A Hull of a guy
A Hull of a guy
Posted By Fort McMurray Today
Posted 5 years ago
The way Dennis Hull explains it, the result of living a determined and active lifestyle can open the doors to a life like no other.
Showing at the Sawridge Hotel and Conference Centre on Thursday night for one night only: Memoirs of a hockey legend.
And what a story it was. If nothing else could motivate a 13-year-old to stay involved in the game of life, it?s the stories of a true icon, laughing the night away while recapping a life that is reserved for frozen-toed dreamers and lucky overachievers.
?Have you ever heard of Ridley College?? asked the 13-year big league vet to a room full of phys-ed teachers last night at the opening session of the weekend?s Health and Physical Education Conference. ?It?s a private school (in St. Catharines, Ont.) ? where I served as a hockey coach and history teacher (after the NHL). I decided one day I would have an inter-squad game to shown these guys the difference between a high school kid and an NHLer. I took the puck behind the net and the goalie said to me, ?better make haste, sir. They will soon be upon us.? I knew right then I wasn?t in the NHL anymore.?
But up until that point, the younger brother to Bobby and uncle to Brett had lived on the other side, and the stories he told Thursday night could have left even the most lazy teenager looking for any way possible to get up and run a few laps around the block.
Perhaps it would have taken a person of at least 30 years of age to understand how incredible playing your first NHL game at Joe Louis Arena against Gordie Howe would have been. Or how good it must have felt to be part of the 1972 Summit Series team against the Russians, but they were still enchanting for even the youngsters and left everyone with a feeling of envy.
Hull?s message last night, even if he did make it sound so easy, was a call to arms for every child, man or woman, who wants to feel good about themselves either by achieving personal glory through an active lifestyle or simply by reaping the rewards and self-esteem that go hand in hand with living off the couch.
?Hockey is a wonderful game,? said Hull, who had each and every one of the 150 or so people on hand in stiches with a goofy and constant sence of hockey-humour. ?But so few people make it. But if you are good enough, you will make it. All you have to do is be good at what you do. To all the minor hockey players here tonight, I hope you make it to the NHL.?
For the teachers here this weekend for the conference, Hull?s words were more metaphorical than literal. Sure, the NHL was his reward, but the NHL he spoke of last night has doctors, teachers and truck drivers as its members.
Well documented are the child obesity issues in Alberta and across Canada. Just as well documented are the lack of physical education classes in today?s schools. This weekend, more than 400 people will try to put an end to that by speaking up and sharing ideas.
Hull seems like a perfect ambassodor for that cause. A teacher, a legend and proof that nothing can get done by sitting around and waiting for it to happen.
