Brett Hull

Early Life and Family

Brett Hull was born in Belleville, Ontario, into one of hockey's most famous families. His father, Bobby Hull, was a legendary winger known as 'the Golden Jet' for the Chicago Black Hawks and Winnipeg Jets, while his mother, Joanne McKay, was an American professional figure skater who taught him to skate. Hull has three brothers, Bobby Jr., Blake, and Bart, the latter of whom played professional football in the Canadian Football League, and a younger sister, Michelle. His uncle, Dennis Hull, also enjoyed a lengthy NHL career. As his father played for Chicago, Hull spent his early childhood in Illinois, beginning organized hockey at age four and often skating with the Black Hawks. The family moved back to Canada when Bobby signed with the Winnipeg Jets of the World Hockey Association in 1972. Hull played in the prestigious 1977 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament with the Winnipeg South Monarchs. Following his parents' divorce in 1979, he moved to Vancouver with his mother and two youngest siblings, and his relationship with his father became distant for a period.

Junior and Collegiate Hockey

Initially overlooked by major junior teams due to concerns about his conditioning and commitment, Hull began his serious hockey career in the tier-II British Columbia Junior Hockey League. After a 48-goal season with the Penticton Knights in 1982-83, he exploded for 105 goals and 188 points in 56 games the following year, breaking the BCJHL scoring record. This performance finally attracted NHL attention, leading the Calgary Flames to select him in the sixth round, 117th overall, in the 1984 NHL Entry Draft. Hull then accepted a scholarship to the University of Minnesota-Duluth, where he quickly became a dominant force. As a freshman in 1984-85, he scored 32 goals and won the Jerry Chumola Award as the school's rookie of the year. He shattered records in his sophomore season, scoring 52 goals in 1985-86 to break the school's single-season mark. His collegiate career was marked by a powerful shot that terrorized goaltenders and significant improvements in his skating. Hull was named a WCHA First-Team All-Star and was a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award as the top U.S. college player. The University of Minnesota-Duluth retired his jersey number 29 in 2006.

During his two seasons with the University of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs, Brett Hull set numerous school scoring records. He holds the records for most goals by a rookie with 32 and most goals in one season with 52. His 20 power play goals, seven hat tricks, and 13 multiple-goal games in the 1985-86 season are all school records. Hull also shares the school's single-game playoff record of four goals.

• Most goals by a rookie: 32 (1984-85)
• Most goals in a single season: 52 (1985-86)
• Most power-play goals in a season: 20 (1985-86)
• Most hat tricks in a season: 7 (1985-86)
• Most multiple-goal games in a season: 13 (1985-86)
• Shared record for most goals in a playoff game: 4

Professional Playing Career

Brett Hull's 19-season NHL career was defined by elite goal-scoring prowess, earning him the nickname 'the Golden Brett' in homage to his father. He played for five franchises, achieving his greatest individual and team successes with the St. Louis Blues, Dallas Stars, and Detroit Red Wings. Hull was renowned as a 'sniper' with an exceptionally quick and accurate shot, which he used to record five consecutive 50-goal seasons and lead the league in goals three times. Beyond individual statistics, he was a clutch performer, scoring important playoff goals that led to two Stanley Cup championships. His journey from a late-round draft pick to a league MVP and Hall of Famer illustrates how dedication to refining his game, particularly his skating and conditioning, allowed his extraordinary talent to flourish.

NHL Teams and Statistics

Brett Hull's NHL journey saw him play for five teams: the Calgary Flames, St. Louis Blues, Dallas Stars, Detroit Red Wings, and Phoenix Coyotes. He played from 1986 to 2005 and his career total of 741 goals is the fifth highest in NHL history. Hull is one of five players to score 50 goals in 50 games, a feat he accomplished twice. He was a member of two Stanley Cup winning teams, in 1999 with Dallas and 2002 with Detroit.

His tenure with the St. Louis Blues was his most prolific, where he formed a legendary partnership with centre Adam Oates. Hull's peak seasons came from 1989 to 1992, a period where he scored 228 goals, the second-highest three-season total in NHL history at the time. His 86 goals in the 1990-91 season remains the third-highest single-season total ever, behind only two of Wayne Gretzky's seasons. After leaving St. Louis as a free agent, he won championships with Dallas and Detroit, scoring the controversial Cup-winning goal in 1999 and adding a second title in 2002. He retired after a brief five-game stint with the Phoenix Coyotes in the 2005-06 season.

Career Highlights and Achievements

Brett Hull's career is decorated with numerous individual awards, team accomplishments, and historic milestones. He was named one of the 100 Greatest NHL Players in 2017 and was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2009, joining his father Bobby to form one of the most celebrated family duos in hockey history. Hull's ability to score in bunches and perform under pressure defined his legacy. He is one of only five players to score 50 goals in the first 50 games of a season, a feat he accomplished twice. His trophy case includes the Hart Memorial Trophy as league MVP, the Lester B. Pearson Award as most outstanding player as voted by peers, and the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy for sportsmanlike conduct. He was also a three-time First Team NHL All-Star and played in eight All-Star Games.

Key career milestones for Brett Hull include scoring his 500th NHL goal in 1996 and his 600th goal in 1999. He won the Hart Memorial Trophy and Lester B. Pearson Award in 1991 as the league's most valuable player. Hull was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2009, joining his father Bobby Hull. In 2017, he was named one of the 100 Greatest NHL Players in history.

• Stanley Cup Champion: 1999 (Dallas Stars), 2002 (Detroit Red Wings)
• Hart Memorial Trophy: 1991
• Lester B. Pearson Award: 1991
• Lady Byng Memorial Trophy: 1990
• NHL First All-Star Team: 1990, 1991, 1992
• Scored 50 goals in 50 games: 1990-91, 1991-92
• NHL goal-scoring leader: 1990, 1991, 1992
• Scored 86 goals in 1990-91, 3rd most in a single season
• Fifth all-time in NHL goals: 741
• Father-son record: First duo to each score 600+ NHL goals
• Jersey number 16 retired by St. Louis Blues: 2006

International Career

Possessing dual citizenship, Hull chose to represent the United States internationally after being passed over by Team Canada for the 1986 World Championships. This decision defined his international career and often made him a polarizing figure among Canadian fans. He made an immediate impact for Team USA, leading the 1986 world championship team in scoring with 7 goals and 11 points. Hull was a central figure in American hockey success throughout the 1990s. He tied for the team scoring lead at the 1991 Canada Cup with nine points, helping the U.S. reach the final. His most significant international triumph came at the 1996 World Cup of Hockey, where he led all tournament scorers with 11 points, was named a tournament all-star, and scored a key goal in the clinching game as the U.S. defeated Canada for the championship. During a semifinal game in Ottawa, he was loudly booed and called a 'traitor' by Canadian fans, highlighting the complex feelings around his choice. Hull also competed in two Olympic Winter Games, winning a silver medal in Salt Lake City in 2002 as part of a dominant line with Mike Modano and John LeClair.

Post-Playing Career and Legacy

Following his retirement in 2005, Hull transitioned into hockey management and broadcasting. In 2017, he returned to the St. Louis Blues organization in a business operations role and was later promoted to executive vice president, a position he currently holds. His legacy is firmly rooted in his status as one of the most pure and prolific goal scorers the game has ever seen. The memorable image of his triple-overtime Stanley Cup winner for Dallas in 1999, though forever debated for its crease violation controversy, remains a defining moment in NHL playoff history. Hull and his father, Bobby, are the first father-son combination to each score over 600 NHL goals and over 1,000 career points, highlighting their shared offensive genius. His journey from an overlooked junior player to a league MVP shows how dedication to improving one's weaknesses, like his skating, can unlock extraordinary talent. For Canadian hockey, Brett Hull's story is a compelling blend of innate scoring ability, famous lineage, and the complex narratives of national identity in sport.

Questions about Brett Hull

Why did Brett Hull play for Team USA instead of Team Canada?

Brett Hull, born in Belleville, Ontario, held dual Canadian and American citizenship. He became eligible to play for the United States internationally after being passed over by Team Canada coach Dave King for the 1986 World Ice Hockey Championships. American national team coach Dave Peterson subsequently invited him to join the U.S. squad, and Hull accepted, citing the faith shown in him by American officials. This decision led him to represent the U.S. for the remainder of his international career, including in the 1996 World Cup of Hockey victory and the 2002 Olympics, where he won a silver medal.

What is Brett Hull's connection to Bobby Hull?

Brett Hull is the son of Hockey Hall of Famer Bobby Hull, the legendary 'Golden Jet' who starred for the Chicago Black Hawks and Winnipeg Jets. They are the first father-son combination in NHL history to each score over 600 goals and over 1,000 points in their careers. Brett's nickname, 'the Golden Brett,' is a direct reference to his father's famous moniker. Both were inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame, with Brett joining in 2009. Their family hockey legacy also includes Brett's uncle, Dennis Hull, who had a long NHL career with the Chicago Black Hawks.

Which teams did Brett Hull win the Stanley Cup with?

Brett Hull won the Stanley Cup twice during his NHL career. His first championship came with the Dallas Stars in 1999, where he scored the controversial triple-overtime goal in Game 6 against the Buffalo Sabres to clinch the title. He won his second Stanley Cup with the Detroit Red Wings in 2002, contributing 10 playoff goals during their championship run. Hull was also a member of the Calgary Flames team that reached the Stanley Cup Final in 1986, though he only played two games in that series as a rookie.

What was controversial about Brett Hull's 1999 Stanley Cup-winning goal?

Hull's Cup-winning goal for Dallas in 1999 was highly controversial because his skate was in the goal crease when he scored, which under NHL rules at the time should have disallowed the goal. The league ruled the goal was legal because Hull had possession of the puck before entering the crease, citing a memo sent to officials prior to the playoffs that clarified such a scenario. This explanation was not public knowledge, leading many fans, especially in Buffalo, and some players to believe the rule was applied incorrectly or changed after the fact. The controversy led the NHL to formally abolish the crease rule the following season.

How many goals did Brett Hull score in his NHL career?

Brett Hull scored 741 goals in his NHL career, which ranks fifth highest in league history. This remarkable total was accumulated over 19 seasons playing for five different teams, primarily the St. Louis Blues. His most prolific season was 1990-91 when he scored 86 goals, the third highest single season total ever recorded. Hull also achieved the rare feat of scoring 50 goals in 50 games, accomplishing this milestone in both the 1990-91 and 1991-92 seasons. His consistent scoring prowess included five consecutive NHL seasons with at least 50 goals, cementing his reputation as one of hockey's greatest snipers.

What is Brett Hull doing now after retirement?

Brett Hull currently serves as an executive vice president of the St. Louis Blues in the National Hockey League. This front office role follows his retirement from playing in 2005 after a brief stint with the Phoenix Coyotes. Prior to his current position, Hull had experience in hockey management, including a period as co general manager of the Dallas Stars. His return to the Blues organization represents a homecoming to the franchise where he enjoyed his greatest individual success and where his jersey number 16 was retired in 2006. In this executive capacity, Hull contributes to the business and operational aspects of the Blues franchise.

Sources and further reading

• Brett Hull (Wikipedia)
• Brett Hull Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Title (hockey-reference.com)
• Brett Hull, U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame (ushockeyhalloffame.com)
• Legends of Hockey, Induction Showcase, Brett Hull (hhof.com)

Checked by the Garbutt Disposal desk. Last updated 2026-10-23.