On This Date (January 30): Remembering “The Golden Jet”
January 30, 2026; it’s been three years since the hockey world lost Bobby Hull. When "The Golden Jet" passed away at 84 on January 30, 2023, it felt like the end of an era. He wasn't just another name in the rafters; he was a legitimate force of nature who changed the way the sport looked, felt, and operated. As we look back today, his influence still runs deep, from the way players curve their sticks to the very structure of the professional leagues we follow every night.
Dominance in the Windy City
Hull didn’t just play for the Chicago Blackhawks; he helped transform them. Throughout the 1960s, he was one of the league’s premier attraction. With a slapshot that goaltenders genuinely feared, he became the first player in NHL history to break the 50-goal barrier, potting 54 in 1966.
Cool Fact: In 1966, Bobby Hull’s 51st goal, scored on Cesare Maniago, earned him a 7-minute standing ovation in Chicago Stadium.
His resume in Chicago reads like a list of impossible standards: a Stanley Cup in 1961, multiple seasons leading the league in scoring, and back-to-back Hart Trophies (1965; 1966). It wasn't just the production, though; it was the sheer velocity. When Hull wound up for a shot, the entire arena held its breath.
Defying the Status Quo
Back in '72, Hull made a decision that changed the traditional hockey landscape, he walked away from the NHL to join the Winnipeg Jets in the brand-new World Hockey Association. Once he got to Winnipeg, the dominance didn't skip a beat. Hull kept pouring it on, proving he was still “The Golden Jet," just in a different jersey. He racked up 303 goals in just seven WHA seasons, winning two MVP awards (1973; 1975) and leading Winnipeg to multiple Avco Cup championships. Between the NHL and WHA, Hull finished his career with 913 regular-season professional goals—a number that firmly places him in the pantheon of the greatest scorers to ever lace up skates.
“The Golden Jet”: A Lasting Impact
It’s clear; Bobby Hull’s fingerprints are all over the modern game. From the curved blades players use (see “The Bobby Hull Rule”) to the way contracts are negotiated, his influence is undeniable. Hull was a pioneer who took the game into a new era of speed and professional autonomy.
As we reflect on “The Golden Jet’s” illustrious hockey career—three years after his passing on January 30—let’s celebrate the fact that Bobby Hull’s impact on the game of hockey was enormous; “The Golden Jet" still looms large over the sport he helped build.