Status: Carolina Hurricanes center
HT: 6-foot-1 WT: 205 pounds
DOB: Nov. 2, 1976 IN: Virginia, Minn.
First Hockey Memory: "Playing in the backyard growing up. I have two brothers (Mark, Joe) who played and we would just play in the backyard all day and all night."
Hockey Inspirations: "Wayne Gretzky was obviously a huge one. My dad (Terry) was a big one. He was the high school coach in my hometown for 20 years. I learned a lot from him."
Nicknames: "Not really, Cully has kind of been there for good."
Hobbies/Leisure Activities: "I like everything. I like to play baseball, football, a little golf. I just like to play sports. Be outside. Tennis I like a lot."
Favorite Movies: "The Natural with Robert Redford, the baseball movie."
Favorite TV Shows: "I don't know. I liked Seinfeld a lot."
Musical Tastes: "I like everything; anything from Pearl Jam to country music. We kind of get Pearl Jam, all different kinds of music here. Then I go home in the summertime to Minnesota and it's all country. So I get the whole range."
First Job: "I was putting insulation into houses. Not a lot of fun."
First Car: "Was a Pontiac 6000 (grey). Where the steering wheel just shook, so when you got to where you were going, your hands were just like you mowed the lawn."
Favorite Meal: "My mom's (Nancy) homemade waffles."
Favorite Breakfast Cereal: "I like that Kashi cereal."
Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: "Mint."
Pre-game Feeling: "Just thinking about how to try to use my speed as much as possible and take the puck to the net. That's kind of the main focus I have, offensively, anyway. Take the puck to the net. Use your speed."
Greatest Sports Moment: "Ah, winning the Stanley Cup."
Most Painful Moment: "Probably losing in the state high school championship my senior year was the worst sports moment."
Worst Injury: "I had a sports hernia that kept me out for a while. It was a tough injury to come back from because everything comes from your core."
Favorite Uniforms: "I really like the Rangers, the one with the laces in the front. The old school, I like those a lot."
Favorite Arena To Play: "I actually enjoyed playing in Montreal. I like their building."
Closest NHL Friends: "Too many to name. I think pretty much everybody on the team. When you go through the run that we did together, you get to be pretty close friends."
Funniest Players Encountered: "I'd say Ray Whitney. He's just a little, creepy little guy. He's really funny, though."
Toughest Competitor(s): "Scott Stevens was one of the toughest guys I played against."
Funny Hockey Memory: "I had my windshield Vaselined. I came out of the rink and there's Vaseline all over my windshield. And I turned on the wipers because I was an idiot and I didn't know what I was doing. I turn on the wipers and there's Vaseline all over my car. That was funny. (Who did it?) Actually it was Aaron Ward (laughs)."
Favorite Athletes To Watch: "I used to really like to watch Michael Jordan. I like Michael Vick. I like watching LeBron James, the way he plays is pretty impressive. Steve Nash I like to watch. (NHL?) A guy like Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby - the way they play with the puck."
Personality Qualities Most Admired: "I like people with the courage of their convictions. People who stand up for what they think no matter what. I'm really impressed with that. Even if it's not a popular stance, they stick up for what they think. I respect that a lot."
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