Dennis Hextall

Dennis Hextall (born April 17, 1943) is a former NHL all star professional hockey forward who spent most of his career with the Minnesota North Stars and Detroit Red Wings. Won a national championship with University of North Dakota. Led the NHL western conference in assists. Led the North Stars in assists, points and penalty minutes while serving as assistant captain. As captain of the Redwings he ended the playoff drought of the 70s by leading Detroit to the 2nd round of the 78 playoffs. Served as assistant captain-player/coach to end his career with the Washington Capitals. Served multiple years as the president of the Redwing Alumni. Served as Commissioner of the IHL. He is the son of Bryan Hextall, brother of Bryan Hextall Jr., uncle of Ron Hextall and sportscaster Leah Hextall, and great-uncle of AHL player Brett Hextall.

Personal

Hextall was born in Poplar Point, a community 33 km northeast of Portage la Prairie, Manitoba, in 1943.

Career Hextall played two years at the University of North Dakota, then played briefly in the Eastern Hockey League, Central Professional Hockey League, and American Hockey League (AHL). He broke into the NHL with the New York Rangers during the 1968 playoffs. Over 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. In 1972 he secured a spot with the Minnesota North Stars, for whom he played five seasons as assistant captain. He then spent four seasons as captain with the Detroit Red Wings and two more with the Washington Capitals. In thirteen NHL seasons he played 681 games and recorded 153 goals, 350 assists, 503 points, and 1398 penalty minutes.

Hextall is currently on the board of directors of the Detroit Red Wings alumni team, 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.

Awards and honours Award Year All-WCHA Second team 1964–65 All-WCHA First Team 1965–66

AHL Second All-Star Team (1969) Played in NHL All-Star Game (1974 & 1975) "Honoured Member" of the Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame Member of the Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame (2008)

Career statistics Regular season Playoffs Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM 1961–62 Brandon Wheat Kings MJHL 39 11 18 29 24 9 0 3 3 4 1961–62 Brandon Wheat Kings M-Cup — — — — — 11 2 3 5 9 1962–63 Brandon Wheat Kings MJHL 39 21 46 67 17 19 16 10 26 12 1962–63 Brandon Wheat Kings M-Cup — — — — — 9 5 6 11 8 1963–64 University of North Dakota WCHA — — — — — — — — — — 1964–65 University of North Dakota WCHA 33 17 36 53 33 — — — — — 1965–66 University of North Dakota WCHA 30 19 29 48 30 — — — — — 1966–67 Knoxville Knights EHL 61 20 56 76 202 4 3 2 5 21 1967–68 Omaha Knights CPHL 10 0 2 2 9 — — — — — 1967–68 Buffalo Bisons AHL 51 15 33 48 114 5 1 5 6 12 1967–68 New York Rangers NHL — — — — — 2 0 0 0 0 1968–69 New York Rangers NHL 13 1 4 5 25 — — — — — 1968–69 Buffalo Bisons AHL 60 21 44 65 179 6 1 3 4 6 1969–70 Los Angeles Kings NHL 28 5 7 12 40 — — — — — 1969–70 Springfield Kings AHL 10 5 8 13 52 — — — — — 1969–70 Montreal Voyageurs AHL 29 10 19 29 126 8 2 5 7 29 1970–71 California Golden Seals NHL 78 21 31 52 217 — — — — — 1971–72 Minnesota North Stars NHL 33 6 10 16 49 7 0 2 2 19 1971–72 Cleveland Barons AHL 5 1 1 2 18 — — — — — 1972–73 Minnesota North Stars NHL 78 30 52 82 140 6 2 0 2 16 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 North Stars NHL 59 11 35 46 93 — — — — — 1975–76 Detroit Red Wings NHL 17 5 9 14 71 — — — — — 1976–77 Detroit Red Wings NHL 78 14 32 46 158 — — — — — 1977–78 Detroit Red Wings NHL 78 16 33 49 195 7 1 1 2 10 1978–79 Detroit Red Wings NHL 20 4 8 12 33 — — — — — 1978–79 Washington Capitals NHL 26 2 9 11 43 — — — — — 1979–80 Washington Capitals NHL 15 1 1 2 49 — — — — — NHL totals 681 153 350 503 1,398 22 3 3 6 45