The
stories of Joe Mullen
"Roller Hockey to NHL"
Video
Clip - Joe Mullen on roller hockey
St. Louis Blues 1980-1986
Calgary Flames 1986-1990
Pittsburgh Penguins 1990-1995 & 1996-1997
Boston Bruins 1995-1996
Wing
Born: February 26, 1957
At the time of his retirement in 1997,
Joe Mullen had scored more goals (502) and points (1,063)
than any American-born player in NHL history. He earned
three Stanley Cups, two Lady Byng Trophies, a Lester
Patrick Award and a First Team All-Star berth in his
career. He was also inducted into the Hockey Hall of
Fame in 2000.
Mullen is a native of New York City
and grew up playing roller hockey in the "Hell's
Kitchen" section of Manhattan. After playing four
years of junior hockey, he went on to play collegiately
at Boston College, where he became an All-American in
both 1978 and 1979. As a junior, in 1978, he even led
the Eagles to the NCAA championship game against rival
Boston University.
Following college, Mullen was recruited
to be a member of the fabled 1980 U.S. Olympic "Miracle
on Ice" team that won the gold medal at Lake Placid.
However, because his father was ill at the time, he
opted to instead turn pro and use the new income to
help out his family. In August of 1979 he signed with
the Blues. He was sent down to the CHL for two seasons
though, where he proceeded to win both the Rookie of
the Year and league MVP awards, respectively.
From there he made the jump to the
NHL, where, over the next 15 years he would play with
the Blues, Flames, Penguins and Bruins. The speedy and
tough goal-scorer was a big fan-favorite wherever he
played, and his never-say-die attitude made him a winner
both on the ice and off.
Perhaps his most memorable season came
in 1989, when he led the Calgary Flames to their first-ever
Stanley Cup, and in the process, he was named as a first-team
All-Star, received the Lady Byng Trophy (for sportsmanship),
and led the league in plus-minus as well. Then, in 1995,
he became the first American-born player to ever score
1,00 points in an NHL career.
Fellow United States Hockey Hall of
Fame member, the late Bob Johnson, once said of Mullen,
when the Penguins acquired Mullen for a second round
pick in 1990, "I'd go to war with Joe Mullen."
Mullen retired from the Pittsburgh
Penguins in 1997, at the tender young age of 40. In
addition, Mullen's brother, Brian, was also in the NHL.
More.......
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