Hull remains show-stealer: Hawks legend overshadows game at Allstate Arena

Bobby Hull listened to Wolves executive Wayne Messmer introducehim before a 4-3 loss Saturday to the Milwaukee Admirals at AllstateArena and said, "I didn't know I did all that."

He did, though. The Hockey Hall of Famer, who scored 604 of his610 NHL goals with the Blackhawks and starred on the Hawks' lastStanley Cup winner in 1961, received a standing ovation from 9,627screaming fans before dropping the ceremonial first puck and headingfor the lobby to sign thousands of memorabilia items.

Hull, who will turn 67 on Jan. 2, declined an invitation to put ona uniform for pregame drills.

"Do I look like I can still skate?" he said, laughing.

Actually, he does.

Hull does more than that now. His charity work Saturday was for ahandful of organizations that benefit children. The line of fansseeking autographs snaked its way through the South Gate lobby andinto a special room.

"Wherever I go, parents of kids from Mighty Mites and Atoms toPeewees and Bantams ask me, `Mr. Hull, what advice can you give to myson for him to get better in hockey?"' Hull said. "My answer isalways, `Good things will happen if you always do your best, nomatter what you're doing."'

It was coincidental that Wolves center Kip Miller scored the firstgoal of the game eight minutes into the first period. He had noticedHull wearing a No. 9 Wolves jersey in the runway before introductionsand pointed to his own No. 9 jersey.

"Hey, good number, Miller," Hull said.

Miller's goal didn't hold up. The Wolves (9-12-1-3) had a 30-23advantage in shots on goal, but the Admirals (18-7-1-1) got third-period goals from Sheldon Brookbank and Libor Pivko against goalieJani Hurme to rally from a 3-2 deficit after two periods.

Brandon Segal scored the first two goals for the Admirals. ScottBarney and Karl Stewart scored in the second period for the Wolves.

"We aren't getting breaks, [but] we also aren't taking advantageof our chances," Wolves coach John Anderson said. "The only peoplethat are going to get us out of this rut are the guys in that lockerroom."

jgoddard@suntimes.com