Centering connection in hockey and taking an inside look at what has defined success, beyond the ice.

Born and raised in Howie Centre, Chris Culligan, has had a notable hockey career in Canada and Abroad as both player and coach. From 2004 to 2009, Chris showcased his exceptional skills in front of a hometown crowd as a player, and former Captain, with the then Cape Breton Screaming Eagles, leaving a memorable mark during his tenure.

From there, Chris continued to make waves at the University of New Brunswick (UNB) from 2009 to 2014, where he was a 2x national champion. During these years Chris also represented Canada on the international stage.

Following his university career, Culligan ventured into the realm of professional hockey, spending three impactful years playing abroad. Recently, his commitment to the sport extended behind the bench as he moved into coaching. Bringing his wealth of experience back to the Cape Breton Eagles, Chris served as an assistant coach for three years, imparting his knowledge and passion for the game to the next generation of players.

Now the head coach of the local U18 program, Chris continues to contribute to the development of young talent. In parallel, he established "Culligan Hockey Development," a small group skill development business focusing on both in-season and off-season training, shaping the skills and futures of aspiring hockey players.

In 2023, the Cape Breton Eagles honored Culligan’s career and contributions to the organization by retiring his #7 jersey to the rafters, only the 2nd player in franchise history to receive the honours.

2024 TELUS CUP: https://www.hockeycanada.ca/en-ca/national-championships/men/u18-club/2024

Beyond the Ice is a podcast by Cape Breton University Researchers exploring coaches training and approaches in relationship building, effective communication practices, and leadership skills to improve confidence, enhance motivation and collective performance. Having conversations with coaches, players, parents, and hockey operation staff – taking an inside look at what has defined success, beyond the ice.

Hosts:

Dr. Lynn LeVatte (lynn_levatte@cbu.ca) (Lead Researcher) (Education Department, Cape Breton University)

Sarah MacRae (sarah_macrae@cbu.ca) (Department of Communication and Languages, Cape Breton University)

Dr. Kristin O'Rourke (kristin_orourke@cbu.ca) (Education Department, Cape Breton University)

Shaun Ranni (shaun_ranni@cbu.ca) (Department of Experiential Studies in Community and Sport)