NHL / Brett welcomed to the Hull of Fame

Brett Hull joined his father "the Golden Jet" Bobby Hull in the Hockey Hall of Fame yesterday, offering heartfelt thanks and stinging criticism as he prepared to take his place among the sport's greats.

A pure goal scorer who was never afraid to shoot or speak his mind, Hull was to have been formally inducted during ceremonies later yesterday alongside Steve Yzerman, Luc Robitaille, Brian Leetch and New Jersey Devils executive Lou Lamoriello.

The only father-and-son combination to play in the NHL and be enshrined in the Hockey Hall, Hull talked of following in his father's "giant footsteps" and lamented the lack of respect today's players have for each other on the ice.

The induction comes as the NHL is dealing with a rash of vicious head shots. The issue will be one of the main topics on the agenda when NHL general managers meet in Toronto today.

Regarded as one of the greatest classes inducted into the Hockey Hall, all four players were first ballot entries, Hull, Yzerman and Robitaille winning a Stanley Cup together in 2002 as members of the Detroit Red Wings.

But Hull's strongest bond to the Hall is with his father, both men scoring over 600 goals and 1,000 points in their brilliant NHL careers. Hull's 741 career goals rank third on the all-time list behind Wayne Gretzky and Gordie Howe.