inforum
In a significant development for the University of Minnesota hockey program, Moorhead's Joey Cullen has officially committed to play for the Gophers, as revealed through a social media announcement on Sunday afternoon. The 5-foot-11 left-shot forward will be joining his older brothers, Brooks and Wyatt, who are already part of the 2026-27 Gophers team, continuing the family's deep ties to the program.
The Cullen brothers are the sons of Matt Cullen, a Stanley Cup champion in the NHL, who recently took on the role of director of player development at Minnesota. In his announcement, Joey expressed his gratitude, stating, "I am proud and honored to announce my commitment to play Division 1 hockey at The University of Minnesota. I would like to most importantly thank God, my family, teammates, coaches and everyone who has helped me get to this point."
Joey's commitment comes on the heels of his selection as the youngest player to represent the U.S. at the 2026 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, scheduled for August 3-8 in Edmonton, Alberta. He is also slated to join the U.S. National Team Development Program's U17 squad this winter, further solidifying his status as one of the top prospects for the 2028 NHL Draft.
Key Analysis
Joey's path to Minnesota was hinted at by his brother Wyatt during an interview at the NHL Draft on June 26, where Wyatt was selected 10th overall by the Nashville Predators. "Hopefully, my younger brother (Joey) will commit there soon, and we all play together someday," Wyatt told NHL Network Radio. That hope has now become a reality.
On the ice, Joey has already made a name for himself, helping Moorhead capture their second consecutive Minnesota Class 2A boys hockey state championship last season. Despite missing several games due to an injury sustained in a December contest against Minnetonka, he tallied an impressive 40 points, with 19 goals and 21 assists, in just 18 games for the Spuds.
With the addition of Joey, the Gophers are bolstering their roster for the upcoming season under first-year head coach Brett Larson, who inherits a team that finished 11-22-3 last year. The Cullen brothers' reunion in Minneapolis is expected to bring both skill and leadership to the program, as they look to turn things around.
Originally reported by inforum.