WHEN HE PLAYED IN THE WORLD HOCKEY ASSOCIATION, BOBBY HULL SPENT SOME TIME WITH MY TEENAGE SON IN THE DRESSING ROOM AFTER HIS WINNEPEG JETS GAME WITH THE HOUSTON AEROS

Family of late hockey legend Bobby Hull make heartbreaking discovery two years after his death at age 84

 

By Isabel Baldwin 

Daily Mail

Feb 19, 2025

 

Hull was a two-time NHL MVP who helped the Chicago Blackhawks to the Stanley Cup in 1961

 

Bobby Hull, the hockey Hall of Famer, had chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) when he died in 2023, his widow announced Wednesday.

Hull, a two-time NHL MVP who helped the Chicago Blackhawks to the Stanley Cup in 1961, died at the age of 84 two years ago. 

He had struggled with short-term memory loss and impaired judgment over his final decade. He chose to donate his brain after seeing former teammate and fellow Hall of Famer Stan Mikita decline late in his life.

Researchers at Boston University's CTE Center have now found that the former forward had stage 2 CTE at the time of his death. 

'Seeing the pain and heartache suffered by his lifetime friend Stan Mikita's family, Bobby felt strongly no other family should have to endure CTE,' Deborah Hull, his wife of 39 years, said in a statement. 

'He insisted on donating his brain, feeling as though it was his duty to help advance research on this agonizing disease.' 

 

NFL Hall of Famer Bobby Hull had chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) when he died

 

Nicknamed 'The Golden Jet' for his speed and blond hair, Hull was one of the most prolific forwards in NHL history, scoring 610 times over 16 seasons with Chicago, Hartford and Winnipeg. 

Hull dazzled generations of Blackhawks fans with his shooting and skating skills and remains the franchise's career leader with 604 goals. Hull also had 303 goals while playing for the Jets in the World Hockey Association for seven seasons.

'We are grateful to Bobby Hull and all of the NHL players and families who are helping us learn how to prevent, diagnose, and treat CTE,' said Dr. Ann McKee, director of the Boston University CTE Center. 

'We encourage retired players and their families to reach out for help and care if they are concerned about CTE, as we are learning how to effectively treat symptoms, especially in mid-life.' 

The National Hockey League Players’ Association announced in November that it would form a committee to help hockey players better understand traumatic brain injuries. 

 

The former forward struggled with short-term memory loss and impaired judgment

Hull chose to donate his brain after seeing former teammate Stan Mikita (R) decline late in life

 

In December, researchers at Boston University published a study of deceased male hockey players that showed 18 of the 19 NHL players examined — including Hull, Mikita, Ralph Backstrom, Bob Probert, and Derek Boogaard — had CTE. It also found the odds of developing CTE increased by 34 percent for each year of hockey played. 

Hull's diagnosis comes just two weeks after Boston University's CTE Center announced that former NFL guard Conrad Dobler, once dubbed the league's dirtiest player, was suffering from CTE when he also died in 2023. 

Almost exactly two years on from his death at the age of 72 , Dobler's family and the center announced that he was diagnosed with Stage 3 of the degenerative brain disease after his passing.

In addition to the hockey world, CTE remains a huge concern for the NFL after an alarming 2023 study found that 92 percent of deceased players had the disease, which can only be diagnosed post-death.