Dennis Hextall

Dennis Hextall (born April 17, 1943) is a former professional hockey forward who played in the National Hockey League and earned all-star recognition, spending most of his career with the Minnesota North Stars and Detroit Red Wings. Born in Poplar Point, Manitoba, a community 33 kilometres northeast of Portage la Prairie, he won a national championship during two years at the University of North Dakota before turning professional. He played briefly in the Eastern Hockey League, the Central Professional Hockey League, and the American Hockey League, and broke into the NHL with the New York Rangers.

Hextall led the NHL's western conference in assists, and with the North Stars he led the club in assists, points, and penalty minutes while serving as assistant captain. As captain of the Red Wings, he ended the team's playoff drought of the 1970s, leading Detroit to the second round of the 1978 playoffs. He closed his career with the Washington Capitals, serving as assistant captain and player/coach.

After retiring, Hextall served several years as president of the Red Wings Alumni and as commissioner of the International Hockey League. He came from a hockey family: 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.