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The 2002 U.S. Paralympic Sled Hockey Team made history as the first American team to win gold in the Paralympic Games. Their remarkable journey and triumph in Salt Lake City defied all odds and set the stage for the dominant success Team USA has had since, including gold medals in the last four Paralympic Winter Games (2010, 2014, 2018, 2022). Under first-year head coach Rick Middleton (Hampton, N.H.), Team USA went unbeaten in the '02 Paralympics and outscored opponents 26-6. The United States defeated Norway in the gold-medal game via a shootout in front of more than 8,300 people at the E Center. Defenseman Sylvester Flis (Franklin Park, Ill.) was named the Paralympic MVP and led the tournament with 18 points. His 11 goals and 18 points estab- lished U.S. and Paralympic single-tournament records that still stand today. HALL OF FAME O F F THE D R AW he U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Class of 2024, which consists of the 2002 Paralympic Sled Hockey Team, Matt Cullen, Brianna Decker, Frederic McLaughlin and Kevin Stevens, will be inducted during a ceremony on Dec. 4 in Pittsburgh. T 6 // OCTOBER 2024 USAHOCKEYMAGAZINE.COM U S A H O C K E Y N E W S , P E O P L E & P R O G R A M S Matt Cullen (Moorhead, Minn.) had an extraordinary playing career that included 21 seasons in the NHL with eight different clubs, including two Stanley Cup titles with Pittsburgh and one with Carolina. Cullen is one of just two American-born players ever to compete in 1,500 or more games in the NHL after suiting up for Anaheim, Florida, Carolina, the New York Rangers, Ottawa, Minnesota, Nashville and Pittsburgh. He recorded 731 career regular-season points (266 goals, 465 assists) in the NHL and tallied 58 points (19 goals, 39 assists) in 132 playoff games. Cullen represented the United States on the international stage on five occa- sions, highlighted by helping the U.S. to the bronze medal in the 2004 IIHF Men's World Championship. Welcome Club! TO THE Matt Cullen 2002 Paralympic Sled Hockey Team PHOTOS BY Getty Images; USA Hockey Archive VIDEO: U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame | Class of 2024 Media Availability