Many observers believe that Cullen Potter possesses the same deft touch with the puck that defined his mother`s game.
Jenny Schmidgall-Potter was a trailblazer, becoming one of the first women to successfully balance motherhood with elite-level hockey. She returned to the U.S. women`s national team after giving birth on two separate occasions.
A four-time Olympian and participant in ten World Championships, she welcomed her daughter Madison in 2001 and her son Cullen in 2007.
Cullen Potter was recently selected in the first round, 32nd overall, by the Calgary Flames in this year`s NHL draft.
“Cullen`s puck handling is amazing,” his mother commented. “People frequently tell me, `Jenny, you had incredible hands`… it`s a skill you simply need to dedicate time to developing.”
Schmidgall-Potter was part of the U.S. team that won the inaugural Olympic gold medal in women`s hockey at Nagano, Japan, in 1998. She also secured four World Championship titles with the American squad.
She ranks fifth all-time in points for the U.S. at the World Championships, accumulating 61 points over 50 games. Schmidgall-Potter retired from the national team in 2013 when Cullen was six years old and was inducted into the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame in 2020.
A memorable photo captures a three-year-old Cullen on the ice with his mother Jenny at the 2010 Olympic Games in Vancouver, holding her silver medal in his small hands.
Cullen admits his recollections of his mother`s playing career are somewhat vague.
“Only a little bit… some memories are definitely a bit hazy,” he mentioned recently at the Flames` development camp in Calgary.
“I do remember being on the ice and kissing the medal. I`ve seen that picture many times. So, I recall some moments, but not everything. I was quite young back then.”
“Some individuals who watched her play say they see similarities in how I play,” he added.
Cullen was walking by five months old and skating by his first birthday, but Jenny and her husband Rob waited until he was 11 before enrolling him in organized hockey. Cullen also participated in lacrosse and swimming.
His early hockey development took place on outdoor rinks in Minnesota, often guided by his parents, who operate a player training business.
“Cullen always had a knack for retrieving the puck,” Jenny observed. “Rob and I have a deep passion for hockey, and that definitely influenced him. He witnessed the love we have for the sport.”
His older sister, Madison, also played hockey and swam competitively for Notre Dame.
“I pretty much tried every sport imaginable,” Cullen stated. “From the moment I first stepped onto the ice, I think I just knew that was something I genuinely loved, and I haven`t looked back since.”
“With my mom playing in the Olympics and my dad playing college hockey, they possess extensive knowledge about the game. They`ve provided invaluable support through both challenging and successful periods.”
The five-foot-10, 172-pound center recorded 13 goals and nine assists in 35 games as an 18-year-old freshman at Arizona State this past season.
Prior to joining the Sun Devils, he tallied nine goals and 13 assists in 35 games for the U.S. development team during the 2023-24 season.
“I am incredibly proud of him,” Jenny shared. “He has matured significantly over the past year, particularly by going to college and playing alongside older, more experienced players.”
“I understand the level of daily commitment required and the sacrifices, like missing summer vacations or other events, because you are focused on achieving your goals.”
“He has always been a diligent worker and certainly possesses some genetic predisposition, but much of his progress is a result of the hard work he`s put in with my husband and with us as parents to reach his current position.”
“While I can express my love for hockey and the incredible moments like winning a gold medal and World Championships, I still believe the greatest achievements in my life are my children.”
The 46-year-old mother still closely follows the U.S.-Canada rivalry in women`s hockey, a dynamic she helped intensify for many years.
“The rivalry remains strong and true. Go U.S.A.,” she declared, before adding lightheartedly: “Cullen is in Canada now, so I suppose I might have to offer them a little bit of support as well.”
Tristan Blackwood