Brian Mullen

Last updated
Brian Mullen
Brian Mullen 2019 Junior Rangers Hockey Program 1 (cropped).jpg
Brian Mullen on November 30, 2019
Born (1962-03-16) March 16, 1962 (age 62)
New York City, U.S.
Height 5 ft 10 in (178 cm)
Weight 180 lb (82 kg; 12 st 12 lb)
Position Left wing
Shot Left
Played for Winnipeg Jets
New York Rangers
San Jose Sharks
New York Islanders
National teamFlag of the United States.svg  United States
NHL draft 128th overall, 1980
Winnipeg Jets
Playing career 1982–1993

Brian Patrick Mullen (born March 16, 1962) is an American former professional ice hockey player who spent eleven seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) playing for the Winnipeg Jets, New York Rangers, San Jose Sharks, and New York Islanders. Mullen appeared in 832 career NHL games, recording 260 goals and 622 points, along with 30 playoff points in 62 postseason games.

Contents

Amateur career

Mullen grew up in an Irish-American family in the Hell's Kitchen neighborhood of Manhattan, New York. [1] He and older brother Joe Mullen played roller hockey in the streets of Manhattan as children. After landing a job as a stick boy for the New York Rangers, he and Joe were offered a spot on a junior league team coached by Ranger head coach Emile Francis.

Mullen won an athletic scholarship to the University of Wisconsin–Madison where he played under legendary college hockey coach "Badger" Bob Johnson.

Professional career

Brian Mullen in 1988. Brian Mullen 1988.JPG
Brian Mullen in 1988.

Mullen was selected in the seventh round of the 1980 NHL Entry Draft by the Winnipeg Jets. Two years later, he signed with the Jets and scored an impressive 24 goals and recorded 50 points during his rookie season. He spent five seasons with Winnipeg before joining his hometown New York Rangers where he spent four seasons. Mullen also represented the United States in the 1989 and 1991 Ice Hockey World Championship tournaments after the Rangers were knocked out in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs (he was also a member of the 1984 Canada Cup team). Mullen spent the 1991–1992 season with the Sharks and the following season with the Islanders.

On August 9, 1993, Mullen suffered a small stroke caused by a blood clot in his brain. [2] The stroke severely impacted his motor skills and he required open heart surgery. Mullen was recovering well and his reflexes largely returned to normal. He hoped to one day return to action in the NHL but a subsequent seizure in 1994 ended his dreams of a comeback and he was forced to retire from hockey. [2]

Post career

Brian Mullen at a Junior Rangers hockey program at the Protec Ponds Training Center in Somerset, New Jersey on November 30, 2019. Brian Mullen 2019 Junior Rangers Hockey Program 2.jpg
Brian Mullen at a Junior Rangers hockey program at the Protec Ponds Training Center in Somerset, New Jersey on November 30, 2019.

After his retirement, he worked for the NHL front office for eight years. He also worked as a radio color analyst for the New York Rangers alongside play-by-play announcer Kenny Albert for the 2002-2003 and 2003–2004 seasons. He is currently a youth hockey coach with the Protec Ducks of the New Jersey Youth Hockey League (NJYHL) who skate out of Protec Hockey Ponds in Somerset, New Jersey.

Awards and accomplishments

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

   Regular season   Playoffs
Season TeamLeagueGP G A Pts PIM GPGAPtsPIM
1977–78New York WestsidersNYJHL3321365738—————
1978–79New York Jr. RangersNYJHL36474592——————
1979–80New Jersey RocketsNYJHL23453176——————
1980–81 University of Wisconsin WCHA 3811132428—————
1981–82 University of WisconsinWCHA3320173710—————
1982–83 Winnipeg Jets NHL 802426501431010
1983–84 Winnipeg JetsNHL752141622830336
1984–85 Winnipeg JetsNHL693239713281234
1985–86 Winnipeg JetsNHL792834623831236
1986–87 Winnipeg JetsNHL691932512094260
1987–88 New York Rangers NHL7425295442—————
1988–89 New York RangersNHL782935646030114
1989–90 New York RangersNHL7627416842102248
1990–91 New York RangersNHL791943624450220
1991–92 San Jose Sharks NHL7218284666—————
1992–93 New York Islanders NHL8118143228183472
NHL totals8322603626224146212183030

International

YearTeamEvent GPGAPtsPIM
1980 United States WJC 52350
1981 United StatesWJC50226
1984 United States CC 40000
1989 United States WC 102354
1991 United StatesWC104486
Junior totals102576
Senior totals24671310

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References

  1. ↑ Allen, Kevin. "Mullen brothers come long way from Hell's Kitchen", USA Today , February 7, 1989. Accessed August 11, 2009.
  2. 1 2 Sawatzky, Mike (October 21, 2016). "Mullen strolls down memory lane". Winnipeg Free Press. Retrieved March 28, 2017.
  3. ↑ Cohen, Russ; Halligan, John; Raider, Adam (2009). 100 Ranger Greats: Superstars, Unsung Heroes and Colorful Characters. John Wiley & Sons. p. 34. ISBN   978-0470736197 . Retrieved February 3, 2020.
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