John Cullen was a standout college hockey player for the Boston University Terriers from 1983 to 1987, becoming the school’s all-time leading scorer with 241 points, including 98 goals and 143 assists. His impressive four-year career included being a three-time Hockey East All-Star and a Second Team All-American. He was elected team captain for his senior season in 1986-87, a campaign in which he was named a top ten finalist for the prestigious Hobey Baker Award. His collegiate success cemented his reputation as one of the best players in the program’s history.

After college, Cullen embarked on a professional career that included ten seasons in the NHL. He had a remarkable debut in the IHL in 1987-88, where he led the league in scoring with 157 points and earned both the Rookie of the Year and Most Valuable Player awards. This performance led to him signing with the Pittsburgh Penguins, with whom he had his most productive years, including a season where he finished with 92 points. Over his career, he also played for the Hartford Whalers, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Tampa Bay Lightning, accumulating 550 total points in 621 NHL games. He was a two-time NHL All-Star and later earned the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy for his perseverance after returning to the sport following a cancer diagnosis.