Hockey great retires

Today an NHL great retired. This evening, two hours before the Wings vs. Phoenix game, Brett Hull announced his retirement. Brett Hull signed with Phoenix before the lockout officially began and returned to the game, along with the NHL this past September to begin his 20th season in the NHL. Brett Hull, at the age of forty-one, realized he just didn’t have what it takes to keep up with the young guys anymore. He said, ``I realized I wasn't who I thought I was, I wasn't Brett Hull at 30 or 35 even. I was 41 years old and after a year and a half layoff, I didn't have what it took to play in the new game that was so exciting. I wish no one had to do this because it's so hard, it's hard because you never think you're going to grow older and be unable to live up to the expectations you set for yourself,. There's an old expression, and I don't know who said it -- 'The mind is willing but the body isn't.''
In five games, he had one assist. At the beginning of this season Hull’s father, Bobby Hull’s number nine was taken out of retirement so that Brett could wear it this year. Brett Hull joined the Calgary Flames in the 1986 playoffs, and  In his twenty years, Brett had two Stanley cup victories (1999, 2002), played in nine all-star games, played in two Olympics (1998, 2002), three world cups, was the league MVP once (1991), and played for five different teams (Calgary, St. Louis, Dallas, Detroit, and Phoenix).  He scored 741 goals and had 650 assists, ranking third on the all time goal list.
Tonight the Red Wings played another late game, this time in Phoenix. The game was well played, and the Wings won 2-0. Henrik Zetterberg and Pavel Datsyuk scored to help the Wings blank the Coyotes. Manny Legace made 23 saves and recorded his first shutout of the season.  At the other end of the ice, another familiar face was stopping pucks. Curtis Joseph returned to Phoenix’s lineup after missing two games with a groin injury. Cujo made 18 saves, and even though Phoenix out shot Detroit 23-20, it wasn’t enough to win the game. The wings next game is Monday night at home against San Jose.  There are still a limited number of tickets available. Fans attending this game will receive a 2005-06 team calendar. With the win tonight, the Red Wings advance to 5-1.