Former Chicago Blackhawks legend and Hockey Hall of Fame member Bobby Hull tested positive for chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE, the brain-withering disease linked to repetitive brain trauma in contact sports, a researcher and Hull’s family announced Wednesday morning.

The Boston-based Concussion Legacy Foundation said Hull is the 17th known former NHL player and the third member of the Hall of Fame, after Henri Richard and Stan Mikita, to have tested positive for CTE.

Dr. Ann McKee, chief of neuropathology for the VA Boston Healthcare System and director of the Boston University CTE Center, confirmed Hull was posthumously diagnosed with stage 2 (of four) CTE.

“Seeing the pain and heartache suffered by his lifetime friend Stan Mikita’s family, Bobby felt strongly no other family should have to endure CTE,” Deborah Hull, Bobby’s wife of 39........

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