1939-01-03)January 3, 1939 Point Anne, Ontario, Canada
Died	January 30, 2023(2023-01-30) (aged 84) Wheaton, Illinois, U.S.
Height	5 ft 10 in (178 cm)
Weight	191 lb (87 kg; 13 st 9 lb)
Position	Left wing
Shot	Left
Played for	Chicago Black Hawks Winnipeg Jets Hartford Whalers
National team	Canada
Playing career	1957–1980

Robert Marvin Hull OC (January 3, 1939 – January 30, 2023) was a famous Canadian professional ice hockey player. Many people think he was one of the greatest players ever. His blonde hair, amazing skating speed, and powerful shots earned him the nickname "The Golden Jet". He was so good that sometimes an opposing player's only job was to try and stop him!

Bobby Hull played for 23 years, from 1957 to 1980. He played in both the National Hockey League (NHL) and the World Hockey Association (WHA). His teams included the Chicago Black Hawks, Winnipeg Jets, and Hartford Whalers. He won the Hart Memorial Trophy twice as the NHL's most valuable player. He also won the Art Ross Trophy three times for leading the NHL in points. In 1961, he helped the Black Hawks win the Stanley Cup. He also led the WHA's Winnipeg Jets to win the Avco Cup in 1976 and 1978. Hull led the NHL in goals seven times, which is the second most in history. He was also the WHA's most valuable player twice. In 1983, he was chosen for the Hockey Hall of Fame. He was also named one of the '100 Greatest NHL Players' in 2017.

Early Life and Junior Hockey

Bobby Hull was born in Point Anne, Ontario, Canada, on January 3, 1939. He started playing minor hockey in nearby Belleville. In 1954, he played Junior B hockey for the Woodstock Warriors. Hull led his team to win the 1955 Sutherland Cup, making them champions in Ontario. Later, he played for the Galt Black Hawks and the St. Catharines Teepees. He joined the Chicago Black Hawks in 1957 when he was just 18 years old.

Playing Career

NHL Career Highlights

Hull with the Black Hawks in 1968

Bobby Hull had a strong first year in the NHL. He finished second in the voting for the Calder Memorial Trophy, which is given to the best rookie. He first wore numbers 16 and 7 for the Black Hawks. Later, he switched to his famous number 9, honoring his childhood hero, Gordie Howe.

By his third season (1959–60), Hull was leading the league in goals and points. He did this again in 1961–62 and 1965–66. He helped Chicago win the Stanley Cup in 1961. This was their first Stanley Cup in 23 years.

On March 12, 1966, Hull became the first NHL player to score more than 50 goals in one season. His 51st goal earned him a long standing ovation from the fans. Hull ended that season with 54 goals, which was the highest total during the Original Six era of the NHL. That same year, he set a new record for most points in a season with 97. Hull led the league in goal-scoring seven times in the 1960s. By his last NHL season, he had scored 50 goals or more five times.

During his 15 full NHL seasons, he was chosen as the First-Team All-Star left winger ten times. His powerful slapshot was once measured at 118.3 miles per hour (190.5 km/h). He could also skate incredibly fast, reaching speeds of 29.7 miles per hour (47.8 km/h).

WHA Career

Bobby Hull was not happy with his salary in the NHL, even though he was a huge star. In 1972, a new league called the World Hockey Association (WHA) offered him a lot of money. Hull joked that he would join them for a million dollars, which was a huge amount back then. The Winnipeg Jets owner, Ben Hatskin, gathered money from other team owners to make it happen. They signed Hull for $1.75 million over 10 years, plus a $1 million signing bonus!

Hull instantly became the WHA's biggest star. He won the Gordie Howe Trophy as league MVP in 1972–73 and 1974–75. He played with Swedish teammates Anders Hedberg and Ulf Nilsson. They formed a powerful line known as "The Hot Line." This line helped the Jets win two AVCO Cups. In the 1974–75 season, Hull scored 77 goals, setting a new professional record. He also had 65 assists for a total of 142 points.

Because he joined the WHA, Hull could not play for Team Canada in the 1972 Summit Series against the Soviet Union. Two years later, in the 1974 Summit Series, Hull and other WHA stars did play against the Soviet team. Hull scored seven goals in that series. He was also a key player for Canada when they won the 1976 Canada Cup.

The Bobby Hull Rule

Bobby Hull and his teammate Stan Mikita started a trend in the 1960s. They curved the blades of their hockey sticks, which became known as "banana blades." This made the puck's path unpredictable and dangerous for goalies, who often didn't wear masks back then. Because of this, a rule was made to limit how much a stick blade could be curved. This rule is often linked to Bobby Hull. Today, NHL Rule 10.1 limits the blade curvature to 0.75 inches (19 mm).

Later Career and Retirement

As he got older and had injuries, Hull played fewer games in the WHA's last season in 1978–79. After the WHA merged with the NHL in 1979, Hull returned to play for the NHL Jets. He played 18 games before being traded to the Hartford Whalers. There, he played alongside the legendary 51-year-old Gordie Howe. Hull played well in nine games before retiring to care for his partner, who was in a car accident.

In 1981, Hull tried to come back one last time with the New York Rangers at age 42. This attempt lasted only five exhibition games.

Bobby Hull finished his career with amazing numbers. In the NHL, he played 1,063 games, scoring 610 goals and 560 assists for 1,170 points. In the WHA, he played 411 games, scoring 303 goals and 335 assists for 638 points. His total of 1,018 goals in major professional leagues (NHL and WHA combined) is one of the highest of all time.

After Hockey

In 1978, Bobby Hull was made an Officer of the Order of Canada, a high honor. His number 9 jersey has been retired by the Black Hawks and the Jets. When Bobby's son, Brett Hull, played for the Arizona Coyotes (who are the successors to the Jets), they unretired the number 9 for him to wear, as a tribute to his father.

Hull also served as an ambassador for the Blackhawks for a time. In 2011, statues of Hull and Stan Mikita were put up outside the United Center, where the Blackhawks play today.

Family Life

Hull in 2006

Bobby Hull's younger brother, Dennis Hull, also played for the Chicago Black Hawks for eight seasons. Dennis was nicknamed "the Silver Jet." Many people wondered which brother had the harder shot! When Bobby couldn't play in the 1972 Summit Series, Dennis wanted to boycott it to support his brother, but Bobby convinced him to stay on Team Canada.

Bobby Hull had five children with his second wife, Joanne: sons Bobby Jr., Blake, Brett, Bart, and a daughter, Michelle.

Brett Hull became a hockey star too, nicknamed "The Golden Brett." He finished his NHL career with 741 goals, which is one of the highest totals ever. Bobby and Brett are the only father-and-son duo to both score more than 50 goals in an NHL season and more than 600 NHL goals. They are also the only father and son to win the Hart Memorial Trophy and the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy, and to lead the league in goal scoring.

Bart Hull was a talented running back in American football for Boise State University. He also played in the Canadian Football League. Later, he even played professional hockey for a short time.

Bobby Jr. and Blake also played junior and senior hockey. Bobby Jr. won the Memorial Cup in 1980.

Michelle, Bobby's daughter, was an excellent figure skater. She became the British Columbia Pre-Novice Champion at age 11. After several knee injuries, she stopped skating and became an attorney.

Bobby Hull Community Rink

Statue of Hull at the Bobby Hull Ice Rink (Cicero, Illinois)

Bobby Hull Ice Rink (Cicero, Illinois)

The town of Cicero, Illinois has a public outdoor ice rink named after Bobby Hull. It hosts skating lessons, public skating, and high school hockey games.

Death

Bobby Hull passed away on January 30, 2023, at his home in Wheaton, Illinois. He was 84 years old. His son, Brett, shared a message about his father's passing.

Awards and Achievements

• Art Ross Trophy winner (1960, 1962, and 1966)
• NHL First All-Star Team left wing (1960, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, and 1972)
• Stanley Cup champion (1961)
• NHL Second All-Star Team left wing (1963 and 1971)
• Hart Memorial Trophy winner (1965 and 1966)
• Lady Byng Memorial Trophy winner (1965)
• Lester Patrick Trophy winner (1969)
• Appeared on the cover of Time magazine
• NHL All-Star game MVP (1970, 1971) – the only player to win this award two years in a row
• WHA First All-Star Team (1973, 1974, and 1975)
• WHA Second All-Star Team (1976 and 1978)
• WHA Most Valuable Player (1973 and 1975)
• Avco Cup (WHA) champion (1976, 1978, and 1979)
• Inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1983
• Ranked number 8 on The Hockey News list of the 100 Greatest Hockey Players in 1998, the highest-ranking left winger
• Honored member of the Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame
• Member of the Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame
• Inaugural member of the World Hockey Association Hall of Fame
• Honored member of the Ontario Sports Hall of Fame
• In 2011, statues of Hull and Stan Mikita were placed outside the United Center

Career Statistics

Regular Season and Playoffs

See also

• List of members of the Hockey Hall of Fame
• List of NHL statistical leaders
• List of family relations in the NHL
• List of professional sports families
• List of NHL players with 1,000 points
• List of NHL players with 500 goals
• List of NHL players with 1,000 games played
• List of Canadian sports personalities