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Entries with the tag: bobby hull
Shadowing Bobby Hull
by Paul on 05/10/12 at 10:16 PM ET
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from Bill Dow at Detroit Athletic,
Although Chicago was loaded with talent, including future Hall of Famers Stan Mikita and Phil Esposito, to succeed, the Wings knew they had to find a way to stop Hull, plain and not so simple. Other teams had attempted it during the season by assigning players to shadow the superstar and try to slow him down, but Hull was still able to score a record 54 goals.
Employing a “check and chase” strategy, Wings coach Sid Abel assigned forward Paul Henderson to “shadow” Hull in the first game of the semifinals. But after the Golden Jet netted the game wining goal in the Hawks 2-1 victory, Abel then turned to Bryan Watson, a spirited and gutsy young player not afraid to sacrifice his body.
Thanks to Gordie, Bryan Watson became “Bugsy” and before long he would make a career out of his unique ability to violently provoke opponents into joining him in the penalty box.
“When I played in Montreal, I saw how well Claude Provost had shadowed Bobby, and I had done it myself with the Canadiens”, Watson said.
Although 25 pounds lighter than Hull, the part time penalty killer volunteered to “shadow” the Golden Jet.
Teammate Bill Gadsby fondly remembered Abel’s words to Watson.
“Sid told Bugsy, ‘if Bobby Hull goes to the concession stand, you go with him and put the sugar in his coffee.’”
read on if you enjoy “old school” hockey stories…
Also, check out this from Gary Ronberg of Sports Illustrated from November, 1966…
Filed in: NHL Teams, Chicago Blackhawks, Detroit Red Wings, | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: bobby+hull,
bryan+watson
The Devil And Bobby Hull
by Paul on 11/19/11 at 12:25 PM ET
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from Stu Hackel of Sports Illustrated,
If hockey ever produced a cautionary tale, it’s the life of Bobby Hull. That tale, and not merely recounting Hull’s on-ice exploits, is the approach taken by award-winning Toronto author Gare Joyce in his excellent new book, The Devil and Bobby Hull (John Wiley & Sons, 274 pages).
Hull was hockey’s biggest attraction in the waning days of the Original Six era, more charismatic than the laconic Gordie Howe, flashier than the decorous Jean Beliveau. In his day, he was King of the Ice ( to borrow the honorific crown conjured up by the late Paul Quarrington in his great 1988 hockey novel, King Leary). Hull’s reign was wedged between those of Rocket Richard and Bobby Orr, although he was hardly in decline during Orr’s peak. He was not only the NHL’s top goal scorer — the first NHLer to break the 50-goal barrier in a season — but also it’s most explosive, visible and marketable player.
The Devil and Bobby Hull is available at Amazon.com (affiliate link).
Filed in: NHL Teams, Chicago Blackhawks, | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: bobby+hull
Hull & Mikita Now In Bronze
by Paul on 10/23/11 at 02:38 AM ET
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from Mike Spellman of the Chicago Daily-Herald,
The transition from cold shoulder to warm embrace is finally, finally complete for Blackhawks legends Stan Mikita and Bobby Hull.
After decades of being snubbed by the organization they brought back to prominence in the 1960s and ’70s, the pair finally were honored in a truly fitting way — with the unveiling of bigger-than-life bronze statues Saturday night outside the United Center.
“This is a timeless reminder that our franchise took another step forward as we honor the two greatest players who have ever worn the Chicago Blackhawks sweater,” said Blackhawks president and CEO John McDonough.
And Mikita and Hull couldn’t have been more pleased.
Standing on a stage just outside of Gate 3½, under illuminated 40-foot banners featuring their likenesses (which will remain up through Monday) and with hundreds of fans ringing the plaza, Hull spoke from his heart.
“I never, ever thought in 100 years that I’d be standing here tonight,” he told the energized crowd. “This is the greatest night of my life.”
continued and watch a video of the unveiling below…
Filed in: NHL Teams, Chicago Blackhawks, | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: bobby+hull,
stan+mikita
Bobby Hull On Numerous Topics
by Paul on 09/24/11 at 01:17 PM ET
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via Fred Mitchell of the Chicago Tribune (watch the video),
Bobby Hull played in an era when most hockey players did not wear helmets. But the Blackhawks Hall of Famer insists he is thinking clearly about the direction of the game and its tragic offseason.
“I’ve had some time to think about it. And I believe it goes back to the Philadelphia Flyers (known as the Broad Street Bullies) winning the Stanley Cup with a bunch of harem-scarems,” said Hull prior to receiving a lifetime achievement award from the Chicagoland Sports Hall of Fame Wednesday night at Hawthorne Race Course.
“From there they stopped scouting guys like Mr. (Stan) Mikita and Henri Richard … guys who could play and entertain. They started scouting guys that were over 6 feet and over 200 pounds. And they were told that they didn’t care whether they scored or helped anyone else score.
“Now, all the way around the league, there were enforcers. Some thought they were the chief enforcer, but they found out after a round around the league that they were not. So then steroids came into effect, and (that) tried to make them the top dog. I think that’s where it all began.”
Filed in: NHL Teams, Chicago Blackhawks, NHL Talk, | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: bobby+hull
Steve Larmer….. Remember Him?
by Vince Maranto on 08/30/11 at 06:40 PM ET
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Once again, while waiting for what seems to be forever for training camp to start, I was killing some time. While looking through the Hawks “All Time Statistics” I was actually a little surprised by some facts. Steve Larmer (Blackhawks from the 1980-1981 season through 1992-1993) ranks fourth on the list for scoring. Stan Mikita ranks number one, followed by Bobby Hull, and then Denis Savard. No real surprise there, I knew he was Top 5, at least. But when you actually start breaking down the numbers, a couple of things stuck out.
Steve played in 891 games (10 more than than Savard) while racking up 923 points (1,096 for Savvy). Larmer scored 406 goals (third highest on the Hawks) and had 517 assists (fourth best). He leads all right wingers, historically, for Chicago. Overall, he was a +182 in his career. Those figures weren’t kept back in Stosh & Bobby’s playing days.—- It would be interesting to see exactly when +/-, power play goals, short handed goals, and other stats became to be recorded. Another article I guess.
Filed in: NHL Teams, Chicago Blackhawks, Vince Maranto, | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: bobby+hull,
denis+savard,
stan+mikita,
steve+larmer
Memory Lane
by Vince Maranto on 08/13/11 at 06:11 PM ET
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If I may steal a line or two from Sir Paul, Memory “Lane is in my ears and in my eyes…” These are some of my earliest and favorite Blackhawk memories.
The Program / Bobby Hull
My late Uncle Joe (and Godfather) attended a Hawks game during the 1968 - 1969 season. After the game he brought the program (a 65 page booklet which cost a quarter) to a bar near the old Chicago Stadium, where the players would hang out after the game. He got several Hawks to sign it, including, Phil Esposito (Yeah, we traded him) Stan Mikita, Wayne Maki, Pierre Pilote, Dennis Hull, and Bobby Hull. When The Golden Jet signed the book, he also went through all the pages signing every picture of him to “Vince, Best Wishes”. My uncle bought him a drink, which he of course accepted, and moved on. When it was Bobby’s turn for a round later on, he told the bartender “..and one for my friend Joe” When my uncle left the bar later that evening, Bobby yelled across the bar, “Thanks again for the drink Joe, say hi to your nephew for me.” (Btw, in the back of the program was an ad for the Chicago Basketball Bulls. Seats sold from $2. - $3.50. Court side seats could be purchased for a hefty $5)
Filed in: NHL Teams, Chicago Blackhawks, Vince Maranto, | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: bobby+hull,
keith+magnuson,
tony+esposito
Another #9 In Winnipeg?
by Paul on 07/21/11 at 01:10 PM ET
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from Ken Wiebe of the Winnipeg Sun,
Some might call it a bold move for Evander Kane.
As it stands right now, the Winnipeg Jets winger is planning to wear the No. 9 made famous by The Golden Jet, Bobby Hull — provided he can get his permission.
“It’s almost like asking a father for his daughter’s hand in marriage,” Kane told The Vancouver Province. “I’ve read somewhere on Twitter that he had done an interview and said that he wanted me to wear it proudly. I don’t know if that’s true or not. Hopefully, I’ll get a chance to speak to him soon. If he doesn’t have an issue with me wearing it, I’ll do my best on and off to live up to wearing that number. If I have to change, I’ll change.”
Filed in: NHL Teams, Winnipeg Jets, | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: bobby+hull,
evander+kane
The Hot Line Reunion
by Paul on 08/19/10 at 12:35 AM ET
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from Paul Friesen of the Winnipeg Sun,
He’s a hardened, often cynical 71-year-old, with a voice as rough as Manitoba gravel and a tongue sharper than a Wiltshire.
But there was Bobby Hull, overcome with emotion, his eyes welling with tears and his voice quivering like the goaltenders he used to stare down.
All it had taken to reduce the Golden Jet to a whimper was a reunion with Anders Hedberg and Ulf Nilsson — the first time the Hot Line had come together on Winnipeg soil since they were members of the Winnipeg Jets in 1978.
Filed in: NHL Teams, | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: anders+hedberg,
bobby+hull,
ulf+nilsson,
winnipeg+jets
Evening Line
by Paul on 05/23/10 at 11:33 PM ET
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“If they ever invited me to drink out of that Cup, I’d jump through the rim of my own butt and hang myself just to get another drink out of it.”
-HHOF member Bobby Hull when asked what he would do if Chicago won the Cup. More from some of the Chicago ambassadors by Dan Rosen of NHL.com.
Filed in: NHL Teams, Chicago Blackhawks, | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: bobby+hull
Bobby Hull Takes A Shot At Tippett
by Paul on 08/09/08 at 10:23 AM ET
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He’s (Brett Hull) done a wonderful job and I knew that he wanted to be involved in putting a team together, but he had just been retired two years and all of a sudden he’s general manager in Dallas and doing a masterful job of putting his team into the third round. I think if they had maybe a little more astute coaching, they might have beat Detroit. I said before the playoffs started that it would be Pittsburgh and Dallas in the finals and I wasn’t far astray.
more from Bobby Hull in a Q & A at the the Daily Gleaner…
Filed in: NHL Teams, Dallas Stars, NHL Talk, Old School, | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: bobby+hull
No More Dark Days In Chicago
by Paul on 03/08/08 at 11:22 AM ET
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from Jay Mariotti of the Sun-Times,
There was Bobby Hull, back from the darkness. There was Stan Mikita, back from the cold. And there were the Hawks, the mighty Blackhawks, back where they belong in the bosom of Chicago sports on a memorable evening when an illustrious past was attached to a hopeful future.
‘‘I spent so many years proudly wearing the Indian head sweater,’’ said Mikita, who arrived with Hull for the center-ice ceremony in a custom ‘57 Chevy. ‘‘But tonight, I’m even more proud to be welcomed back and to be part of the great moments that lie ahead for this franchise.’‘
Filed in: NHL Teams, Chicago Blackhawks, | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: bobby+hull,
stan+mikita
Chicago Welcomes Hull & Mikita
by Paul on 03/07/08 at 04:22 PM ET
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fro Van Oler via ChicagoBlackhawks.com,
Spend enough time at the United Center watching the Blackhawks and you’ll inevitably hear someone comment that this season’s game-night excitement and buzz reminds them of the days when “the Blackhawks owned this town, I tell ya! You couldn’t get a ticket unless it was left to you in somebody’s will!”
With Stan Mikita and Bobby Hull returning the UC tonight, it’s useful to look back at their time with the Blackhawks to see if there’s evidence that the team was, in fact, the best in town.
Filed in: NHL Teams, Chicago Blackhawks, NHL Talk, Old School, | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: bobby+hull,
stan+mikita
Welcome Back Bobby
by Paul on 01/12/08 at 06:48 PM ET
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from the Chicago Tribune,
Bobby Hull created a roar from Blackhawks fans during his playing days, and he’s thrilled to put hard feelings behind and be part of a new roar building around the team.
“Thirty-five years away from there, and it’s just wonderful to be home again,” Hull said last week while wearing his familiar No. 9 Hawks sweater with the “A” on the chest as he took part in a Montreal ceremony honoring Hawks and Canadiens greats.
continued (reg. may be req.)
Now, many of you may not remember the Golden Jet in action, so watch this feature on Bobby Hull…
Filed in: NHL Teams, Chicago Blackhawks, | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: bobby+hull
Hull & Mikita Back With The Blackhawks
by Paul on 12/19/07 at 08:36 PM ET
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from the Chicago Blackhawks,
Former Chicago Blackhawks players and Hockey Hall of Fame members Bobby Hull and Stan Mikita have rejoined the Chicago Blackhawks family and have been named as official Blackhawks ambassadors. Hull and Mikita will represent the Blackhawks at events at the United Center and throughout the Chicagoland area.
continued with response from both Hull and Mikita.
Filed in: NHL Teams, Chicago Blackhawks, | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: bobby+hull,
stan+mikita
Smiles All Around
by Paul on 10/15/07 at 01:58 PM ET
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Why is the Golden Jet smiling?
Read on and you will find a “sometime” hockey blogger smiling too!
Filed in: NHL Talk, Old School, NHL Media, Hockey Bloggers, | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: bobby+hull
