Chicago Blackhawks and Canada legend Dennis Hull has died at the age of 81, it has been announced.
Hull, who played alongside superstar brother Bobby in Chicago and helped Canada win the 1972 Summit Series, passed away Saturday morning, his former team has confirmed. No other details were immediately available.
The tragic news comes just days after the hockey world was rocked by the loss of another NHL legend in Claude Lemieux, who died by suicide at the age of 60 on Thursday morning.
Hull’s nephew, Bart, was first to announce his death in a post on social media, before the Blackhawks released a statement from owner Rocky Wirtz.
The two-way forward played 13 of 14 seasons in the league with Chicago before one final year with the Detroit Red Wings. He appeared in five All-Star Games and was voted a second-team NHL All-Star in 1972-73.
‘Dennis enjoyed a distinguished career built on his scoring ability and consistency, leaving lasting contributions not only to the Blackhawks franchise but to the game itself,’ Wirtz said.
Blackhawks and Canada legend Dennis Hull has died at the age of 81, it has been announced
Hull (left) pictured with brother and fellow Chicago icon Bobby (right), who died in 2023, and nephew Bart (center)
‘Known around the league for his immense skill, toughness and intelligence, Dennis was as dominant on the ice as he was beloved off it. He often drew on his sharp wit and sense of humor to keep the locker room loose, while his warmth and humility made everyone he met feel welcome.’
While older brother Bobby was excluded from playing for Canada against the Soviet Union in ’72 because he was in the World Hockey Association, Dennis went and had two goals and two assists in four games, playing on a line with New York Rangers stars Jean Ratelle and Rod Gilbert.
Hull had 303 goals and 351 assists for 654 points in 959 regular-season NHL games. He also had another 67 points in 104 playoff games, during an era when Chicago came close but never won the Stanley Cup.
Bobby, who died in 2023 at the age of 84, played in both the NHL and the World Hockey Association for the Blackhawks, the Winnipeg Jets and the Hartford Whalers. During his time in Chicago, he got his hands on the Stanley Cup in 1961.
It has been a sad week for the hockey community after the deaths of both Hull and Lemieux, who was found in a warehouse for the family’s furniture business by one of his sons early Thursday morning having hanged himself.
According to the authorities, deputies responded just after 3am to the scene of an apparent suicide at the store in Lake Park, Florida.
Lemieux’s sudden passing came just three days after he served as the ceremonial ‘torch bearer’ for the Montreal Canadiens at the Bell Centre before their Eastern Conference Final Game 3 matchup against the Carolina Hurricanes.
The controversial winger, who was known for his aggressive style of play, is survived by wife Deborah and his four children – Claudia, 29, and sons Christopher, 37, Michael, 34, and Brendan, 30. It is unclear which of his sons found him on Thursday.
His passing comes just days after another NHL icon, Claude Lemieux, died by suicide at 60
Brendan, who played seven seasons in the NHL for five teams, currently plays in Switzerland with HC Davos. He and his dad are the only father-son duo in NHL history to be punished by the league for biting other players.
Following the tragic news of his suicide, Trump wrote on his Truth Social account Thursday night: ‘Claude Lemieux, a true Legend of the Game, and one of the fiercest competitors Hockey has ever seen, has passed away.
‘Claude was a friend to the family, and a tremendous “TRUMP” supporter. He won 4 Stanley Cups with 3 different Teams — Montreal, New Jersey , and Colorado — His 80 Career Playoff Goals rank among the All Time Greats.’
Trump continued in his Truth Social post: ‘Brendan, my thoughts are with you, Deborah, and the whole Lemieux family — You and your Dad were Warriors on the Ice. Claude will be missed by all who love Winning and Toughness. #MAGA President DONALD J. TRUMP’.
