Hull, Bobby (1939—)

views updated

Hull, Bobby (1939—)

To become a legend, a hockey player needs something special in addition to great playing abilities. In the case of Bobby Hull, the Chicago Black Hawks famous #9, his speed and the incredible force of his slapshots have contributed to give "The Golden Jet" a unique profile. One of the finest hockey players ever to take to the ice, he became a three-time NHL point-scoring champion, and two-time MVP while playing left wing for the Black Hawks. He is still considered the best left-winger in the history of hockey.

Born Robert Marvin Hull on January 3, 1939, in Pointe Anne, Ontario, he progressed quickly through the minor league hockey ranks. At age 10, he was already considered a potential NHL player. He played junior hockey in Hespeler and Woodstock, Ontario, and with the St. Catharines Tee Pees, where he was coached by Rudy Pilous, his future Black Hawks coach.

The blond player earned the nickname "The Golden Jet" because of his speed, power, and charisma. He joined the Chicago Black Hawks for the 1957-1958 season, and played left wing for them from 1957 to 1972. (His brother, Dennis, also played for the Hawks from 1964 to 1977). Although his first two seasons were not particularly brilliant (with only 31 goals, 13 in the first year, 18 in the second), he used them to perfect his speed and his unique slapshot. He was considered the NHL's fastest skater, clocked at 28.3 mph with the puck, 29.7 without it. His powerful, booming slapshot—clocked once at 118.3 mph, some 35 mph above the league average—was thought to be the league's hardest. That "high-velocity piece of lead," according to goalie Jacques Plante, could easily thrust a goalie backward into the net—along with the puck.

Gradually, Bobby Hull became a top player for his team. With 39 goals in his 3rd season, 31 in his 4th, he led Chicago to their first Stanley Cup in 23 years in 1960-61. The following year, he matched the NHL's 50-goal scoring record, before raising it for the first time ever to 54 in 1965-1966 and to 58 in 1968-1969, even while playing

[Image not available for copyright reasons]

part of the season with his mouth wired shut because of a broken jaw. In 16 NHL seasons, Hull scored 610 goals and added 560 assists (for a total of 1,170 points) in regular season play, plus 129 points (62 goals and 67 assists) during the Stanley Cup playoffs. He led the NHL in goals scored in seven different seasons.

Bobby Hull displayed all the skills of some of the game's best players: he perfected Boom-Boom Geoffrion's slapshot; he had the speed of Howie Morenz, the goal-scoring abilities of Maurice "Rocket" Richard, and the strength and control of Gordie Howe. Not surprisingly, he was voted hockey's Player-of-the-Decade in a 1970 Associated Press poll of writers and sportscasters. He won the Ross Trophy three times, the Lady Byng once, the Hart twice, and the Patrick Trophy in 1969 for the outstanding contribution he made to hockey in the United States. He was a regular choice in All-Star selections, named ten times to the First NHL All-Star Team and twice to the Second Team.

In 1972, a contract dispute with the Hawks management caused a major surprise when Hull jumped to the Winnipeg Jets of the upstart World Hockey Association. Hull's contract made him hockey's first millionaire, as the Jets were offering high salaries to attract stars to their team. For the Black Hawks, it was a major setback: his departure may have cost the organization close to $1 billion over ten years due to drops in attendance. The NHL tried legal action to block the move, and then arranged to punish Hull by leaving him off of the 1972 Team Canada. His decision, however, made history: by switching from a hallowed NHL team to an upstart WHA team, Hull immediately raised the interest of spectators in WHA hockey. He remained a top player with Winnipeg, scoring 77 goals during 78 games in 1974-75, and adding 303 goals and 638 points to his career numbers.

In 1980-1981, Hull tried to come back to NHL hockey with the New York Rangers, but did not make the team. A legendary figure, his time was past. In 1983, he was elected into the Hockey Hall of Fame. A great hockey player and a pleasant person, in his retirement Hull farmed and ran cattle breeding operations across Canada. His son, Brett Hull, achieved stardom of his own while playing for the Dallas Stars.

—Henri Paratte