Hull And Sons

Tomorrow is Father's Day. I have a very special photo essay featuring some of the great NHL father-son combinations in hockey history. But today I thought I'd give you a sneak peek.

That's Bobby Hull. Obviously he's celebrating his 500th NHL goal with a couple of his kids. He has reason to celebrate. At that time only Maurice Richard and Gordie Howe had ever scored 500 goals in a career.

On the Hull's right knee is Bobby Jr., his oldest son. Bobby Jr. never made it to the NHL. But he was a standout junior player, winning the Memorial Cup with Dale Hawerchuk's Cornwall Royals in 1980. Later, as a senior amateur player, he joined brother Blake (not pictured) on the 1987 Allan Cup championship Brantford Motts.

Bobby Jr. also was a childhood TV commercial star.

Pictured on Hull's left knee is a chubby almost-seven-year-old Brett Hull. Of course Brett needs no introduction. He surpassed all of his father's goal scoring exploits in the NHL. He became so good Bobby Hull went from being The Golden Jet, one of the greatest NHL players ever, to being known more simply as Brett's dad.

Another son, Bart, was quite an athlete, but not on the ice. He was a college football star who played in the CFL with the BC Lions.

Daughter Michelle, the youngest, was on her way to an accomplished figure skating career, capturing BC's pre-novice championship at the age of 11. Unfortunately knee injuries prevented her from going much further.

Be sure to come back tomorrow as we take a photographic look at more NHL fathers and sons.