Dennis Hull, the Chicago Blackhawks and Canada legend, has died at 81, days after Claude Lemieux—another NHL icon—took his own life at 60. Hull played alongside his brother Bobby in Chicago, helping Canada win the 1972 Summit Series, and was remembered by Blac
Dennis Hull’s death landed like another heavy blow on a hockey world already struggling to process the week’s grief.
Hull, the Chicago Blackhawks and Canada legend, has died at the age of 81, his former team confirmed. He passed away Saturday morning, with no other details immediately available.
The timing was especially painful for fans because it came only days after Claude Lemieux died by suicide at 60 on Thursday morning. The hockey community had been shaken first by Lemieux’s sudden death, and now it has been forced to confront the loss of another icon.
Hull’s nephew, Bart, was first to announce his death in a post on social media. The Blackhawks then released a statement from owner Rocky Wirtz.
“Dennis enjoyed a distinguished career built on his scoring ability and consistency, leaving lasting contributions not only to the Blackhawks franchise but to the game itself,” Wirtz said.
Wirtz also described Hull as more than just a player who could produce points. “Known around the league for his immense skill. toughness and intelligence. Dennis was as dominant on the ice as he was beloved off it. He often drew on his sharp wit and sense of humor to keep the locker room loose. while his warmth and humility made everyone he met feel welcome.”.
The Hall-of-fame era Hull helped define began in Chicago, where the two-way forward played 13 of 14 seasons with the Blackhawks. He later spent one final year with the Detroit Red Wings. Over his NHL career, Hull scored 303 goals and 351 assists for 654 points in 959 regular-season games. In the postseason, he added 67 points in 104 playoff contests.
He was a frequent presence on the NHL’s biggest stages, appearing in five All-Star Games and earning selection as a second-team NHL All-Star in 1972-73.
Hull’s connection to Canada’s greatest moments is tied to the 1972 Summit Series. While Hull’s older brother Bobby was excluded from playing for Canada against the Soviet Union in ’72 because he was in the World Hockey Association. Dennis did play. In four games. he recorded two goals and two assists. lining up on a team featuring New York Rangers stars Jean Ratelle and Rod Gilbert.
For Chicago, the loss of Dennis Hull carries extra weight because the family story is inseparable from the franchise. Bobby Hull. who died in 2023 at the age of 84. played for the Blackhawks in both the NHL and the World Hockey Association. and also suited up for the Winnipeg Jets and the Hartford Whalers. During his time in Chicago, Bobby got his hands on the Stanley Cup in 1961.
The week’s grief is not only centered on the Hulls.
Claude Lemieux, who died at 60 on Thursday morning, was found in a warehouse for the family’s furniture business by one of his sons early that morning after hanged himself. Authorities said deputies responded just after 3am to an apparent suicide at the store in Lake Park, Florida.
Lemieux’s death came three days after he served as the ceremonial “torch bearer” for the Montreal Canadiens at the Bell Centre ahead of their Eastern Conference Final Game 3 matchup against the Carolina Hurricanes. He was a controversial winger known for an aggressive style of play and was survived by wife Deborah and four children: Claudia. 29. and sons Christopher. 37. Michael. 34. and Brendan. 30. It is unclear which of his sons found him on Thursday.
Brendan Lemieux, who played seven seasons in the NHL for five teams, currently plays in Switzerland with HC Davos. He and his father Claude are the only father-son duo in NHL history to be punished by the league for biting other players.
On Thursday night. Donald Trump addressed Lemieux’s death on his Truth Social account. calling Claude “a true Legend of the Game” and praising him as one of the fiercest competitors hockey has ever seen. Trump added that Claude was a friend to the family. and wrote. “He won 4 Stanley Cups with 3 different Teams — Montreal. New Jersey. and Colorado. ” while noting that Claude’s 80 career playoff goals rank among the all-time greats. Trump also posted: “Brendan. my thoughts are with you. Deborah. and the whole Lemieux family — You and your Dad were Warriors on the Ice. Claude will be missed by all who love Winning and Toughness.” He closed with “#MAGA” and “President DONALD J. TRUMP.”.
The sequence has turned this stretch into more than a rough sports news cycle—it has become a human moment for a sport built on intensity and toughness, now confronted with two separate endings that landed days apart.
Dennis Hull Claude Lemieux Chicago Blackhawks Bobby Hull NHL tragedy 1972 Summit Series Rocky Wirtz Lake Park Florida Donald Trump Truth Social