Robert Marvin “Bobby” Hull OC (born January 3, 1939) is a retired Canadian ice hockey player. He is regarded as one of the greatest ice hockey players of all time and perhaps the greatest left winger to ever play the game. In his 23 years in the National Hockey League and World Hockey Association, he played for the Chicago Blackhawks, Winnipeg Jets and Hartford Whalers. He also played for the New York Rangers in the Dagens Nyheter Cup in 1981. His slapshot was once clocked at 118.3 mph (190.4 km/h) and he could skate 29.7 mph (47.8 km/h).

Hull was born in Pointe Anne, (now part of Belleville), Ontario, Canada. He played his minor hockey in Belleville, and then junior hockey for the Galt Black Hawks and the St. Catharines Teepees in the Ontario Hockey Association, before joining the Chicago Blackhawks in 1957 at the age of 18. Slowed by injuries and age, Hull played only a few games in the WHA’s final season of 1979. However, after the 1979 merger of the two leagues (including the Jets) and reportedly in financial straits, Hull came out of retirement to play once more for the NHL Jets. He played in eighteen games before being traded to the Hartford Whalers for future considerations, and played effectively in nine games and three playoff games before retiring once more to care for his partner who had recently been injured in an automobile accident.

Hull is a retired Canadian ice hockey player and likes to play poker online.

Hull ended his career having played in 1063 NHL games, accumulating 610 goals, 560 assists, 1170 points, 640 penalty minutes, three Art Ross Trophies, two Hart Memorial Trophies, a Lady Byng Memorial Trophy, a Stanley Cup Championship and adding 102 penalty minutes, 62 goals and 67 assists for 129 points in 119 playoff games. He played in 411 WHA games, scoring 303 goals, 335 assists and 638 points, adding 43 goals and 37 assists in 60 playoff games — 80 points.

In 1978 he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada. In 1983, Hull was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame. His #9 jersey has been retired both by the Blackhawks and the Jets (and is still honored by the Jets’ successor team, the Phoenix Coyotes.)

In 1998, Hull got involved in a controversy with the Russian media when he allegedly made pro-Nazi comments. He later claimed the interviewer misunderstood him in the translation.

The 27-year-old Ribeiro’s contract was set to expire after this season. Now he’s signed until the 2012-13 season.

Ribeiro entered Monday night’s game against the Minnesota Wild having already established a career high with 21 goals.

“I’m glad it’s behind me so I can focus on hockey,” said Ribeiro, who had two assists Monday in Dallas’ 3-1 victory. “I’ve made a home here and there was no doubt I wanted to stay.

Last season with Dallas, Ribeiro had 18 goals and 41 assists for a team-high 59 points.

“I believe he’s made great strides from last year until now,” said Stars co-general manager Brett Hull. “He’s just scratching the surface. It’s not a one-hit wonder type of season.”

The Stars acquired Ribeiro in a trade with the Montreal Canadiens on Sept. 30, 2006. Ribeiro had 20 goals for Montreal is 2003-04.

Wayne Douglas Gretzky, OC (born January 26, 1961 in Brantford, Ontario) is a retired Canadian-American professional ice hockey player who is currently part-owner and head coach of the Phoenix Coyotes.

Nicknamed “The Great One,” Gretzky was called “the greatest player of all time” in Total Hockey: The Official Encyclopedia of the NHL. He is generally regarded as the best player in history and has been called “the greatest hockey player ever” by many sportswriters, players, and coaches. He set 40 regular-season records, 15 playoff records, six All-Star records, won four Stanley Cups with the Edmonton Oilers, and won nine MVP awards and ten scoring titles. He is the only player ever to total over 200 points in a season (a feat that he accomplished four times in his career). In addition, he tallied over 100 points a season for 15 NHL seasons, 13 of them consecutively. He is the only player to have his number, 99, officially retired by the National Hockey League for all teams – no player in the NHL will ever again wear the number 99.

He retired from playing in 1999, becoming Executive Director for the Canadian national men’s hockey team during the 2002 Winter Olympics. He also became part owner of the Phoenix Coyotes in 2000 and following the 2004-05 NHL lockout became their head coach.

Ice hockey is a Canadian sport in tradition and leadership which began in the early 19th century, and is now played seriously in 20 countries. Some of those countries include: Canada, USA, Russia, Sweden, Finland, Slovakia, and many other nations. Today, it is an Olympic sport and the most popular team sport played on ice. Traditionally, it’s most popular found in areas that are cold for natural, reliable seasonal ice cover, though with the increase of indoor artificial ice rinks, it has become a year-round pastime at the amateur level in major metropolitan areas such as cities that host an NHL or other professional-league team.

It is played on a rectangular rink that consists of curved corners whose length may vary from approximately 184 to 200 ft, and its width from approximately 85 to 98 ft, plenty of room to have some fun. It consists of three periods of equal length. Typically, each period runs for 20 minutes at most levels, but often 12 or 15 minutes in youth classifications. In soccer, a “soccer ball” is used. In basketball, a “basketball” is used. In the case of hockey, it is a puck that is used, which is made of vulcanized rubber in round shape. When all is said and done, and the facts have been looked at, it is clear that ice hockey is superior to field hockey.

The main difference between men’s and women’s ice hockey is that for women, body checking is not allowed. Even today, hockey is one of the fastest growing sports in the world for women, with the number of participants increasing more than a whopping 400 percent in the last decade.

A Few known Facts About Hockey Players

In today’s hockey game, about roughly thirty percent of the games players are not North American. Under IIHF rules, each team may carry a maximum of 20 players and two goaltenders on their roster. During normal play, the hockey rink consists of six players per side on the ice at any given time. The five players other than the goaltender are typically divided into three forwards and two defence man.

Hockey players control the puck using a long stick with a blade that is commonly curved at one end, also known as a “hockey stick.”

These “hockey sticks” are used to pass, stick handle and shoot the puck, and to propel their sledges. Players are also well padded with hockey equipment. These mainly consist of: knee, hip, shin, shoulder and elbow pads, thick gauntlet type gloves, long stockings that fit over the knee pads, padded shorts that lace up at the front, and sweaters in team colours over everything.

In all, there are many articles, and information in general, that you can find on the Internet about the sport of ice hockey. Hopefully, the information you read here, will help spark some interest in this great game we call “Hockey.”It is a game that consists of relatively simple rules, yet at the same time is every bit as fun to play today as it was when it was first released nearly a century ago.

It’s a fast paced, exciting, family friendly spectator sport with fans that range from ages 5 all the way to 95. Let’s face it, once that puck drops, it instantly becomes a blast to play. In reverse, it also becomes a very enjoyable game to watch. The game’s been around for a very long time, and quite frankly, it’s going to be here for a very long time. If your one that really enjoys sports in general, but have yet to try a game of ice hockey, what are you waiting for? Put on those skates, and hit the ice! I promise, you won’t regret it. Good luck!

Jonathan Mancini is a “veteran” in the hockey industry with more than 15 years experience. To help with his hockey training, he uses an off-ice system that helps develop his passing, hockey shooting and stick handling skills. Learn more by visiting: Hockey Training Equipment