USA Hockey Magazine

SEPTEMBER 2026 USAHOCKEYMAGAZINE.COM // 39 ORTY-SOMETHING YEARS AGO, in the depths of a Minnesota winter, Terry Cullen pulled a hose across his backyard and set up a sprinkler, one of those oscil- lating models that goes back and forth spraying streams of water into the air. The former Division III player and coach of a local high school team was not out of his mind. Instead, he aimed to create a sheet of ice where his three young boys could play, and, possibly, fall in love with the game of hockey. In the years that followed, the fruits of Terry Cullen's efforts surpassed all expectations. His youngest, Joe, grew into a gritty cen- ter, played at Colorado College and had an 11-year pro career in the AHL and Europe. The middle son, Mark, also played at CC and had a 14-year pro career. The oldest, Matt, followed up two cam- paigns at St. Cloud State with an astounding 21 seasons in the NHL, winning a Stanley Cup with the Carolina Hurricanes and two more with the Pittsburgh Penguins. A fitness fanatic, and a jack of all trades who could play center or wing, anchor the penalty kill or man the point on the power play, Matt just kept going and going. Year after year, he filled various roles that any team asked of him. He concluded his career after 1,516 NHL games—24th on the all-time list and more than any other American-born players except for two—Ryan Suter and Chris Chelios. "We just loved hockey. Our dad loved it. We were on the ice all the time. We played togeth- er all the time," Matt, a U.S. Hockey Hall of Famer, said. "We just had a great childhood." Even more amazing, the Cullens aren't done yet. In fact, they may just be getting started. The passion for hockey that started with Terry has filtered through Matt to a new trio of Cullen brothers, Terry's grandsons, and they are making a splash. Matt's son, Wyatt, 18, was just selected 10th overall in the NHL Draft by the Nashville Predators, and is a freshman at the University of Minnesota this year. Another freshman will be his older brother, Brooks, 19, who just finished a stint in the USHL. The third, Joey, scored 22 goals in 21 games for Honeybaked's 15U Tier I squad last sea- son. He'll join USA Hockey's National Team Development Program in Plymouth, Mich., this fall, and few will be surprised if his name is called early in the draft in 2028. Terry Cullen didn't set out to turn his sons into pro hockey players. The Cullens' Hockey Legacy Continues To Evolve By NEAL BOUDETTE PHOTOS BY Getty Images; USA Hockey Archive; Cullen Family; Fargo Force Matt Cullen was inducted into the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame in 2024. Following a 21-year career in the NHL, now his sons, Joey, Brooks and Wyatt are attempting to follow in his footsteps. STANLEY CUPS NHL SEASONS NHL GAMES 3 21 1,516 MATT CULLEN WATCH: Matt Cullen | U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Class of 2024 TDd-t6qR6VA

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