John Cullen
John Cullen | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Born |
Puslinch, Ontario, Canada | August 2, 1964|||||
Height | 5 ft 10 in (178 cm) | |||||
Weight | 187 lb (85 kg; 13 st 5 lb) | |||||
Position | Centre | |||||
Shot | Right | |||||
Played for |
Pittsburgh Penguins Hartford Whalers Toronto Maple Leafs Tampa Bay Lightning | |||||
National team |
NHL Draft |
1986 NHL Supplemental Draft Buffalo Sabres | ||||
Playing career | 1987–1998 |
Barry John Cullen (born August 2, 1964) is a
His career was halted in 1997 when he was diagnosed with
Early life
Cullen was born in Puslinch, Ontario on August 2, 1964. He is one of six children of Barry and Loretta Cullen.[1] His father and uncles Brian and Ray all played in the NHL,[2] and while Cullen and his three brothers all played as well, their father never pressured them, preferring that they enjoy the game.[1]
He idolized his elder brother Terry, who was considered a top NHL prospect until Terry's career was ended when he suffered a broken neck after being hit from behind into the boards during a college game.[3] While his brother was highly sought by American universities, John received only two scholarship offers, choosing to play for Boston University (BU) in 1983. His other offer came from Ferris State University.[3]
At the same time, his mother Loretta was diagnosed with skin cancer.[2] Following her death early in his freshman year, Cullen contemplated returning to his Ontario home, but was convinced by his father to continue with both school and hockey.[3] He used the game to cope with the loss and dedicated every game he played to his mother's memory. Cullen felt that the inspiration he drew from his mother's battle allowed him to become a better player.[1]
Playing career
Cullen was a standout with BU; he was named the
Passed over in the Entry Draft, Cullen was finally selected by the
National Hockey League
Cullen made his NHL debut in
The Penguins' needs led them to complete a blockbuster trade on March 1, 1991. Cullen was sent to the Hartford Whalers, along with Zarley Zalapski and Jeff Parker in exchange for Hartford's all-time leading scorer, Ron Francis, along with Ulf Samuelsson and Grant Jennings.[4] The Penguins almost turned down the deal as they were concerned about giving up Cullen's playmaking and leadership abilities, while his former teammates credited Cullen as being the primary reason they were in a playoff position at the time the trade happened. After the Penguins won their first Stanley Cup that season, Phil Bourque later said it "broke his heart" that Cullen was not able to share in that championship.[6]
In Hartford, Cullen worked to overcome the team's fans' disappointment at losing Francis. The Hartford fans initially booed him to show their dissatisfaction with the trade.
Midway through the
Cullen enjoyed immediate success with linemates Shawn Burr and Alexander Selivanov as the trio combined to score 130 points and helped lead the Lightning to the first playoff appearance in franchise history. They were eliminated by the Philadelphia Flyers in five games while Cullen led the team in playoff scoring with three goals and three assists.[9] The Lightning looked to improve in 1996–97; Cullen was leading the team in scoring, but was suffering flu-like symptoms that he could not shake. As Tampa was fighting for a playoff spot, he played through his condition for weeks.[10]
Cancer and comeback
After two months of quietly dealing with his symptoms, Cullen's wife finally called team trainers and asked them to check into his illness. The team took an x-ray and found a large black shadow in his chest.[9] He underwent a CAT scan which revealed Cullen had a baseball-sized tumor; he was diagnosed as having Non-Hodgkin lymphoma.[10] The diagnosis ended his season, and he immediately began chemotherapy treatments that quickly reduced his cancer.[2] The tumor was gone by September 1997, but a precautionary test prior to training camp revealed that Cullen still had cancer cells in his body. He missed the entire 1997–98 NHL season as he continued to battle the disease, while his teammates wore a uniform patch with his #12 in support throughout the year.[10]
On one day during his treatments, as his wife was wheeling him down a hospital corridor, Cullen went into cardiac arrest, requiring doctors to use a defibrillator to revive him.[9] He underwent a bone marrow transplant that briefly reduced his immune system to the point that he could have very little human contact.[2] Another examination in April 1998 revealed that the cancer was finally gone, and Cullen immediately began training for a comeback.[10]
The Lightning signed Cullen to a one-year, $500,000 contract for the 1998–99 season.[11] He played his first game in nearly 18 months on September 18, 1998, in an exhibition game between the Lightning and Sabres at Innsbruck, Austria. Cullen scored the game-winning goal in a 3–1 victory, after which he said he sat on the bench in disbelief over how he was given a second chance.[12] He was named to the roster and was greeted with a loud standing ovation by the fans in Tampa Bay when he was introduced prior to their season opening game.[2]
Cullen appeared in four of the Lightning's first eight games, but it was evident that he had lost much of his speed and strength.[13] The Lightning assigned him to the IHL's Cleveland Lumberjacks, but also gave him the option of retiring and taking up a position as an assistant coach.[9] He chose to accept the demotion, giving himself one month to determine if he could continue playing.[14] He appeared in six games for Cleveland, and in one game against the Chicago Wolves tied an IHL record when he scored seven points in a 7–3 victory.[15]
However, a bout of bronchitis led Cullen to fear that his cancer had returned. Tests came back negative, but after spending time with his family, he realized that neither he nor his family were interested in returning to Cleveland.[13] Cullen announced his retirement on November 28, 1998, and accepted the Lightning offer to become an assistant coach.[16] In recognition of his comeback attempt, the NHL named him the 1999 winner of the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy for dedication and perseverance,[17] while the IHL renamed its Comeback Player of the Year award the John Cullen Award.[18]
Former Lightning head coach Terry Crisp has stated publicly that Cullen was a player that stood out as something special saying "John Cullen ... beat cancer and came back to play and helped us win."[19]
Off the ice
Cullen and his wife Valerie have three daughters, Kennedy and twins Karlyn and Kortland.
Cullen's battle with cancer inspired Timm Harmon of the Moffitt Cancer Centre to partner with the Lightning to raise awareness and money for cancer research. The NHL itself joined the cause in the winter of 1998, creating the Hockey Fights Cancer program to raise money for research.[22] Cullen has spent time promoting the initiative.[13]
Prior to marrying his wife Valerie, John dated
Career statistics
Regular season and playoffs
Regular season
|
Playoffs | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
1981–82 | Guelph Platers | OJHL
|
42 | 45 | 49 | 94 | 34 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
1982–83 | Cambridge Winter Hawks | OJHL | 45 | 42 | 56 | 98 | 52 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
1983–84 | Boston University | ECAC | 40 | 23 | 33 | 56 | 28 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
1984–85 | Boston University | HE | 41 | 27 | 32 | 59 | 46 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
1985–86 | Boston University | HE | 43 | 25 | 49 | 74 | 54 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
1986–87 | Boston University | HE | 36 | 23 | 29 | 52 | 35 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
1987–88 | Flint Spirits | IHL | 81 | 48 | 109 | 157 | 113 | 16 | 11 | 15 | 26 | 16 | ||
1988–89 | Pittsburgh Penguins | NHL | 79 | 12 | 37 | 49 | 112 | 11 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 28 | ||
1989–90 | Pittsburgh Penguins | NHL | 72 | 32 | 60 | 92 | 138 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
1990–91 | Pittsburgh Penguins | NHL | 65 | 31 | 63 | 94 | 83 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
1990–91 | Hartford Whalers | NHL | 13 | 8 | 8 | 16 | 18 | 6 | 2 | 7 | 9 | 10 | ||
1991–92 | Hartford Whalers | NHL | 77 | 26 | 51 | 77 | 141 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 12 | ||
1992–93 | Hartford Whalers | NHL | 19 | 5 | 4 | 9 | 58 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
1992–93 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 47 | 13 | 28 | 41 | 53 | 12 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 0 | ||
1993–94 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 53 | 13 | 17 | 30 | 67 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
1994–95 | Pittsburgh Penguins | NHL | 46 | 13 | 24 | 37 | 66 | 9 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 8 | ||
1995–96 | Tampa Bay Lightning | NHL | 76 | 16 | 34 | 50 | 65 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 0 | ||
1996–97 | Tampa Bay Lightning | NHL | 70 | 18 | 37 | 55 | 95 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
1998–99 | Tampa Bay Lightning | NHL | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
1998–99 | Cleveland Lumberjacks | IHL | 6 | 2 | 7 | 9 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
NHL totals | 621 | 187 | 363 | 550 | 898 | 53 | 12 | 22 | 34 | 58 |
International
Year | Team | Event | Result | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1990
|
Canada | WC | 4th | 10 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 0 | |
Senior totals | 10 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 0 |
Awards
Cullen is the namesake of the John Cullen Award, previously given to key IHL players.
Award | Year | |
---|---|---|
College | ||
ECAC Rookie of the Year | 1983–84 | [4] |
All-Hockey East First Team | 1984–85 1985–86 |
[5] |
AHCA East Second-Team All-American | 1985–86 | [4] |
All-Hockey East Second Team | 1986–87 | |
IHL | ||
Gary F. Longman Memorial Trophy James Gatschene Memorial Trophy Leo P. Lamoureux Memorial Trophy First Team All-Star |
1987–88 | [4] |
NHL | ||
Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy | 1998–99 | [17] |
See also
References
- ^ a b c d e Ormsby, Mary (1993-04-13). "Hockey's Cullen clan 'To play for your dad's old team, well, how many kids get to do that?' asks the Leafs' feisty No. 19". Toronto Star. p. B1.
- ^ ISBN 0-385-25999-9.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Swift, E. M. (1992-03-09). "Center of Attention". Sports Illustrated. Archived from the original on November 3, 2012. Retrieved 2010-08-28.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "John Cullen player profile". Hockey Hall of Fame. Retrieved 2010-08-28.
- ^ a b "Boston University Hockey East 25th Anniversary Team" (PDF). Boston University. 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-12-30. Retrieved 2010-08-28.
- ^ "Trading places: One deal 15 years ago that changed Penguins forever". Pittsburgh Penguins Hockey Club. 2006-03-04. Retrieved 2010-08-28.
- ^ "Cullen opts out". New York Times. 1991-08-06. Retrieved 2010-08-29.
- ^ McKenzie, Bob (1991-10-15). "Cullen gets $4 million in a Whale of a deal". Toronto Star. p. C2.
- ^ a b c d e f g Herman, Lonnie (2010-05-26). "Bolt from the Blue: John Cullen". Tampa Bay Lightning Hockey Club. Retrieved 2010-08-28.
- ^ a b c d Kennedy, Kostya (1998-09-21). "Happy Days". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved 2023-02-12.
- ^ "Cullen returns from illness". New York Times. 1998-09-10. Retrieved 2010-08-28.
- ^ "Cullen's comeback includes big goal". New York Times. 1998-09-19. Retrieved 2010-08-28.
- ^ a b c El-Bashir, Tarik (1998-12-16). "Healthy again, Cullen enjoys on-ice retirement". New York Times. Retrieved 2010-08-28.
- ^ Solano, Javier (1998-11-11). "Cullen wants a chance to play". Orlando Sentinel. p. C6. Retrieved 2010-08-28.
- ^ "Cullen's 7 points match IHL record". Chicago Tribune. 1998-11-08. p. 16. Retrieved 2010-08-28.
- ^ "Lightning center decides to retire after cancer comeback". Bowling Green Daily News. 1998-11-29. p. 5B. Retrieved 2010-08-28.
- ^ a b "Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy winners". Hockey Hall of Fame. Retrieved 2010-08-28.
- ^ "IHL honors Cullen". New York Post. 1998-12-10. p. 91. Retrieved 2010-08-28.
- ^ "Bolt From the Blue: Terry Crisp - Best of the Web". Lightning.nhl.com. Retrieved 2012-11-07.
- ^ Cristodero, Damian (2013-01-18). "After cancer scare, ex-Lightning star John Cullen feels blessed". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved 2015-10-13.
- ^ Bishop, Jeff (2009-06-09). "Dodge dealer John Cullen closes car lot". Newnan Times-Herald. Archived from the original on 2011-07-17. Retrieved 2010-08-29.
- ^ Shea, Kevin (2004). "Stanley Cup journal". Hockey Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on 2010-12-03. Retrieved 2010-08-29.
- ^ Gliatto, Tom (1996). "Bridal Sweet". People Magazine. Retrieved 2011-08-26.
External links
- Biographical information and career statistics from NHL.com, or Eliteprospects.com, or Hockey-Reference.com, or The Internet Hockey Database