The Lightning forward returned to the NHL team following a successful battle against Non-Hodgkin lymphoma

When John Cullen was named the most valuable player of the NHL International Challenge on this date in 1998, he savoured it the way he might have if he had just won the Stanley Cup.

Cullen found himself fortunate to be on the ice at all that night in Innsbruck, Austria.

The 34-year-old Tampa Bay Lightning forward made his return to NHL action after a year-and-a-half on the sidelines while he successfully fought Non-Hodgkin lymphoma. He had been diagnosed with the cancer in April 1997 after trying to play through chest pain he couldn’t shake or explain.

And, almost as if a Hollywood screenwriter had penned it, Cullen scored what turned out to be the game- and tournament-winning goal as the Bolts downed the Buffalo Sabres 3-1 to win the four-team International Challenge. Two clubs from Austria also took part in the multi-day event.

Cullen’s goal, a second-period tally, was a result of the hard work that had characterized not only his cancer battle but also his entire hockey career. He parked in front of the Sabres’ net and tipped a point shot from teammate Michal Sykora past all-world netminder Dominik Hasek.

“Just to score again, just to hear your name on the public address system, just to be playing hockey again, it’s all just a great, great feeling,” an emotional Cullen told St. Petersburg Times sportswriter Tom Jones after the game. “After everything, it just hit me that all of a sudden, I’m here. I’m back.”

The goal and the good feelings it engendered didn’t guarantee Cullen a spot on the Lightning’s roster for the 1998-99 season. He made it clear that he wanted to earn a place on the team, not have a spot given to him out of charity. He did make the team, suiting up in four of Tampa Bay’s first eight games to open the campaign, but it became clear that he had lost a step. He agreed to accept a demotion to the Cleveland Lumberjacks, the Bolts’ farm team in the International Hockey League.

Cullen played nine games with Cleveland and had a night for the ages when he registered two goals and five assists against the Chicago Wolves, tying the franchise record for points in a game. Unfortunately, a bout with the flu soon followed. Although it proved to be unrelated to his cancer, it was enough to convince Cullen that his comeback was over. He retired and accepted an assistant coaching position with the Lightning.

Although Cullen had not completed the season, the IHL honoured him by immediately renaming its Comeback Player of the Year Award after him. The Professional Hockey Writers’ Association also recognized his perseverance and dedication in presenting him with the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy in June 1999.