USHockey Heroes
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US Hockey Heroes: Joe Mullen
Career statistics:
1,062 Games played, 502 goals;561 assists;1,063 points, 241 PIM
Playoff statistics:
143 Games, 60-46-106, 42 PIM, 3 STANLEY CUPS
Career statistics:
1,062 Games played, 502 goals;561 assists;1,063 points, 241 PIM
Playoff statistics:
143 Games, 60-46-106, 42 PIM, 3 STANLEY CUPS
On St. Patrick’s Day of 2007, Dallas Stars center Mike Modano scored two goals
against the Nashville Predators to become the all-time leader in career goals
scored among U.S.-born players. Modano passed New York City native Joe
Mullen, who scored his final NHL goal ten years earlier.
This month’s player profile will focus on “Slippery Rock Joe,” one of the best U.S.-
born players to have ever suited up in an NHL uniform.
against the Nashville Predators to become the all-time leader in career goals
scored among U.S.-born players. Modano passed New York City native Joe
Mullen, who scored his final NHL goal ten years earlier.
This month’s player profile will focus on “Slippery Rock Joe,” one of the best U.S.-
born players to have ever suited up in an NHL uniform.
Joseph Mullen was born on February 26, 1957 in
New York, NY, and grew up in the notorius “Hell’
s Kitchen” neighborhood. Joe and his younger
brother Brian played roller hockey on the city
streets, and his talent showed at a young age.
Joe would dominate the New York Metro Junior
Hockey League and go on to play at Boston
College. During his final two years at the
collegiate level, Mullen would be named to both
the ECAC First All-Star team as well as the NCAA
East All-America Team.
Joe Mullen also excelled on the international
stage, suiting up for Team USA at the 1979
World Championships in Sweden. While the
squad struggled posting a 2-2-3 record on their
New York, NY, and grew up in the notorius “Hell’
s Kitchen” neighborhood. Joe and his younger
brother Brian played roller hockey on the city
streets, and his talent showed at a young age.
Joe would dominate the New York Metro Junior
Hockey League and go on to play at Boston
College. During his final two years at the
collegiate level, Mullen would be named to both
the ECAC First All-Star team as well as the NCAA
East All-America Team.
Joe Mullen also excelled on the international
stage, suiting up for Team USA at the 1979
World Championships in Sweden. While the
squad struggled posting a 2-2-3 record on their
way to a seventh place finish, Mullen averaged a point per game. Just months
before the naming of the now-famed 1980 U.S. Olympic team, Mullen signed his
first pro contract with the St. Louis Blues.
His pro career began with a bang, as Mullen claimed the CHL top rookie honors
for the 1979-80 season, and followed that up by leading the league with 117 point
in his sophomore campaign.
While with the Blues from the 1981-82 season until he was traded to the Calgary
Flames during the 1985-86 season, Mullen would average well over a point per
game (301 GP, 151-184-335) while establishing himself as a small but dominant
forward. St. Louis fans were sad to see him move on, but just like every city he
would go on to play in, Mullen quickly won the hearts of fans in Alberta.
before the naming of the now-famed 1980 U.S. Olympic team, Mullen signed his
first pro contract with the St. Louis Blues.
His pro career began with a bang, as Mullen claimed the CHL top rookie honors
for the 1979-80 season, and followed that up by leading the league with 117 point
in his sophomore campaign.
While with the Blues from the 1981-82 season until he was traded to the Calgary
Flames during the 1985-86 season, Mullen would average well over a point per
game (301 GP, 151-184-335) while establishing himself as a small but dominant
forward. St. Louis fans were sad to see him move on, but just like every city he
would go on to play in, Mullen quickly won the hearts of fans in Alberta.
Calgary would advance to their first Stanley Cup final at the
end of Joe’s first season with the Flames, losing to
Montreal Canadiens in the spring of 1986. In 21 playoff
games that year, Mullen scored 12 goals and assisted on 7
others for a total of 19 points. The next season, he posted a
47 goals while winning his first Lady Byng Trophy as the
player who demonstrates the best sportsmanship and
gentlemanly conduct combined with performance in play.
The Flames would get their championship revenge against
Montreal in 1989, as Joe scored a career bests in regular
season goals (51), assists (59) and points (110). He
end of Joe’s first season with the Flames, losing to
Montreal Canadiens in the spring of 1986. In 21 playoff
games that year, Mullen scored 12 goals and assisted on 7
others for a total of 19 points. The next season, he posted a
47 goals while winning his first Lady Byng Trophy as the
player who demonstrates the best sportsmanship and
gentlemanly conduct combined with performance in play.
The Flames would get their championship revenge against
Montreal in 1989, as Joe scored a career bests in regular
season goals (51), assists (59) and points (110). He
followed that up with a playoff run of 16-8-24 in 21 games as the Flames beat the
Canadiens to bring Lord Stanley’s Cup to Calgary. At the conclusion of the
playoffs, he was awarded his second Lady Byng Trophy as well as being named a
First Team NHL All-Star.
Mullen would skate one more season for the Flames before moving on to the
Pittsburgh Penguins for the 1990-91 season. That Penguins team was loaded
with young talent, but management acknowledged the need for experience and
brought in a few veterans such as Mullen. That spring, Joe would score 17 points
while helping Mario Lemieux bring a championship to the Steel City. He followed
that up by scoring 42 goals the next season for the Penguins as they brought
home their second straight Stanley Cup. This would bring Mullen’s career NHL
championship total to 3.
Joe would play three of his final four seasons in Pittsburgh, continuing to provide
a stable veteran presence to one of the most talented, young teams in the league.
On February 7, 1995, Mullen became the first American player to total 1,000 career
points. He added a Lester Patrick Trophy (awarded for his contribution to hockey
in the U.S.) to his collection the same year. He retired after the 1996-97 season
as the top goal and point scorer among U.S.-born players.
Canadiens to bring Lord Stanley’s Cup to Calgary. At the conclusion of the
playoffs, he was awarded his second Lady Byng Trophy as well as being named a
First Team NHL All-Star.
Mullen would skate one more season for the Flames before moving on to the
Pittsburgh Penguins for the 1990-91 season. That Penguins team was loaded
with young talent, but management acknowledged the need for experience and
brought in a few veterans such as Mullen. That spring, Joe would score 17 points
while helping Mario Lemieux bring a championship to the Steel City. He followed
that up by scoring 42 goals the next season for the Penguins as they brought
home their second straight Stanley Cup. This would bring Mullen’s career NHL
championship total to 3.
Joe would play three of his final four seasons in Pittsburgh, continuing to provide
a stable veteran presence to one of the most talented, young teams in the league.
On February 7, 1995, Mullen became the first American player to total 1,000 career
points. He added a Lester Patrick Trophy (awarded for his contribution to hockey
in the U.S.) to his collection the same year. He retired after the 1996-97 season
as the top goal and point scorer among U.S.-born players.
For the duration of his career, the 5 foot 9 inch Mullen
embodied the “can-do” attitude of many native New
Yorkers, never letting his size become an issue. As a
right winger, it was his job to venture into the corners
to battle for puck possession, often against players 4-
5 inches taller and 30-40 pounds heavier than his 182
pound frame.
Joe came out of retirement to play for the U.S. national
team in 1998-99, helping the Americans rebound from
a poor showing the previous year so that they could
qualify to play for the 1999 World Championships. He
embodied the “can-do” attitude of many native New
Yorkers, never letting his size become an issue. As a
right winger, it was his job to venture into the corners
to battle for puck possession, often against players 4-
5 inches taller and 30-40 pounds heavier than his 182
pound frame.
Joe came out of retirement to play for the U.S. national
team in 1998-99, helping the Americans rebound from
a poor showing the previous year so that they could
qualify to play for the 1999 World Championships. He
showed no rust as he notched 3 assists in 3 qualifying games.
In 2000, Joe Mullen was immortalized in the hockey world by being inducted into
the Hockey Hall of Fame. Mullen was the sixth U.S.-born player to be inducted into
the Hall of Fame, and would be joined by the seventh, Pat LaFontaine, in 2003.
Joe Mullen currently serves as an assistant coach for the American Hockey
League’s Philadelphia Phantoms. USHockeyfan.com salutes Joe Mullen, who
was not only a great American hockey player, but one of the greatest hockey
players of all time period.
In 2000, Joe Mullen was immortalized in the hockey world by being inducted into
the Hockey Hall of Fame. Mullen was the sixth U.S.-born player to be inducted into
the Hall of Fame, and would be joined by the seventh, Pat LaFontaine, in 2003.
Joe Mullen currently serves as an assistant coach for the American Hockey
League’s Philadelphia Phantoms. USHockeyfan.com salutes Joe Mullen, who
was not only a great American hockey player, but one of the greatest hockey
players of all time period.