This Northland hockey stick was game used by Hall of Famer Bobby Hull while playing for the Winnipeg Jets in the WHA. Bobby Hull was the greatest Left Wing to ever lace up a pair of skates. His career began in the NHL with the Chicago Blackhawks in 1957-58. He represented the city of Chicago proudly for 15 years and led the team to the 1961 Stanley Cup, the first for Chicago in 23 years leading up to that championship and the only one until the 2010 squad broke the recent 49 year drought. Bobby’s individual accolades were numerous, helped in part by his deadly wrist and slapshots that were clocked at nearly 120 MPH! He became the first player to score more than 50 goals in a season, doing so in 1965-66 and surpassing Rocket Richard and Boom Boom Geoffrian’s 50 Goal totals in the process. Hull led the NHL in goals 7 times. He was the NHL’s leading scorer and won the Art Ross Trophy 3 times. Bobby was twice awarded the Hart Trophy as the NHL’s MVP. He also captured the Lady Byng and Lester Patrick Trophy during the 1960’s. Hull was 10 times a 1st Team NHL All Star and 2 times a 2nd Team NHL All Star. Hull scored 610 goals and 1170 points in 1063 NHL games. Upon retirement, Hull was 2nd on the NHL’s all-time Goal scoring list, trailing only Gordie Howe. Hull ranked #8 in The Hockey News’ 1998 influential publication that ranked the Top 50 NHLers of All-Time.
In 1972-73 Bobby Hull stunned the hockey world when he left the NHL and received a record one million dollar signing bonus with the WHA’s Winnipeg Jets. This single move was one of the most influential in the history of hockey as it literally gave credence to a league that seemed doomed to get off the ground. Other star players followed suit and the framework had been laid for the WHA’s 7-year existence. Hull played in all seven WHA seasons, from the age of 33-40! Despite his advanced age, he dominated the league and is unanimously considered the greatest player in WHA history. In 411 WHA games played, Bobby scored 303 goals, and added 335 assists for a total of 638 points. Hull led his Winnipeg Jets to the Avco Cup Championship 3-times and was twice the WHA’s MVP. He was 3-times a 1st Team WHA All Star and 2-times a 2nd Team WHA All Star and he played in every WHA All Star game.
The 1974-75 season was the single greatest year in Hull’s entire 23–year playing career. It was during that season that Bobby took aim at two cherished records. The first was Maurice “Rocket” Richard’s 50 Goals in 50 Games, which had stood, unequaled, since 1944-45. On Valentines Day, February 14th 1975, Bobby and the Jets welcomed the Gordie Howe led Houston Aeros onto home ice in Winnipeg. This was game number 50 and Bobby entered it with 47 goals, 3 shy of “The Rocket’s” mark. Bobby scored goals in the 1st and 2nd periods to bring him to within one of the cherished mark. It took until 18:27 of the 3rd period for Hull to strike for #50. With only 1 minute and 33 seconds remaining, Hull let go of a shot from 35-feet away that beat Houston goalie Ron Grahme and placed him alongside Rocket Richard in the record books!
Hull next took aim at Phil Esposito’s 76 goals, a single season record he shattered in 1970-71 with Boston. With 2 games left in the season, the Jets traveled to Quebec to take on the 1st place Nordiques. Bobby entered the game with 75 goals, one shy of Espo’s mark. He somehow managed 18 shots against Quebec goaltender Richard Brodeur and frustratingly lit the lamp only one time, thus tying Phil’s 76. Winnipeg traveled home for one final game against the San Diego Mariners. It was a slapshot off of Bobby’s wickedly curved Northland that beat a stunned Mariners goalie Russ Gillow for his record breaking 77th goal, on the season’s final day and thus capping perhaps the greatest individual season in hockey history to that point. Hull ended the 1974-75 season with 77 goals and 142 points. He was named 1st Team WHA All Star and of course the WHA’s MVP for the 2nd time in the league’s 3-year existence.
This Northland hockey stick has the player name “B. Hull” stamped on the side. The stick is fully taped on the butt and blade with Bobby’s signature curve. Bobby has autographed the side. The stick is uncracked and in beautiful condition.
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