Thursday, June 17, 2010
6:30 p.m. Cocktails 7:00 p.m. Dinner
Sawridge Inn & Conference Centre, Fort McMurray, AB
Ticket Price: $100

Available: 780-792-1864, Campbell & Cooper, Chalifour Denis & Associates, Servus Credit Union (downtown)

For sponsorship enquiry 780-743-9600 Amanda Main

Guest Speaker

NHL Legend Dennis Hull

“We are indeed honoured to have Dennis Hull as our guest speaker this year,” said Wood Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame Society president Shawn Chaulk. “He is without a doubt one of the most popular and entertaining guest speakers in North America.”

The Class of 2010 Wood Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame inductees will be announced starting April 16, 2010.

Located adjacent to the entrance at the Syncrude Sport & Wellness Centre (SSWC), each year the WBSHF will showcase the history of each of the inductees in a permanent manner dedicated solely to that specific induction year.

Tickets are $100 or $800 for a table of eight. Available at Campbell & Cooper 212 Graystone, Servus Credit Union 9804 Morrison Street,  Chalifour Denis & Associates 302 8706 Franklin Avenue or from any board member.

Dennis Hull popular speaker

Dennis William Hull (born November 19 1944 in Pointe Anne, (now part of Belleville, Ontario), Canada is a retired professional ice hockey left wing, most notably for the Chicago Black Hawks of the National Hockey League. He is the brother of Bobby Hull and uncle of  Brett Hull, both former NHL legends.

As a player he was in the shadow of his older brother Bobby Hull, where they were both teammates on the Chicago Black Hawks for eight seasons.

Dennis emerged as a star player on his own, scoring over 300 goals in his own right, and earning the nickname “the Silver Jet” (Bobby was known as “the Golden Jet“). Some commentators often wondered whether Bobby or Dennis had the harder shot.

When Bobby was excluded from the 1972 Summit Series because he played in the WHA, Dennis initially planned to boycott the event as well as a show of support for his brother, but Bobby persuaded him to stay on Team Canada. During the series, Hull took over from Vic Hadfield for the left wing position on the New York Rangers “Goal A Game” line with Jean Ratelle and Rod Gilbert, managing two goals and two assists in four games

He was named a Second Team All-Star and played in five NHL All-Star Games. His best years were as part of the “MPH” (pun on ‘miles per hour’ using each player’s last initials) line with centre Pit Martin and right wing Jim Pappin. The line was considered one of the better units in the NHL in the early to mid 1970’s. He recorded seasons of 40, 30, 39 and 29 goals from 1971 through 1974. His best season was in 1973 when he recorded 39 goals and 51 assists for 90 points. He was instrumental in Chicago’s appearance in the Stanley Cup Finals that season. Hull led the team with 9 goals and 15 assists for 24 points, finishing second in playoff scoring that season.

He played 14 seasons in the National Hockey League, with the Chicago Black Hawks (1964-1977) and Detroit Red Wings (1977–78).

Upon retirement as a player, he became a broadcaster, as well as an educator, returning to St. Catharines, Ontario, where he played Ontario Hockey League Junior hockey (St. Catharines Teepees 1960-1964), to study at Brock University, graduating with a degree in History and Physical Education. He then taught at Ridley College and then became Athletic Director of Illinois Tech in Chicago.

Recently, he has been noted as a public speaker and comedian, and continues to operate a cattle farm raising polled herefords Polled Hereford with his brother Gary in Northumberland County, Ontario. He has written a book entitled “The Third Best Hull” (ECW Press) which contains entertaining and often hilarious memoirs of his hockey career. Hull became good friends with Soviet goaltending legend Vladislav Tretiak, whom he had played against during the 1972 Summit Series, recalling “I told Tretiak that he’s become famous for letting in [Henderson's] goal…I said to him that ‘if you had stopped it, you’d probably be a cab driver in Moscow today.’

Perhaps the funniest story he shares with the world was the time he and Russian, Alexander Yakushev, were driving in a car during a reunion event near Ottawa. (The two are now friends- despite the spitting incident in game 6 of the Summit Series). They drove over to the Quebec side of the border and passed through the City of Hull. Yakushev asked the driver to pull over when he saw the city sign, and he got out. Then he yelled at Dennis, “Son of a bitch! They name entire cities after you guys here!”