Bobby Hull, the legendary NHL player known for his time with the Blackhawks, passed away in January 2023. He was the team’s all-time leading scorer, but his legacy is mixed due to various off-ice issues. According to the Concussion Legacy Foundation, Hull had stage two chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) at the time of his death.
For nearly a decade before he died at the age of 84, Hull showed signs of CTE, including memory loss and impaired judgment. His family donated his brain to the UNITE Brain Bank at the Boston University CTE Center to help with research on this complex disease.
Hull’s wife, Deborah, noted that he wanted to contribute to understanding CTE after witnessing the struggles of his longtime friend Stan Mikita’s family. She shared that Hull felt it was his duty to help advance research on this painful condition.
During his career, Hull scored 604 goals and amassed 1,153 points, primarily with the Blackhawks. He also played for teams in the WHA and NHL, further cementing his reputation as a hockey great. However, his post-career life was marred by several controversies.
Hull’s former wife, Joanne, accused him of domestic abuse in a 2002 ESPN interview. In 1986, he pleaded guilty to assaulting a police officer during a domestic dispute. Later, in 1998, Hull faced backlash for comments he made about Adolf Hitler, which he later denied.
Chris Nowinski, CEO of the Concussion Legacy Foundation, criticized the NHL for not acknowledging the connection between hockey and CTE, despite growing evidence. He emphasized the importance of Hull’s contribution, along with other players and their families, to help study and understand CTE.
Dr. Ann McKee, director of the Boston University CTE Center, expressed gratitude to Hull and others who are aiding in the research. She urged retired players and their families to seek help if they are worried about CTE, highlighting that effective treatments for symptoms are becoming clearer, particularly for those in midlife.
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