For budding star forward Joey Cullen, Gophers hockey isnt just the future, its the family business.On Sunday afternoon Cullen, 16, made his commitment to Minnesota, where he eventually will join his father and two older brothers. The much-anticipated announcement came from western Canada, where he is playing for Team USA in an international tournament this week.He was recently listed as the top American in his age group by college hockey expert Brad Schlossman of the Grand Forks (N.D.) Herald. Those accolades came after Cullen was an offensive catalyst for his state champion high school team last season despite missing more than a dozen games with a broken wrist.His skill level is obvious, but we were really impressed with how hard of a worker he is and kind of quiet leader, said Moorhead coach John Ammerman, after the youngest Cullen brother posted 40 points in an injury-shortened sophomore season, playing 18 games as the Spuds won a second consecutive state Class AA title.The skill speaks for itself. I was super impressed with his work ethic and how much fun he has around the rink. Hes a student of the game, and a little bit of a goofball.On Saturday afternoon in Edmonton, Cullen scored one of Team USAs three third-period goals to spark a 4-2 win over Slovakia in a pre-tournament game in the Hlinka Gretzky Cup, which features the worlds top 16-year-olds.Cullens older brothers Wyatt and Brooks will join the Gophers this season, as their father, Matt, takes over as the programs director of player development under new coach Brett Larson. Wyatt was picked 10th overall by the Nashville Predators in the June NHL draft. Hockey-watchers say Joey is even better and may be a top five pick in the future.Per the Cullen family patriarch, who won the Stanley Cup three times in a 1,500-game NHL career, Joeys path to stardom began while playing mini-sticks with his brothers in the locker rooms of the Predators, Pittsburgh Penguins and Minnesota Wild.He grew up at the rink. Hes the third of three, and he was following his brothers around, Matt Cullen recalled. Hed be running around the rink with a (mini-stick) and a whiffle ball and stickhandling and playing hockey with anyone who would play with him.With two bigger, older brothers, Joey would also return from the ice with a bloody nose on more than one occasion, per his father, but quickly learned how to do what they did.A lot of battles back there, but he grew up around it with the big brothers, watching their games and analyzing them, then playing with them in the basement or the backyard or wherever he could, Matt said.Joey Cullen will spend the coming season in Michigan with USA Hockeys National Team Development Program and is expected to join the Gophers for the 2028-29 campaign as a freshman.