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A Star ‘jets' through Cedar Park

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Many people have heard of “The Golden Jet” Brett Hull, but not everyone. Some know him as the Dallas Stars co-general manager. Some know him as one of the greatest hockey players of all time. Ashley, a patient in a second-floor room at Cedar Park Regional Medical Center, wasn't really sure who he was.

Ashley, a 22-year-old cystic fibrosis patient, knew a hockey player was coming to visit her on Wednesday around 1 p.m., but didn't know who. So when Brett Hull walked into her room, she said, “Oh my gosh, you're the hockey player?”

He said “Yes, I'm Brett Hull. How are you doing Ashley?”

Completely forgetting how sick she was, her face lit up and she said, “You're a lot bigger than I thought you'd be.”

Hull said, “That's funny, because most people say I'm a lot smaller than they'd expected.”

The two chatted about hockey and Ashley said she was a huge hockey fan who couldn't wait to see the new team next year. Brett gave her a Texas Stars T-shirt and a hockey puck.

Next was George Forester, another second-floor patient who had fallen and injured himself. He was scheduled to get out Wednesday afternoon. Hull and Forester talked about old minor-league hockey teams in Texas. Another T-shirt and puck were given out, then it was off to the maternity ward.

There was a visit with an expectant mother and her husband. Another shirt and puck.

Then, before heading down the elevator and to the press conference that awaited, Hull chatted with four people in the waiting room. Josh Psaila of Leander was one of them. As Hull told the group of the new hockey team that was coming to town, Psaila learned his new son had just been born. Hull, without any hesitation, grabbed Psaila's hand and shook it and smiled like it was his own child.

Hull told the sick patients that he hoped they got well fast. He told the expecting parents good luck and the new father congratulations.

Hull trails only Wayne Gretzky and Gordie Howe in all-time NHL goals. I always thought my most lasting memory of Hull would be when he slipped a shot past Dominik Hasek in overtime of Game 6 to beat the Buffalo Sabres to win the Stanley Cup for the Dallas Stars in 1999. But after Wednesday, I've got an even greater memory of the Golden Jet.

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