Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2009

Hall rings in Blues' Hull

Davidson inducted into media wing

On a day when he received hockey's highest honor with his induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto, a gracious and generous Brett Hull never stopped thanking people from the beginning of his speech right through to the end.

The former Blues superstar was part of a truly special Hall of Fame class Monday that also included Steve Yzerman, Brian Leetch, Luc Robitaille and New Jersey Devils general manager Lou Lamoriello.

"I accept this honor for all those playing pickup, beer league and senior hockey who never got the opportunity that I did," said Hull, who ranks third all-time among NHL goal scorers with 741. "(This is) for every mom up at 5 (a.m.) who drives to practice, every dad working overtime to buy equipment and a pair of tickets to take his kids to an NHL game, every teammate that sacrificed, every trainer that patched me up and every stick boy that brought me a cold one after the game. Nothing in life is worth a damn without friends. I cherish all you that are here with me and those who couldn't come tonight."

Hull's voice cracked with emotion several times during his speech, most notably when discussing his relationship with his son, Jude.

Also on hand were daughters Jayde and Crosby, Hull's wife Darcy, Hull's Hall of Fame father Bobby Hull, his mother Joanne Robinson and several member of the St. Louis Blues organization.

"I'm grateful for everyone who touched me in this great game and I thank you from the bottom of my heart," Brett Hull said as he concluded his speech.

Hull's Hall of Fame credentials are truly impeccable.

Along with his 741 goals and a three-year run of 70-plus goal seasons -- highlighted by an incredible 86 goals during his MVP season in 1990-91 -- Hull also won Stanley Cup championships with Dallas in 1999 and Detroit in 2002.

Hull was the third player in league history to reach the 50-goal mark in fewer than 50 games. He scored the Stanley Cup-clinching goal in triple overtime for Dallas in 1999.

Hull is the 15th Blues player to find a hallowed spot in the Hall of Fame.

That list also includes Glenn Anderson (2008), Al MacInnis (2007), Scott Stevens (2007), Grant Fuhr (2003), Bernie Federko (2002), Dale Hawerchuk (2001), Joey Mullen (2000), Wayne Gretzky (1999), Peter Stastny (1998), Guy Lapointe (1993), Jacques Plante (1978), Glenn Hall (1975), Dickie Moore (1974) and Doug Harvey (1973).

Also on Monday, Blues President John Davidson won the Foster Hewitt Memorial Award and joined the media wing of the Hall of Fame. The award is given annually to a an outstanding contributor among the league's radio and television announcers.

Former Blues play-by-play announcer Dan Kelly won the award in 1989.

Hull was the first player introduced and he received a standing ovation from the audience, including a visibly beaming Bobby Hull, who also used to terrorize goalies with his slap shot.

"You gave me giant footsteps to follow and you taught me to speak my mind," Hull said of his father. "You gave me the best advice in your own unique way that you could ever have given.

"The further you are from the play, the closest you are to it. I am real fortunate that I was able to figure out what the hell he was talking about."

Hull scored his signature goals on sizzling one-timers after finding a quiet area of the ice and waiting for a teammate to slide him the puck.

Hull's emotional "thank you" trip through the NHL included the Blues front office and former Blues media relations director Susie Mathieu, who handled most of Hull's off-ice functions while he was in St. Louis.

"She did more for me in the time I was there on and off the ice, and I can't thank her enough," Hull said.

There also was former Blues general manager Ron Caron, who made one of hockey's all-time great deals by getting Hull from the Calgary Flames in March, 1988.

Calgary no longer had Hull, but did win a Stanley Cup the following year with two former Blues sent to the Flames. Caron sent them goalie Rick Wamsley and defenseman Rob Ramage in exchange for Hull.

"He saw my potential when a lot of people didn't," said Hull, who also had words of praise for former Blues coach Brian Sutter. "He made me realize and reach that potential that the professor (Caron) saw."

Hull thanked member of the Detroit Red Wings front office including GM Ken Holland.

"He gave me the opportunity to play for what might be the greatest team ever assembled," Hull said with a nod to the 2002 Red Wings that also included that team's coach, Scotty Bowman.

Hull called Bowman the "greatest coach ever."

As a player, Hull never backed off criticism of the league that he loved. He played long enough to see his vision of less hooking, holding and interference come true as the league saw the value in allowing its most gifted players to showcase their skills.

"I want to talk about what this game gave to me -- and that's everything, and more than I could ever dream of," Hull said.

Hull's entire family was on hand, including his brothers Bobby, Blake and Bart and his one sister, Michelle.

When discussing his family's total of 1,654 goals -- including those scored by his father, Bobby, and uncle Dennis Hull -- Brett Hull wondered aloud why his son didn't follow in the family footsteps.

"We have 1,654 goals -- and you're a goalie," he said.