Dennis Hextall
Encyclopedia
Dennis Hextall is a former professional hockey forward who spent most of his career with the Minnesota North Stars
and Detroit Red Wings
. He is the son of Bryan Hextall
, brother of Bryan Hextall Jr
, and uncle of the 1987 Conn Smythe Trophy
winner goalie Ron Hextall
and sportscaster Leah Hextall.
Dennis played two years at the University of North Dakota followed by brief stints in the EHL, CSHL, and American Hockey League
. The left-winger broke into the NHL with the New York Rangers
during the 1968 playoffs. The next few years he jumped back and forth between the AHL and NHL, spending time with the Rangers, Los Angeles Kings
and California Golden Seals
. He would secure a spot with the North Stars in 1972. Hextall played five seasons with the North Stars followed by another four with the Detroit Red Wings
. His final two seasons were spent with the Washington Capitals
where he retired with 681 games under his belt. In his thirteen NHL seasons he recorded a total of 153 goals, 350 assists, 503 points, and 1398 penalty minutes.
Hextall is currently a member of the Detroit Red Wings Alumni Association and is active in its efforts to raise money for children's charities in Metro Detroit
. He is also the coaching director for the Victory Honda AAA hockey club. In September 2009, Hextall was named the President and Commissioner of the International Hockey League, a mid-level minor hockey league based in the northern Midwestern United States
.
Minnesota North Stars
The Minnesota North Stars were a professional ice hockey team in the National Hockey League for 26 seasons, from 1967 to 1993. The North Stars played their home games at the Met Center in Bloomington, and the team's colors for most of its history were green, yellow, gold and white...
and Detroit Red Wings
Detroit Red Wings
The Detroit Red Wings are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League , and are one of the Original Six teams of the NHL, along with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, New York...
. He is the son of Bryan Hextall
Bryan Hextall
Bryan Aldwyn Hextall was a Canadian professional ice hockey forward who played for the New York Rangers in the National Hockey League . Considered one of the top wingers of the 1940s, he led the NHL in goal scoring twice and in points once...
, brother of Bryan Hextall Jr
Bryan Hextall Jr
Bryan Hextall Jr. was a National Hockey League forward from a family rich in the history of hockey. The son of Bryan Hextall, brother of Dennis Hextall, father of Ron Hextall, and grandfather of Brett Hextall, he played the majority of his NHL career with the Pittsburgh Penguins...
, and uncle of the 1987 Conn Smythe Trophy
Conn Smythe Trophy
The Conn Smythe Trophy is awarded annually to the player judged most valuable to his team during the National Hockey League's Stanley Cup playoffs. The Conn Smythe Trophy has been awarded 46 times to 40 players since the 1964–65 NHL season...
winner goalie Ron Hextall
Ron Hextall
Ronald Jeffrey Hextall is a Canadian former professional ice hockey goaltender who played 13 National Hockey League seasons for the Philadelphia Flyers, Quebec Nordiques, and New York Islanders...
and sportscaster Leah Hextall.
Dennis played two years at the University of North Dakota followed by brief stints in the EHL, CSHL, and American Hockey League
American Hockey League
The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League...
. The left-winger broke into the NHL with the New York Rangers
New York Rangers
The New York Rangers are a professional ice hockey team based in the borough of Manhattan in New York, New York, USA. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Playing their home games at Madison Square Garden, the Rangers are one of the...
during the 1968 playoffs. The next few years he jumped back and forth between the AHL and NHL, spending time with the Rangers, Los Angeles Kings
Los Angeles Kings
The Los Angeles Kings are a professional ice hockey team based in Los Angeles, California. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
and California Golden Seals
California Golden Seals
The California Golden Seals were a team in the National Hockey League from 1967–76. Initially named California Seals, the team was renamed Oakland Seals part-way through the 1967–68 season, and then to California Golden Seals in 1970. The Seals were one of six teams added to the league as part of...
. He would secure a spot with the North Stars in 1972. Hextall played five seasons with the North Stars followed by another four with the Detroit Red Wings
Detroit Red Wings
The Detroit Red Wings are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League , and are one of the Original Six teams of the NHL, along with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, New York...
. His final two seasons were spent with the Washington Capitals
Washington Capitals
The Washington Capitals are a professional ice hockey team based in Washington, D.C. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Since their founding in 1974, "The Caps" have won one conference championship to reach the 1998 Stanley Cup...
where he retired with 681 games under his belt. In his thirteen NHL seasons he recorded a total of 153 goals, 350 assists, 503 points, and 1398 penalty minutes.
Hextall is currently a member of the Detroit Red Wings Alumni Association and is active in its efforts to raise money for children's charities in Metro Detroit
Metro Detroit
The Detroit metropolitan area, often referred to as Metro Detroit, is the metropolitan area located in Southeast Michigan centered on the city of Detroit which shares an international border with Windsor, Ontario. The Detroit metropolitan area is the second largest U.S. metropolitan area...
. He is also the coaching director for the Victory Honda AAA hockey club. In September 2009, Hextall was named the President and Commissioner of the International Hockey League, a mid-level minor hockey league based in the northern Midwestern United States
Midwestern United States
The Midwestern United States is one of the four U.S. geographic regions defined by the United States Census Bureau, providing an official definition of the American Midwest....
.
Awards and achievements
- WCHAWestern Collegiate Hockey AssociationThe Western Collegiate Hockey Association is a college athletic conference which operates over a wide area of the Midwestern and Western United States. It participates in the NCAA's Division I as an ice hockey-only conference....
Second All-Star Team (1965) - WCHAWestern Collegiate Hockey AssociationThe Western Collegiate Hockey Association is a college athletic conference which operates over a wide area of the Midwestern and Western United States. It participates in the NCAA's Division I as an ice hockey-only conference....
First All-Star Team (1966) - AHLAmerican Hockey LeagueThe American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League...
Second All-Star Team (1969) - Played in NHLNational Hockey LeagueThe National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
All-Star Game (1974 & 1975) - “Honoured Member” of the Manitoba Hockey Hall of FameManitoba Hockey Hall of FameThe Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame and Museum was established in 1985 when the first honoured members were named and plaques were erected in their honour. The first group of inductees was large in order to recognize the accomplishments of Manitoba players, coaches, builders and teams at the...
Career statistics
Regular Season
Season Team Lge GP G A Pts PIM
1968-69 New York Rangers NHL 13 1 4 5 25
1969-70 Los Angeles Kings NHL 28 5 7 12 40
1970-71 California Seals NHL 78 21 31 52 217
1971-72 Minnesota North Stars NHL 33 6 10 16 49
1972-73 Minnesota North Stars NHL 78 30 52 82 140
1973-74 Minnesota North Stars NHL 78 20 62 82 138
1974-75 Minnesota North Stars NHL 80 17 57 74 147
1975-76 Minnesota/Detroit NHL 76 16 44 60 164
1976-77 Detroit Red Wings NHL 78 14 32 46 158
1977-78 Detroit Red Wings NHL 78 16 33 49 195
1978-79 Detroit/Washington NHL 46 6 17 23 76
1979-80 Washington Capitals NHL 15 1 1 2 49
NHL Totals 681 153 350 503 1398