Bobby Hull dies at 84: Blackhawks teammates and fans bid farewell to the ‘Golden Jet’

Bobby Hull, considered one of the greatest hockey players in NHL history, has died at the age of 84. The NHL Alumni Association broke the news, saying he passed away Monday morning, but no cause of death was released.

The Chicago Blackhawks winger known as the ‘Golden Jet’ remains the all-time leading scorer in club history with 604. He would go on to play for the WHA rival Winnipeg Jets, scoring another 303 goals before adding another seven. goals later the leagues merged in 1979.

Hull led the NHL in scoring seven times, points three times and won two Hart Trophies as league MVP, not to mention his 1961 Stanley Cup win alongside Blackhawks legends Stan Mikita and goaltender Glenn Hall.

The Pointe Anne, Ontario native is also the father of another Hall of Famer, Brett, 58, who won two Stanley Cups with the Detroit Red Wings and Dallas Stars. The two are the only father-son tandem in NHL history to record 50-goal seasons and finish their careers with more than 600 goals.

Hull’s legendary athleticism remains the gold standard in hockey: his punch could reach 118 mph, and he was capable of skating 30 mph without the puck, or a slightly slower 28 mph with it.

But it was off the ice that Hull struggled.

Three wives accused him of domestic abuse, including his second, figure skater Joanne McKay, who said he held her over a balcony in Hawaii in 1966. She would later file for divorce after he allegedly threatened her with a shotgun in 1978.

He was charged with assault and battery by his third wife, Deborah, in 1978, but eventually dropped the charges. Regardless, Hull pleaded guilty to assaulting the officers and was fined $150.

Hull faced another wave of negative press in 1998 after telling The Moscow Times that “Hitler had some good ideas” but “just went a little too far.”

Asked if he could be labeled a racist, Hull snapped at reporters: ‘I don’t give a damn. I am not running for any political office.

Hull later denied making the Hitler comment to the Moscow Times, calling the quote “false and defamatory”.

The Blackhawks removed Hull from his role as team ambassador in 2022, calling it a mutual decision.

But on Monday, the team issued a statement mourning the fallen hero.

‘[Hull delivered countless memories to our fans, whom he adored,’ read the Blackhawks statement. ‘Generations of Chicagoans were dazzled by Bobby’s shooting prowess, skating skill and overall team leadership that led to 604 career goals, a franchise record that remains to this day. We send our deepest sympathies to the Hull family.’ 

Hull was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1983 – the same year the Blackhawks retired his famous No. 9. 

‘Bobby Hull will always be remembered as one of the greatest Blackhawks players of all time. He was a beloved member of the Blackhawks family,’ team owner Rocky Wirtz said in a statement.

‘When I assumed leadership of the organization upon my father’s passing in 2007, one of my first priorities was to meet with Bobby to convince him to come back as an ambassador of the team. His connection to our fans was special and irreplaceable.’

Alongside his brother, Dennis, Hull helped the Blackhawks return to the top of the NHL after they were one of the worst teams in the league for years before his debut during the 1957-58 season. He had 13 goals and 34 assists in his first campaign with the team, finishing second in the Calder Trophy race for rookie of the year.

It was a steady rise from there. Hull posted 13 consecutive seasons with 30 goals or more from 1959-72, becoming a perennial fixture at the All-Star Game and a regular candidate for the league’s top awards.

Hull and Mikita powered Chicago to the franchise’s third championship in 1961, beating Montreal and Detroit in the playoffs. Hull had two goals and five assists as the Blackhawks eliminated the Red Wings in six games in the final.

The Pointe Anne, Ontario, native remains Chicago’s career leader for regular-season and playoff goals. He is second to Mikita on the franchise points list with 1,153.

Hull left the Blackhawks after the 1971-72 season when he was selected by Winnipeg in the WHA draft. The Jets lured Hull away from the NHL with hockey’s first $1 million contract, according to his bio on the Hall of Fame website.

The NHL and WHA merged in 1979, and Hull played 27 games with Winnipeg and Hartford in his final season before retiring.

Hull had 560 assists in 1,063 regular-season NHL games. In addition to his two Hart trophies, he was a three-time winner of the Art Ross Trophy awarded to the league leader in points and took home the 1965 Lady Byng Memorial Trophy for sportsmanship combined with stellar play.