Former Dallas Stars forward Mike Keane shared a hilarious story about Brett Hull getting kicked out of practice. Hull did not sulk or complain. Instead, the NHL legend capitalized on the extra free time by enjoying himself.
Hull, 61, was known for his outgoing personality during his playing career. His personality made him a star in the league and earned him the admiration of fans. However, it also led to clashes with some of his coaches.
One of those coaches was Ken Hitchcock, who coached Hull with the Stars. Hitchcock demanded excellence and stressed the importance of having his scorers buy in to his defensive strategies.
Keane recalled one particular practice during which Hull defied Hitchcock. After Hitchcock told him to leave, Hull decided to go golfing and did not seem bothered at all.
“After practice, Grant Marshall and I go, ‘Hey, we should call Hully to make sure he’s okay. He got kicked off the ice.’ We call him, ‘Hey Hully, how you doing?’ [He said], ‘Hey, good. Listen, I got to go. I have to make this putt,’” Keane said during his appearance on Ice Guardians Podcast. “He’s on the course already. By the time we’re off the ice, he’s on the course. Well, obviously the getting kicked off the ice wasn’t that big of a deal for him.”
The story remains memorable as both players laughed at how Hull handled getting kicked out of practice.
Ex-Stars Teammate Reveals Why Brett Hull Got Kicked Out of Practice
Mike Keane revealed why Brett Hull got kicked out of practice by Dallas Stars head coach Ken Hitchcock. Keane revealed that the conflict stemmed from Hitchcock’s remarks about the importance of scoring goals.
“We won one night and we got [expletive] from [Hitchcock] again. He said scoring goals wasn’t important. So next day in practice, we’re doing a drill which basically you skate down the ice and each man on your line gets a shot,” Keane told Ice Guardians Podcast. “Hull beaver taps for the puck, which he doesn’t do. He doesn’t ask for the puck. [Mike Modano] gives him the puck, he get it, he shoots it right in the corner.”
He continued:
Third time, he does it again. Finally Hitch blows it down. He goes, ‘Hully, what the hell? What are you doing?’ [Hull said] it’s not about scoring goals, it’s about getting the puck deep, and cycling. [Hitchcock said], ‘Get the [expletive] off the ice.’ So, he goes and saunters off the ice,” Keane said.
Hull Praises Ex-Stars Head Coach Ken Hitchcock
Despite getting kicked out of a practice and disagreeing with Hitchcock’s philosophy at times, Hull praised his former coach.
Hull said Hitchcock was a fantastic coach, but admitted that he struggled to communicate effectively with players.
“I said it the other day to [Kelly Chase], [Hitchcock] was unbelievable X’s and O’s, and strategy, but he was the worst at communicating and being able to figure out players,” Hull said on his Ice Guardians Podcast. “He thought every player was the exact same. There were personalities.”
Hull eventually bought into Hitchcock’s style of play and benefited from it. The Stars went on to win the 1999 Stanley Cup, with Hull scoring the game-winning goal in triple overtime.
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