Brett Hull facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Brett Hull
Hockey Hall of Fame, 2009
Hull in 2014
Born	(1964-08-09) August 9, 1964 (age 60) Belleville, Ontario, Canada
Height	5 ft 11 in (180 cm)
Weight	200 lb (91 kg; 14 st 4 lb)
Position	Right wing
Shot	Right
Played for	Calgary Flames St. Louis Blues Dallas Stars Detroit Red Wings Phoenix Coyotes
National team	United States
NHL Draft	117th overall, 1984 Calgary Flames
Playing career	1986–2005
Medal record Men's ice hockey Representing the  United States Olympic Games Silver 2002 Salt Lake City World Cup of Hockey Gold 1996 Canada Canada Cup Silver 1991 Canada

Brett Andrew Hull (born August 9, 1964) is a former ice hockey player and manager who has both Canadian and American citizenship. He is currently an executive for the St. Louis Blues in the National Hockey League (NHL).

Hull played for several NHL teams, including the Calgary Flames, St. Louis Blues, Dallas Stars, Detroit Red Wings, and Phoenix Coyotes from 1986 to 2005. He scored 741 goals in his career, which is the fifth-highest total in NHL history. He is also one of only five players to score 50 goals in 50 games twice.

He won two Stanley Cup championships: one in 1999 with the Dallas Stars and another in 2002 with the Detroit Red Wings. In 2017, Brett Hull was named one of the 100 Greatest NHL Players of all time.

Hull was known as one of the best goal scorers, or "snipers," in hockey. He played college hockey for the University of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs, where he scored 52 goals in one season. He also scored 50 goals in the American Hockey League (AHL) and had five straight seasons with at least 50 goals in the NHL. His 86 goals in the 1990–91 season is the third-highest single-season total in NHL history. That year, he won the Hart Memorial Trophy and Lester B. Pearson Award as the league's most valuable player. He was chosen as a first team all-star three times and played in eight NHL All-Star Games.

Because he had dual citizenship, Hull chose to play for the American National Team. He helped the team win the 1996 World Cup of Hockey and earned a silver medal at the 2002 Winter Olympics. Brett Hull was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2009, just like his father, Bobby Hull. They are the first father-son duo to both score over 600 goals or 1,000 points in the NHL. Brett's nickname, "the Golden Brett", comes from his father's nickname, "the Golden Jet." The St. Louis Blues retired his jersey number 16 in 2006.

Early Life and Family

Brett Hull was born on August 9, 1964, in Belleville, Ontario, Canada. His father, Bobby Hull, was a famous professional hockey player. His mother, Joanne, was an American professional figure skater who taught him how to skate. Brett has three brothers and a younger sister. His uncle, Dennis Hull, also played in the NHL.

When Brett was young, his father played for the Chicago Blackhawks. Brett started playing organized hockey in Chicago at age four. He and his brothers often skated with the Blackhawks players. In 1972, his family moved back to Canada. Brett later moved to Vancouver with his mother and younger siblings. He wasn't very close to his father after his parents separated, but they did talk sometimes.

Playing Career Highlights

Junior and College Hockey

Brett Hull didn't get much attention from junior hockey teams at first. He was eligible for the NHL Entry Draft in 1982 but wasn't picked. He then joined the Penticton Knights in the BCJHL in 1982–83, scoring 48 goals in 50 games. Teams still weren't sure about his dedication.

However, in the 1983–84 season, Hull scored an amazing 105 goals in 56 games, breaking the BCJHL scoring record with 188 points. This finally caught the attention of NHL teams. The Calgary Flames drafted him in the sixth round of the 1984 NHL Entry Draft.

Hull accepted a scholarship to play for the University of Minnesota-Duluth (UMD). In his first year (1984–85), he scored 32 goals. His powerful shot was a big threat to goalies. His coaches at UMD helped him improve his skating. In 1985–86, he broke the school record by scoring 52 goals in one season. He was named a first-team all-star in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA).

Hull set many scoring records at UMD. He holds records for most goals by a rookie (32) and most goals in a season (52). His jersey number 29 was retired by the school in 2006.

Calgary Flames (1986–88)

After college, Hull signed with the Calgary Flames and joined them during the 1986 Stanley Cup Playoffs. He played his first NHL game on May 20, 1986, in the 1986 Stanley Cup Finals against the Montreal Canadiens.

For most of the 1986–87 season, the Flames sent Hull to their minor league team, the Moncton Golden Flames in the American Hockey League (AHL). He scored 50 goals, tying an AHL rookie record, and had 93 points. He won the Dudley "Red" Garrett Memorial Award as the league's Rookie of the Year. He scored his first NHL goal on November 13, 1986, which was the winning goal in a 4–3 victory.

Hull earned a spot on the Flames for the 1987–88 season, scoring 26 goals and 50 points in 52 games. On March 7, 1988, he was traded to the St. Louis Blues.

St. Louis Blues (1988–98)

Hull during his time with the Blues in 1993

Brett Hull quickly became a star for the St. Louis Blues. In his first full season (1988–89), he led the team with 41 goals. His coach, Brian Sutter, encouraged him to improve his fitness. Hull worked hard and came back in much better shape for the 1989–90 season.

He teamed up with center Adam Oates, who was a great passer. Their line was nicknamed "Hull and Oates" (like the band). They were an amazing scoring duo, with Oates setting up Hull for many goals. Hull scored 228 goals between 1989 and 1992, which was the second-highest three-season total in NHL history, only behind Wayne Gretzky.

He became the fifth player in NHL history to score 50 goals in 50 games in 1990, and then did it again in 1991–92. He led the league in goal scoring for three seasons in a row. In 1991, he won the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy for being the most sportsmanlike player. He also won the Hart Memorial Trophy and Lester B. Pearson Award as the league's most valuable player. His 86 goals in 1990–91 is the third-highest single-season total ever in the NHL.

Even after Oates left the Blues in 1992, Hull remained the team's top scorer. He continued his streak of 50-goal seasons, scoring 54 in 1992–93 and 57 in 1993–94.

Hull had some disagreements with head coach Mike Keenan when Keenan joined the team in 1994. Hull had been team captain since 1992, but Keenan removed him from that role. The Blues eventually fired Keenan in 1996. A few nights later, Hull scored a hat trick to reach 500 career goals. He and his father, Bobby, are the only father-son pair to both reach 500 goals.

After the 1997–98 season, Hull became a free agent. He decided to leave St. Louis and signed a contract with the Dallas Stars on July 2, 1998.

Dallas Stars (1998–2001)

Hull reached 1,000 points in his career with the Dallas Stars on November 14, 1998. He then scored his 600th goal on December 31, 1999. In the 1998–99 season, he scored 32 goals despite dealing with an injury.

The Stars made it to the 1999 Stanley Cup Finals against the Buffalo Sabres. In Game 6, with the series tied 3–2 for Dallas, the game went into triple overtime. Hull scored the winning goal, giving the Stars the Stanley Cup.

The goal was debated because Hull's skate was in the goalie's crease, which was against the rules at the time. However, the NHL ruled that the goal was legal because Hull had control of the puck before entering the crease. This rule had been clarified in a memo to teams before the playoffs. The NHL later changed the crease rule, allowing players to score from the crease as long as they didn't interfere with the goalie.

Hull wore number 22 for the Stars in his first season because number 16 was taken. He switched back to number 16 the next season. In 1999–2000, he scored 24 goals. He played well in the 2000 Stanley Cup Playoffs, leading the league in scoring with 10 goals and 23 points. The Stars reached the finals again but lost to the New Jersey Devils.

In 2000–01, Hull scored 39 goals. He passed his father's career goal total when he scored his 611th goal on October 10, 2000. Hull played his 1,000th career game on February 25, 2001.

Detroit Red Wings (2001–04)

The Dallas Stars decided not to keep Hull for the 2001–02 season, making him a free agent. Even though other teams offered him more money, Hull chose to sign with the Detroit Red Wings because he wanted to win another Stanley Cup. He joined a team already full of stars, including goalie Dominik Hasek.

With the Red Wings, Hull wore number 17 instead of his usual 16. This was out of respect for Vladimir Konstantinov, who wore number 16 for the Red Wings before his career ended due to an accident.

Hull scored 30 goals that season as the Red Wings won the Presidents' Trophy as the NHL's best team. He played on a line with younger players Boyd Devereaux and Pavel Datsyuk.

In the 2002 Stanley Cup Playoffs, Hull scored a league-leading 10 goals. The Red Wings defeated the Vancouver Canucks, St. Louis Blues, and Colorado Avalanche to reach the finals. Hull scored a hat trick in the first round against Vancouver. He also scored key goals in the 2002 Stanley Cup Finals against the Carolina Hurricanes. Hull won his second Stanley Cup when the Red Wings won the series in five games.

In 2002–03, Hull had 37 goals and 76 points. He became the sixth player in NHL history to score 700 career goals on February 10, 2003. He signed a one-year extension with the Red Wings. In 2003–04, he scored 25 goals. The Red Wings were eliminated from the playoffs by the Calgary Flames.

Phoenix Coyotes (2004–05)

Hull signed a two-year contract with the Phoenix Coyotes. However, the first year was canceled due to a labor stoppage. When play resumed in 2005–06, Hull returned to the ice wearing his father's jersey number 9. His father, Bobby, had asked the team to un-retire his number so Brett could wear it.

After playing only five games and getting one assist, Hull felt he could no longer play at the high level he expected from himself. On October 15, 2005, he announced his retirement as a player.

International Play

As a dual citizen of Canada and the United States, Brett Hull could choose which country to play for internationally. After being passed over by Team Canada, he accepted an invitation to join the American national team in 1986. He led the team in scoring at the 1986 World Ice Hockey Championships. Hull later said that the trust shown by American officials gave him confidence. He played for Team USA for the rest of his career.

Hull helped the American team reach the final of the 1991 Canada Cup, where they won a silver medal against Canada. At the 1996 World Cup of Hockey, Canadian fans booed Hull and called him a "traitor" because he played for the U.S. However, Hull scored key goals, and the U.S. team won the championship against Canada. Hull led all players in scoring with 11 points.

Hull made his Olympic debut at the 1998 Winter Games. He scored two goals in four games, but the Americans were quickly eliminated. Hull played on the top line for the U.S. team at the 2002 Olympics. They led Team USA to the gold medal game against Canada. Hull and the Americans won the silver medal after losing 5–2.

In 2004, Hull was named an alternate captain for Team USA at the 2004 World Cup of Hockey. However, he was benched after two games and did not play again in the tournament.

Playing Style and Legacy

When he first joined the NHL, Hull was known as a "one-dimensional player." He was an amazing goal scorer but wasn't very interested in playing defense. He was nicknamed "The Incredible Hull" in college and "The Golden Brett" in the NHL. While his father, Bobby, was known for his skating and fitness, Brett was a right wing who was a poorer skater but had an equally powerful shot.

His reputation for not playing defense lasted for much of his career. However, he changed that reputation after helping his teams win championships at the 1996 World Cup of Hockey and the 1999 Stanley Cup Finals. To win the 1999 championship, Hull had to adapt to the Dallas Stars' defense-focused system.

Hull was known for speaking his mind. He often criticized the NHL's defensive style of play in the late 1990s, saying it was "boring."

Hull played in eight NHL All-Star Games and was named the most valuable player of the 1992 game. As of 2022, his 741 career goals is the fifth-highest total in NHL history. He was the third-fastest player to reach 700 goals. He is also second all-time in power play goals (265) and third in game-winning goals (110). He shares the record for most career game-winning playoff goals (24) with Wayne Gretzky. Hull scored 33 hat tricks in his career, which is the fourth-highest in NHL history.

Hull holds many St. Louis Blues franchise records, including goals (527) and hat tricks (27). The Blues retired his jersey number 16 in 2006. They also renamed a street next to their arena "Brett Hull Way" and unveiled a statue of him in 2010. Hull was inducted into the United States Hockey Hall of Fame in 2008 and the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2009.

Management Career

After retiring as a player, Hull worked for the Dallas Stars as a special assistant and later as interim co-general manager. He helped the Stars reach the Western Conference Final in the 2008 Stanley Cup Playoffs. He was then named permanent co-general manager.

However, the team missed the playoffs in 2008–09, and Hull was replaced as general manager. He remained an adviser for the Stars. Later, he was hired by the St. Louis Blues as their executive vice president for business development.

In 2019, when the Blues reached the Stanley Cup Finals for the first time in 49 years, Hull became very emotional. When the St. Louis Blues won their first Stanley Cup in 2019, Hull celebrated with the fans at the victory parade.

Personal Life

Brett Hull lives in Dallas, Texas, with his second wife, Darcie. He has three children from his first marriage: a son named Jude and two daughters, Jayde and Crosby. Jude played hockey as a goaltender in college.

Hull has been involved in the restaurant business. He owned two restaurants in St. Louis and partnered with Mike Modano on a restaurant in Dallas. He also lent his name to a 1995 video game called Brett Hull Hockey. Hull was a co-owner of the St. Louis Bandits, a junior hockey team. In 2020, he opened another restaurant in the St. Louis area.

Hull is an avid golfer and has often said he preferred golf to hockey during his career. He plays in many charity and celebrity golf tournaments.

In Other Media

Hull appeared as a guest on the "Weekend Update" segment of Saturday Night Live in 2004.

He also made a special guest appearance as the USA hockey team captain in an episode of What's New, Scooby-Doo? called "Diamonds Are a Ghoul's Best Friend."

Career Statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Bold indicates led league

International

Year	Team	Event	Result		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1986	United States	WC	6th		10	7	4	11	18
1991	United States	CC			8	2	7	9	0
1996	United States	WCH			7	7	4	11	4
1998	United States	Oly	6th		4	2	1	3	0
2002	United States	Oly			6	3	5	8	6
2004	United States	WCH	4th		2	0	0	0	2
Senior totals					37	21	21	42	30

Awards and Achievements

Images for kids

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  Hull during his time with the Blues in 1993

See also

• Brett Hull Hockey, a 1994 video game
• Brett Hull Hockey '95, a 1995 video game
• List of NHL statistical leaders
• Notable families in the NHL