Matt Cullen

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Cullen's path began in Moorhead, Minnesota, where his father coached at Moorhead High School. After moving there at age 10, he joined the Spuds hockey team in 1992 under his father's tutelage. In his senior year of high school (1994–95), he excelled in both ice hockey and baseball, earning the Associated Press' Player of the Year award. He lost the Minnesota Mr. Hockey Award to Erik Rasmussen. Recruited by five universities but limited to five visits by NCAA rules, Cullen chose St. Cloud State University (SCSU) for better playing time prospects. He played for the Huskies from 1995 to 1997, leading his team with 29 assists and 41 points as a freshman before being drafted 35th overall by the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim in 1996.

In Their Own Story

After signing a three-year contract with Anaheim on March 28, 1997, Cullen started his professional career with their AHL affiliate, the Baltimore Bandits. He scored his first AHL goal against the Philadelphia Phantoms on April 11 and an overtime goal the following night. Despite impressive training camp play alongside stars Paul Kariya and Teemu Selanne, he was reassigned to the AHL before his NHL debut. Called up on October 28, 1997, he made his NHL debut against the Toronto Maple Leafs and recorded his first point an assist on November 2 against Boston. By mid-November, he became a mainstay on the top line with Selanne. After a stint in the AHL during the Olympic pause, where he was named Player of the Month, he returned to Anaheim. He finished his rookie season with six goals and 21 assists for 27 points, ranking in the top 10 among all NHL rookies.

Reader's Guide

Cullen's collegiate career featured significant physical challenges; during his sophomore year at SCSU, a respiratory illness in his kidney caused him to lose 20 pounds and become jaundiced. He missed time recovering from this illness and strep throat but returned on December 6 to score two points against Northern Michigan. His professional journey included being drafted by the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim in the second round (35th overall) in 1996 after a standout freshman season at St. Cloud State where he was named WCHA All-Rookie and Huskies Most Outstanding Freshman. He represented Team USA at the 1996 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships, scoring three goals in six games as the team placed fifth.

Did You Know?

• Cullen is the only player among the 22 who have played over 1,500 NHL games to never be named an All-Star.
• He was named the Associated Press' Player of the Year during his senior year at Moorhead High School.
• During a respiratory illness at St. Cloud State, Cullen lost 20 pounds and became jaundiced before recovering to return to the lineup.
• As a rookie with the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, he finished with 27 points, the second-most by a rookie in franchise history.
• Cullen won three Stanley Cups during his career: once with Carolina in 2006 and twice with Pittsburgh in 2016 and 2017.