Nicknamed The Golden Jet for his blond hair and his jet-like slap shot, Bobby Hull was the most feared goal scorer of the 60s and 70s He and teammate Stan Mikita were the first NHL players to use curved stick blades, which made his already wicked slapshot even more difficult to stop.
Hull was born and raised on a dairy farm near Belleville, Ontario. By his teenage years it was apparent that he was on a fast track to NHL stardom, and he joined the Chicago Blackhawks not long after his 18th birthday. He would finish second in the leagues rookie of the year balloting in his first season and within a couple of years would become one of the NHLs marquee superstars. By the third year in the league, he was already a fixture at the top of the goal and point scoring charts and would lead the Blackhawks to a Stanley Cup championship in'61.
In'66, Hull broke a hallowed NHL scoring mark by becoming the first player to net more than 50 goals in a season. His 51st goal broke the record of 50 goals held by Montreal Canadien greats Bernie Boom Boom Geoffrion and Maurice Rocket Richard. Hull would go on to score 54 goals in the'66 and would surpass that mark by scoring 58 in'68. These numbers aren't surprising in light of his slapshots deadly speed and accuracy--Hull's shot was once clocked at a mind boggling 118 MPH!
Hulls tenure with the Chicago Blackhawks ended in'72, when he jumped to the upstart World Hockey Association (WHA). Hull signed for an at the time unprecedented $1,000,000 signing bonus. Initially, Hulls response that he would jump ship for a million bucks was an offhanded joke but when the WHA ownership agreed to contribute to that sum thinking that it would provide instant credibility for the league it became a reality.
In the WHA, Hull was quickly back to his old tricks. On a line with Swedish superstars Ulf Nilsson and Anders Hedberg called The Hot Line, he led the Jets to two league championship AVCO Cup victories. In'77, he set a new professional hockey record with 77 goals in a season which surpassed Phil Espositos'70-71 mark of 76 by a single goal.
Injuries and chronic knee trouble would finally spell the end to Hull's career in the WHA's final season of'79-80. He would briefly attempt a comeback with the New York Rangers in'81, but when he proved ineffective in preseason eventually retired for good.
Modern fans may be more familiar with Hulls third son, Brett Hull, who earned NHL superstar status in his own right. The Hulls are the only father/son combination to ever score 50 goals in an NHL season. Brett Hull wore his dads retired #9 in the final games, and will be inducted into the Hall of Fame this year.
Hull is still in good health and splits his time between Canada and Chicago, IL. He currently serves as a PR ambassador for the Blackhawks organization. He is expected to formally induct his son into the Hall of Fame at the ceremonies later this summer.
Hull was born and raised on a dairy farm near Belleville, Ontario. By his teenage years it was apparent that he was on a fast track to NHL stardom, and he joined the Chicago Blackhawks not long after his 18th birthday. He would finish second in the leagues rookie of the year balloting in his first season and within a couple of years would become one of the NHLs marquee superstars. By the third year in the league, he was already a fixture at the top of the goal and point scoring charts and would lead the Blackhawks to a Stanley Cup championship in'61.
In'66, Hull broke a hallowed NHL scoring mark by becoming the first player to net more than 50 goals in a season. His 51st goal broke the record of 50 goals held by Montreal Canadien greats Bernie Boom Boom Geoffrion and Maurice Rocket Richard. Hull would go on to score 54 goals in the'66 and would surpass that mark by scoring 58 in'68. These numbers aren't surprising in light of his slapshots deadly speed and accuracy--Hull's shot was once clocked at a mind boggling 118 MPH!
Hulls tenure with the Chicago Blackhawks ended in'72, when he jumped to the upstart World Hockey Association (WHA). Hull signed for an at the time unprecedented $1,000,000 signing bonus. Initially, Hulls response that he would jump ship for a million bucks was an offhanded joke but when the WHA ownership agreed to contribute to that sum thinking that it would provide instant credibility for the league it became a reality.
In the WHA, Hull was quickly back to his old tricks. On a line with Swedish superstars Ulf Nilsson and Anders Hedberg called The Hot Line, he led the Jets to two league championship AVCO Cup victories. In'77, he set a new professional hockey record with 77 goals in a season which surpassed Phil Espositos'70-71 mark of 76 by a single goal.
Injuries and chronic knee trouble would finally spell the end to Hull's career in the WHA's final season of'79-80. He would briefly attempt a comeback with the New York Rangers in'81, but when he proved ineffective in preseason eventually retired for good.
Modern fans may be more familiar with Hulls third son, Brett Hull, who earned NHL superstar status in his own right. The Hulls are the only father/son combination to ever score 50 goals in an NHL season. Brett Hull wore his dads retired #9 in the final games, and will be inducted into the Hall of Fame this year.
Hull is still in good health and splits his time between Canada and Chicago, IL. He currently serves as a PR ambassador for the Blackhawks organization. He is expected to formally induct his son into the Hall of Fame at the ceremonies later this summer.
About the Author:
Ross Everett is a freelance writer and respected authority on NFL football betting. His writing has appeared on a variety of sports sites including sports news and sportsbook directory sites. He lives in Las Vegas with three Jack Russell Terriers and a kangaroo. He is currently working on an autobiography of former interior secretary James Watt.
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