Paul Culina

Had you been in Orono on the night of March 17, 2020, you could have found two men sitting at a local bar. One was Jeremy Swayman, finishing his junior year of college at the University of Maine as one of the greatest hockey players in Black Bear history. The other, Paul Culina,  was wrapping up what was arguably the most difficult season of a 25-year career of treating Maine athletes.

“We were lined up to play in the playoffs and host a home game as COVID hit us,” Paul Culina explains “That year, in particular, with Swayman in net, anything could have happened.” 

“So we went down to the local brewery and had a chance to say goodbye, knowing that great things were coming for him,” Culina recalls. “We had a beer the night before the world closed [due to COVID shutdowns] and that next day [Swayman] signed his first Bruins contract.” 

Paul Culina’s journey into the world of athletic training began in college, where he attended Norwich University. “When I entered college, I really had no idea what I wanted to do. I knew I liked sports, I liked math and science. But I didn’t really have a direction.”

In search of a work-study job, Culina approached the athletic director at Norwich, hoping for a chance to drive the Zamboni. Instead, he was pointed to the athletic training room. 

“One thing led to another,” he says. “It started with a work study job, learning how to tape ankles and the menial things to make it easier on the staff.”

Those “menial things” changed the course of Culina’s education and life. He began studying athletic training, graduating in 1991, and earned his master’s degree in 1993. And after studying and working at Norwich for about seven years, Culina was looking for a change of pace. 

“I knew that if I stayed there, I’d probably get a little stale. I needed to learn more,” he said.

Culina relocated to Bowdoin College, about 30 minutes from his hometown. He was determined to make Bowdoin a long-term stop but after only one year, he was given the opportunity to join the hockey program at the University of Maine.

Throughout the last 30 years, Culina’s time at Maine has included responsibilities across multiple sports. He remembers those first few years being hectic. After six years he became the head athletic trainer, a role he held for 12 years before stepping down and returning to work with hockey full time. 

The athletic trainer is the primary care provider for athletes, coordinating physicals, collaborating closely with doctors, and focusing on the prevention of injury and illness. Through their comprehensive approach to athlete health, ATs play a crucial role in ensuring that athletes are ready to perform and remain healthy throughout their careers.

“The most fulfilling thing is when you’ve got somebody that’s really struggling with something health-related, and to play a part in getting them back to that full participation status,” he shares. “You see somebody that may have been out for quite a while and to see them go out to warm-ups and play in their first game after a while and that warms my heart.”

For Black Bears captain Lynden Breen, his relationship with Culina is more than just staying game-ready – it’s a bond they’ve forged over four years on and off the ice. 

“Paulie, to me, is like another father around the rink,” Breen said. 

By January and February, the winter gets long and the hockey gets hard, grinding down even the toughest players. But Culina’s positive energy and dedication help carry the young athletes through.

“He’s the guy that always has a smile on his face,” said Breen. “He’s there for you and makes sure your body is ready to perform come Friday, Saturday every week.” 

Culina’s priority is long-term health and performance, even if it means tough calls, like withholding athletes from practice or games. 

“I’m a guy that doesn’t like to not practice,” Breen admits. “But for numerous times in my career he’s had to make decisions to pull me out. I don’t always love him for it,” he laughs. 

But while the players are focused on winning, Culina ensures they stay safe, healthy, and competitive in the long run. 

Reflecting on a summer filled with doctor’s visits, “Paulie’s always here driving me to the doctor, never makes me drive, and spent hours of his summer helping me,” Breen says. “It's special to have him around and I’m just super fortunate.” 

Over the years, Culina has come to learn that the relationship between athletic trainer and player is a two-way street. 

“They teach me new things every day,” he reflects. “What I’ve learned from my players is that you’ve got to be adaptable. You’ve got to be able to pivot really quickly.”

He emphasizes the importance of fostering a genuine connection with the team.

“It’s really important that the players know that you really care. You may not have all the answers, but you’re going to help them to the best of your ability.” 

When strolling down memory lane you don’t have to go far to find some unforgettable moments in Culina’s career.

“One of the most memorable moments in my career is winning the national championship in 1999,” he recalls. At the time, he was still relatively young in the profession, “I kind of figured these things would be a little bit easier to win after winning one in my first four years,” he laughs.

Culina takes pride in the success of the players he has worked with, noting, “Whether it be Stevie Kariya, Ben Bishop, Gustav Nyquist, Spencer Abbot, Brian Flynn, Jimmy Howard, or Swayman, all those names go on to do remarkable things at the next level and it’s always cool knowing that you did something to help them.”

With his experience at Maine and a career that’s impacted some of college hockey’s biggest names, Culina is a sought-after mentor for aspiring ATs. When he gets calls asking for advice on how to make it as an athletic trainer in hockey, he encourages them to prioritize excellence in their job above all else.

“I consider myself an athletic trainer first and somebody that works with hockey second,” he emphasizes. “The first thing I’ll tell them is number one, be the best athletic trainer you can be first, because it’s all about your patient care.”

“We may have 5,000 people that show up for a hockey game but that one heat in a track meet or swim meet is just as important to that athlete as every shift is to the hockey player,” he explains.

He also encourages young ATs to find a way to give back to their communities. 

“The other thing I tell people is to get involved and to start giving back a little bit and to find the one thing that really drives you,” says Culina. “I promise you, it leads to other things.”

“I’ve had the opportunity to get involved at the national and the state level,” he shares. Culina is a member of the National Athletic Trainers Association (NATA) and serves as the President of the Maine Athletic Trainers’ Society (PHATS). He’s also been the district representative to the National College and University Athletic Trainers’ Committee.

His early career at the University of Maine was guided by Wes Jordan. “I only got a chance to work with Wes for two years before he retired,” Culina explains. “But he was kind of a legend. Not only was he one of the grandfathers here in Maine but on the national level too, everybody knew Wes.” As a young AT at Maine, Wes taught Culina about getting involved and giving back.

He also explains that his mom was always involved in community initiatives, volunteering her time and effort, which taught him the importance of service from a young age.

“It’s just really rewarding,” he explains about his involvement in the athletic training community. “It’s easy to participate in something. It’s a bit more difficult to commit to something. But to be committed to something is much more rewarding than simply participating.”

“When you get to this point in your career, you do reflect. When I hit my 500th game six years ago. It was like, ‘Wow, you’ve done 500 games!’ - to me, it’s not a big deal. I just came to work everyday.”

Culina’s path, like most people’s, was not always traditional but he has built a reputation and legacy for himself at the University of Maine. “I look back and I’ve got no regrets with the path I’ve taken. I’m in a really cool position right now.”

Even in the midst of a long and successful career, he looks towards the future with anticipation. 

“I’ve got a few years left before I retire, he shares. While he loves his job, he’s clear: “I’m not going to be one of those people that works until I’m 80.”

His current focus is on their team, “I’m excited about what our team is doing, we’ve had a bit of a revival here. I love having a part in that and I’m looking forward to that.”

Culina’s passion remains strong as he talks about what lies ahead. “I’m not done yet,” he asserts. “You always have to learn and look for what’s new. What’s the next chapter? I don’t know.” Smiling he says, “I’ll finish what I’m doing first and then see what door opens next.”

Paul Culina’s love for hockey extends outside his professional life, it’s also a big part of him as a person. “I’m a lifelong hockey guy,” he states, reminiscing about his days as a high school player in Maine. After taking a break from college, he returned to find his playing days behind him. When he moved back to Maine he began playing in some adult leagues. Eventually, Culina and a few friends decided to start their own group, inviting players they knew were on their same pace.

The group established a few simple rules: don’t be a jerk– take it easy, don’t hog the ice or the puck– just have fun playing the game, and stay and drink a beer afterward. Their post-game gatherings grew into a social event they looked forward to just as much as the games.

“The guy who owns the sports bar started bringing a few pizzas for us to eat after we skate,” Culina explains. “So now the hour of ice turned into an hour on the ice and two hours in the dressing room, having a couple of beers and having some pizza and sharing some laughs.”

Eventually the group decided to brew their own beer, leading to the creation of “Next Goal Wins,” a fitting name for their creation. “At the end of the night, the last five minutes, it’s overtime. Next goal wins,” Culina shares.

Paul Culina’s experience on the Black Bears support staff is invaluable and full of lessons that resonate far outside the bounds of hockey. Culina quips, “One of these days I’m just going to write a book of stories, funny things, sad things from my career.” For those who have had the privilege to meet him, the prospect of reading those stories is surely exciting.