Stanley Cup champion and hockey falls of fame forward Bobby Hull had CTE when he passed away in 2023 at the age of 84, his widow said in a statement. Researchers at the CTE Center at Boston University discovered that Hal was suffering from a stage 2 CTE at the time of his death.
Deborah, Hull’s widow, Bobby has a brain in research after seeing fellow Hall of Fame and longtime Chicago Blackhawks teammate Stan Mikita suffer from the effects of CTE later in life. He said he felt it was important to donate.
“Looking at the pain and heartache that the family of his lifelong friend Stan Mikita suffered, Bobby felt strongly that other families shouldn’t endure CTE,” Deborah Hull said in a statement. “He insisted on donating his brain.
Hal, also known as the “Golden Jet” when he played, spent 16 seasons in the NHL. Meanwhile, Hal scored 610 goals and notched 560 assists. Hal was a two-time MVP and helped lead the Blackhawks to the Stanley Cup in 1961.
Dr. Anne McKee, director of the Center for CTE at Boston University, expressed his gratitude for the decision to make in the Hulls. She also said the researchers would “retired players and their families are learning how to effectively treat symptoms, especially in middle age, so if you are worried about CTE, they will reach out to help and care. I encourage them to do so.”
CTE awareness has been increasing in recent years after many prominent players such as Bob Probert, Derek Boogard and Wade Belak have been diagnosed posthumously.
