Coming Into His Own Light : Bobby Hull Jr. Finds His Niche in Roller Hockey

Bobby Hull Jr. knows all about shadows.

Growing up in Ontario, Canada, the shadow couldn’t have been much larger, especially since Hull was named after his father, the sixth-most prolific goal scorer in NHL history.

In addition to being the son of a Hall of Famer, Hull is also the older brother of a potential Hall of Fame selection.

But Hull, 32, doesn’t mind the shadows, and he beams with pride watching his younger brother, Brett, pile up 50-goal seasons for the St. Louis Blues.

Bobby Hull Jr., first-year coach of the Blades in Roller Hockey International, might not possess the same slap shot that brought fame to his father and brother, but like his brother, he has the same steely blue eyes and of course, there’s the smile.

That grin is never broader than when Hull talks about Brett’s accomplishments.

“When Brett played his first game in Calgary, I was so nervous,” Bobby Hull Jr. said. “By the end of the game, I was drained. I go to see Brett after the game and he says to me, ‘What’s wrong with you?’ and I said, ‘What do you mean? I feel like I just played the game with you.’ I’m so proud of what he’s done.”

And Hull is proud of how Brett and his father play the game.

“Hockey is what we did,” said Hull, who lives in Seal Beach with his wife, Mardi, and two children. “I love playing the game, and you can see that with Brett. He’s always smiling.

“There are still games when after he scores or there is a faceoff, he will look up at me in the stands and just smile. It’s like he’s saying to me, ‘Can you believe this? Look at what I’m getting to do.’ ”

Hull is enjoying his first coaching job with the Blades. Los Angeles (6-3) remains six points behind the first-place Bullfrogs and one point behind second-place San Diego in the Pacific Division of RHI.

But hockey wasn’t always fun for Hull, and the job with the Blades helped to persuade him to stay in Southern California.

Hull and his wife moved to Southern California three years ago, and lived in Encino before moving south to Seal Beach.

“It was so hot in the valley,” Hull said. “We moved to California just in time to see our garage flooded with those heavy rains in the valley that one winter, saw what happened with the riots in L.A., watched the fires in Laguna Beach and lived through the Northridge earthquake.

“I was thinking, ‘Geez, this was supposed to be a great place to live,’ I guess the Blades’ job was one thing that turned it around for me.”

Hull never turned the corner in his ice hockey career, never playing a game in the NHL. He doesn’t regret pushing his hockey skills and testing them in the minor leagues. Hull admits he didn’t have the same mental toughness his brother and father possess.

“I’ve heard it all,” Hull said. “I was getting catcalled at age 13. And I was the kind of person who, if the guy in the highest section and in the last row was getting on me, it would knock me off my game.

“I tried not to let any of that bother me, but it really affected me. My parents were supportive but they had their own problems. This was my own friggin’ problem and I just dealt with it myself.”

Hull played collegiate hockey at the University of British Columbia and received tryouts with the Winnipeg Jets and Toronto Maple Leafs, but failed to make an NHL squad.

Instead of focusing on hockey, Hull made sure to get an education and graduated from the University of Manitoba. And after starting in the garment industry in 1985, Hull has climbed the corporate ladder with Guess, Inc.

“I started in the warehouse, and now I’m a VP for the same company,” Hull said.

Brett showed that same determination in hockey, and his drive to get to the NHL is something Hull remembers fondly.

“I remember when Brett was in Moncton, playing for (then coach) Terry Crisp,” Hull said. “Brett said Crisp was all over him, and the problem was Crisp couldn’t understand why Brett was smiling all the time.

“Crisp had the attitude of ‘how can you have a good time and play hockey?’ Brett was close to giving it up, but I just told him not to worry about it, he’d last longer than Crisp.”

Now, Hull is worried about getting the Blades through the second half of the season and into top form for the playoffs. His most recent contribution came June 26, when he shed his coat and tie and put on skates to shore up a Blades unit decimated by injuries.

Hull scored a goal, on a long slap shot, but the host Blades lost to the Bullfrogs, 11-6. The Bullfrogs also gave Hull his initiation into the RHI.

“It was a baptism by fire,” Hull said of the Blades’ season-opening 7-1 loss to the Bullfrogs. “We were playing the defending champs, there were 9,000 fans at The Pond of Anaheim, the game was on ESPN2 . . . I was overwhelmed a little.

“And there were so many penalties, at one point I looked down the bench and saw only five guys. The team has struggled early, but I think the adversity builds a little character.”

Although it is the first roller hockey coaching experience for Hull, it shouldn’t hinder the Blades.

“I don’t think there is any big advantage to have the one year of roller hockey coaching experience like I have,” Bullfrog Coach Grant Sonier said.

Said Hull: “It’s basically the same sport and the experienced ice hockey player doesn’t have many problems adjusting to roller hockey. I really believe in this sport and it’s a great alternative for the hockey fans.

“We provide something other than baseball for fans to watch. And if you look at all of the NHL guys getting involved in ownership--like Pittsburgh Penguins owner Howard Baldwin and New York Rangers forward Mark Messier--and former NHL players playing--like Bryan Trottier at Pittsburgh--these people all believe in this.

“I wouldn’t get involved and they wouldn’t get involved in something that would embarrass them. In fact, the buzz I’ve heard is that some NHL people are a little frightened that this league could get too popular.”

Later this month, Hull expects his father to lend his support to RHI. Bobby Hull Sr. has agreed to attend one of the Blades’ games at the Forum.

“He’ll be the special celebrity coach or something,” Hull said. “Yeah, that’s all I need. Having him sitting in the stands, hollering instructions to me. In fact, by halftime he’ll probably be running the show.”

Overshadowed by dad again, but that’s fine with Hull.