Patrick Mullen (ice hockey)

Patrick Mullen (born 6 May 1986) is an American professional ice hockey player, currently playing for the Belfast Giants in the UK's Elite Ice Hockey League (EIHL). Mullen was most recently with the Vienna Capitals in the Erste Bank Eishockey Liga (EBEL). Mullen played one season for the Sioux Falls Stampede in the United States Hockey League (USHL) before attending the University of Denver (DU). He was a four-year student-athlete at DU, twice being named to the All-WCHA Academic Team and as a senior was awarded the Lowe's Senior CLASS Award. Following his college career he signed with the Los Angeles Kings as a free agent. Mullen played three seasons for the Kings minor league affiliate the Manchester Monarchs, before leaving as a free agent and signing with the Vancouver Canucks. Mullen has played both forward and defense throughout his career. He is the son of Hockey Hall of Famer Joe Mullen.

Patrick Mullen
Born (1986-05-06) 6 May 1986 (age 38)
Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.[1]
Height 6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Weight 181 lb (82 kg; 12 st 13 lb)
Position Defense
Shoots Right
EIHL team
Former teams
Belfast Giants
Manchester Monarchs
Chicago Wolves
Utica Comets
Binghamton Senators
Milwaukee Admirals
Dinamo Riga
Rochester Americans
Linköpings HC
Adler Mannheim
Vienna Capitals
NHL draft Undrafted
Playing career 2009–present

Early life

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Patrick was born in Boston, Massachusetts to Linda and Joe Mullen.[2][3] He has two older brothers and a younger sister. Their father is a Hockey Hall of Fame forward. He graduated as an honor roll student from Upper St. Clair High School in Pittsburgh.[3]

Playing career

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Mullen played junior ice hockey for the Sioux Falls Stampede in the United States Hockey League (USHL) during the 2004–05 season. He registered 37 points in 60 games, fourth on the team; he also led the Stampede in plus-minus with a +11 rating.[4][5] After the season, Mullen chose to attend the University of Denver (DU) in part for the coaches and the city of Denver.[3]

 
Members of the Denver Pioneers celebrating their 2008 tournament victory

Prior to his first season with the Pioneers, Mullen was named Preseason Player to Watch by College Hockey News.[5] He scored his first career goal in a 4–2 win against the Air Force Academy, helping DU to their first win of the year.[6] He finished the year with 7 goals and 17 points in 37 games, tying for sixth on the team for goals and points.[5] The following season, he recorded four multi-point games, though he only managed to duplicate the 17 points recorded in his freshman season. Mullen spent most of the season on forward, but also played four games as a defenseman. He missed the Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) playoffs after contracting mononucleosis.[7] Following the conclusion of the season, Mullen was named to the All-WCHA Academic Team.[5]

In the 2007–08 season, Mullen began the year playing defense.[8] Though he did spend some time at forward, Mullen led all DU defenders in scoring by season's end.[3][9] In back-to-back games leading up to the WCHA playoffs, Mullen received two 10-minute misconduct penalties. As a result, head coach George Gwozdecky suspended Mullen for the first game of the playoffs.[7] Mullen returned from his suspension the following game and helped the Pioneers to an eventual WCHA tournament win.[10][11] In his senior season, Mullen set career highs in assists and points while leading Denver in blocked shots.[3] At the conclusion of the year, he was again named to the All-WCHA Academic Team and was awarded the Lowe's Senior CLASS Award.[5][12]

 
Mullen playing for the Chicago Wolves

Undrafted out of college, Mullen signed a two-year entry-level free agent contract with the Los Angeles Kings on 3 April 2009.[13] Playing with the Kings farm team the Manchester Monarchs, Mullen recorded his first professional point, an assist, in his first game, a 6–3 victory over the Albany River Rats.[14] His first professional goal came almost two months later in a 4–2 win against the Springfield Falcons. After playing 36 games for the Monarchs, Mullen was sent down to their ECHL affiliate, the Ontario Reign.[15] After playing only one game for the Reign, he was recalled by Manchester.[16] He finished the year playing 8 more games for the Monarchs bring his total to 44 and recorded 4 goals and 10 points in his first professional season. In the playoffs Mullen played two games without recording a point.[4] In his second season Mullen received more responsibilities after being added to the Monarchs power play unit, and while he played mostly on defense, he did see some ice time at forward. With the changes he doubled his production to 20 points in 67 games.[17] During the off-season Mullen was re-signed by the Kings to a one-year contract.[18] In his third season he again double his point production registering 41 points in 69 games. He also played in 4 playoff games for the Monarchs registering a goal and three points.[19]

Following the completion of his contract Mullen left the Kings organization as a free agent and signed with the Vancouver Canucks.[20] Due to the depth on defense on Vancouver Mullen was not expected to make the Canucks out of training camp.[21] With the 2012–13 lockout approaching Mullen was assigned to the Canuck's American Hockey League affiliate, the Chicago Wolves.[22] In his second game with the Wolves Mullen suffered an injury to his left shoulder. The injury required surgery which ended his season.[23] Despite his limited playing time in Chicago the Canucks re-signed Mullen to a one-year contract in the off-season.[24]

On 4 March 2014, Mullen was traded by the Canucks to the Ottawa Senators organization for Jeff Costello.[25]

In the 2015–16 season, his third within the Senators' organization, Mullen was traded by Ottawa to the Nashville Predators in exchange for Conor Allen on 14 January 2016.[26]

At the conclusion of the season and out of contract with the Predators, Mullen as a free agent left North America and accepted an initial try-out contract with Latvian club, Dinamo Riga of the KHL on 27 July 2016.[27] He saw the ice in 39 KHL games, tallying four goals and eight assists, before parting ways with Dinamo on 13 December 2016.[28] On 2 February 2017, having agreed to return to the AHL with the Binghamton Senators, Mullen was claimed off waivers by the Rochester Americans and played out the remainder of the 2016–17 season in collecting 14 points in 27 games.[29]

As a free agent, Mullen opted to return abroad in agreeing to a two-year contract with Swedish outfit, Linköpings HC of the SHL on 10 July 2017.[30] On 15 February 2018, he left Sweden for German DEL side Adler Mannheim, joining the team on loan for the remainder of the 2017–18 campaign.[31]

In August 2019, Mullen moved to British EIHL side Belfast Giants.[32] Mullen left Belfast in 2020. He rejoined the Giants in March 2022 as injury cover.[33]

Career statistics

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Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2004–05 Sioux Falls Stampede USHL 60 14 23 37 8
2005–06 University of Denver WCHA 37 7 10 27 24
2006–07 University of Denver WCHA 37 5 12 17 20
2007–08 University of Denver WCHA 40 4 18 22 65
2008–09 University of Denver WCHA 38 4 21 25 39
2009–10 Ontario Reign ECHL 1 0 0 0 0
2009–10 Manchester Monarchs AHL 44 4 6 10 16 2 0 0 0 2
2010–11 Manchester Monarchs AHL 67 3 17 20 32 7 0 1 1 4
2011–12 Manchester Monarchs AHL 69 13 28 41 45 4 1 2 3 8
2012–13 Chicago Wolves AHL 2 0 0 0 0
2013–14 Utica Comets AHL 46 7 13 20 23
2013–14 Binghamton Senators AHL 20 1 11 12 12 4 0 2 2 6
2014–15 Binghamton Senators AHL 54 5 24 29 32
2015–16 Binghamton Senators AHL 36 1 15 16 18
2015–16 Milwaukee Admirals AHL 29 2 12 14 19 3 0 1 1 2
2016–17 Dinamo Riga KHL 39 4 8 12 26
2016–17 Rochester Americans AHL 27 4 10 14 22
2017–18 Linköpings HC SHL 34 4 7 11 14
2017–18 Adler Mannheim DEL 3 0 2 2 2 10 1 1 2 4
2018–19 Vienna Capitals EBEL 29 4 21 25 9 16 0 6 6 10
2019–20 Belfast Giants EIHL 30 5 15 20 16
2022 Team Mullen 3ICE 23 8 11 19
2023 Team Mullen 3ICE 6 5 2 7
AHL totals 394 40 136 176 219 20 1 6 7 22

Awards and honors

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Award Year
College
All-WCHA Academic Team 2006–07
2008–09
[5]
Lowe's Senior CLASS Award 2008–09 [12]
3ICE
Larry Murphy Best Defensive Player Award 2022

References

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  1. ^ Skelnik, Justin, ed. (2012). 2012–13 Chicago Wolves Media Guide. p. 72.
  2. ^ "Patrick Mullen Player Profile". National Hockey League. Retrieved 8 March 2013.
  3. ^ a b c d e "Patrick Mullen Denver Pioneers Player Profile". University of Denver. Archived from the original on 9 March 2012. Retrieved 16 July 2012.
  4. ^ a b "Patrick Mullen Career Statistics". National Hockey League. Retrieved 16 July 2012.
  5. ^ a b c d e f "Patrick Mullen Bio". National Hockey League. Retrieved 16 July 2012.
  6. ^ "DU Earns First Win of the Season: Fisher shines with 23 saves in 4-2 win over Air Force". U.S. College Hockey Online. 21 October 2005. Retrieved 16 July 2012.
  7. ^ a b Chambers, Mike (10 March 2008). "DU's Mullen suspended for playoff opener; Ryder could return by NCAAs". The Denver Post. Retrieved 18 July 2012.
  8. ^ Chambers, Mike (4 October 2007). "DU's Mullen pegged to begin on blueline". The Denver Post. Retrieved 18 July 2012.
  9. ^ Chambers, Mike (6 February 2008). "Trotter saga continues; Ruegsegger injury". The Denver Post. Retrieved 20 July 2012.
  10. ^ Chambers, Mike (15 February 2008). "Game 2: DU notes". The Denver Post. Retrieved 20 July 2012.
  11. ^ "Championships: WCHA Playoff Summaries 1959–2009" (PDF). 2009–10 WCHA Men's Yearbook: 133. Retrieved 20 July 2012.
  12. ^ a b "Patrick Mullen Player Card". Premier Sports Management. Retrieved 18 July 2012.
  13. ^ "Kings Ink Patrick Mullen to Two-Year Contract". TSN. 3 April 2009. Retrieved 18 July 2012.
  14. ^ Mueller, Kim (5 October 2009). "Monarchs Report (Oct. 5)". Los Angeles Kings. Retrieved 18 July 2012.
  15. ^ "Mullen Assigned to Ontario". Los Angeles Kings. 16 March 2010. Retrieved 18 July 2012.
  16. ^ "Mullen Recalled to Manchester". Ontario Reign. 19 March 2010. Archived from the original on 30 January 2013. Retrieved 18 July 2012.
  17. ^ "Finding His Niche On The Monarchs Blueline". Manchester Monarchs. 2 September 2011. Retrieved 18 July 2012.[permanent dead link]
  18. ^ "Six Players Agree to Terms with Kings". Los Angeles Kings. 15 July 2011. Retrieved 18 July 2012.
  19. ^ "Manchester Monarchs Individual Player Stats". Manchester Monarchs. Archived from the original on 28 July 2012. Retrieved 18 July 2012.
  20. ^ "Vancouver Canucks sign blueliners Derek Joslin, Patrick Mullen". Vancouver Sun. 5 July 2012. Retrieved 6 July 2012.
  21. ^ Arndt, Wyatt (13 September 2012). "Canucks waive Joslin, Debsiens, Mullen, Gordon, Ebbett, and probably Fin at this point". The Province. Retrieved 29 October 2012.
  22. ^ Tucker, Cam (14 September 2012). "Vancouver Canucks re-sign 'more confident, stronger' Alex Burrows to four-year deal Top prospects Zack Kassian, Chris Tanev, others assigned to AHL Chicago Wolves, top pick Nicklas Jensen off to Sweden". Vancouver Sun. Archived from the original on 17 September 2012. Retrieved 19 September 2012.
  23. ^ LaTour, Paul (24 November 2012). "Wolves drop 4-3 decision in shootout". The Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 4 March 2013.
  24. ^ Tung, Allen (21 June 2013). "Vancouver Canucks Re-Sign Defenceman Patrick Mullen". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved 26 June 2013.
  25. ^ The Canadian Press. "Canucks acquire Jeff Costello from Sens for Patrick Mullen". CBC News.
  26. ^ "Predators acquire Mullen from Ottawa". Nashville Predators. 14 January 2016. Retrieved 14 January 2016.
  27. ^ ""Dinamo" pievienojas kanādietis un amerikānis, prom pieci uzbrucēji" [Dinamo signs American and Canadian on trial] (in Latvian). sportacentrs.com. 27 July 2016. Retrieved 27 July 2016.
  28. ^ "Rīgas "Dinamo" šķiras no diviem viesspēlētājiem". TVNET. Retrieved 16 December 2016.
  29. ^ "Amerks claim Mullen off waivers from Binghamton". Rochester Americans. 2 February 2017. Retrieved 2 February 2017.
  30. ^ "Patrick Mullen is ready to join LHC". Linköpings HC (in Swedish). 10 July 2017. Retrieved 10 July 2017.
  31. ^ "Patrick Mullen verstärkt die Adler". www.adler-mannheim.de (in German). Retrieved 16 February 2018.
  32. ^ "Patrick Mullen Joins Giants for 2019/20". 4 August 2019.
  33. ^ "Latest Belfast Giants News".
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