Speaker Biography
It was 1972 when one of the most historic hockey events ever took place. A team of Canadian born NHLers took on a squad of Russia’s hockey stars in an eight-game series that would change how the world looked at hockey and how the game would be played in the future. Canada won the “Summit Series” as they captured four victories over the Russians against three losses and one tie. Dennis Hull, a proud member of the Chicago Blackhawks back in 1972, was a key player on Canada’s victorious team. Today, he’ll readily admit to not being anything other than Bobby Hull’s brother, as long as you add he’s the younger brother. He’s even been known to answer when someone asks for Brett Hull’s uncle.
Though he’s a self-effacing brother, and proud uncle, Dennis Hull takes a back seat to no one on the speakers’ podium. Many of his peers consider Dennis to be one of the top after-dinner entertainers in North America. And his hockey career wasn’t all that bad either. Fourteen NHL campaigns, over three hundred regular season goals and six selections to the All Star team are testament to his hockey skills. Following his retirement in 1978, Dennis returned to St. Catherines, Ontario to earn his degree at Brock University.
After one year teaching history at Ridley College, he moved to his present position as athletic director at a university in Chicago. His biggest thrill in hockey? “It had to be the first game I played against my idol, Gordie Howe,” he replies. “I still had his picture on my bedroom wall, back home, at the time.” “But, I suppose the most significant time in my career came when I was selected to play for Team Canada ’72. It was the best team I’ve ever been on and one of those times in life that you’ll never forget.”
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