Photo by: Tyler Schank/Clarkson Creative Photography
Travis Culhane Hired by Los Angeles Kings
10/7/2025 11:30:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
Former Denver Director of Hockey Operations won two national championships with the Pioneers
DENVER – Former University of Denver Director of Hockey Operations Travis Culhane has joined the Los Angeles Kings as the assistant video coordinator of the NHL franchise.
Culhane, 29, wrapped up his fourth season at Denver in 2024-25 as the Director of Operations, helping the Pioneers to a 31-12-1 record and a consecutive trip to the NCAA Frozen Four. During his time at DU, Culhane was part of two NCAA National Championships (2022, 2024), two Penrose Cups as NCHC regular-season champions (2021-22, 2022-23), the 2024 NCHC Frozen Faceoff Championship and four Gold Pan trophy wins over Colorado College.
"Myself and everyone at Denver hockey are thrilled for Travis, his wife Michelle and their growing family on this opportunity with the Los Angeles Kings," said Denver Richard and Kitzia Goodman Hockey Head Coach David Carle. "Travis was a vital member of our program for the last four years and has been part of one of the greatest eras in Pioneer history with 30 wins each season, three Frozen Four appearances and two national championships. We look forward to watching him continue to further his career in the National Hockey League in the years to come."
The Pioneers went 124-40-5 overall in the four seasons with Culhane on staff, with Frozen Four trips in 2022, 2024 and 2025. DU won 30 games each season, the longest such streak in school history.
The Kalamazoo, Michigan, native also served as the United States video coach on Carle's staff at the previous two IIHF World Junior Championships in 2024 in Gothenburg, Sweden, and 2025 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. He helped the Americans win gold medals each year, marking the first time USA Hockey accomplished the feat at the under-20 tournament.
Culhane joined Denver after spending the previous two seasons with Colorado College in the same capacity (2019-2021). He also served as the director of hockey operations at Western Michigan in 2018-19 after working in the department as a student assistant from 2015-2017.
He graduated from Western Michigan in 2017 with a bachelor's degree in human resource management.
Culhane, 29, wrapped up his fourth season at Denver in 2024-25 as the Director of Operations, helping the Pioneers to a 31-12-1 record and a consecutive trip to the NCAA Frozen Four. During his time at DU, Culhane was part of two NCAA National Championships (2022, 2024), two Penrose Cups as NCHC regular-season champions (2021-22, 2022-23), the 2024 NCHC Frozen Faceoff Championship and four Gold Pan trophy wins over Colorado College.
"Myself and everyone at Denver hockey are thrilled for Travis, his wife Michelle and their growing family on this opportunity with the Los Angeles Kings," said Denver Richard and Kitzia Goodman Hockey Head Coach David Carle. "Travis was a vital member of our program for the last four years and has been part of one of the greatest eras in Pioneer history with 30 wins each season, three Frozen Four appearances and two national championships. We look forward to watching him continue to further his career in the National Hockey League in the years to come."
The Pioneers went 124-40-5 overall in the four seasons with Culhane on staff, with Frozen Four trips in 2022, 2024 and 2025. DU won 30 games each season, the longest such streak in school history.
The Kalamazoo, Michigan, native also served as the United States video coach on Carle's staff at the previous two IIHF World Junior Championships in 2024 in Gothenburg, Sweden, and 2025 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. He helped the Americans win gold medals each year, marking the first time USA Hockey accomplished the feat at the under-20 tournament.
Culhane joined Denver after spending the previous two seasons with Colorado College in the same capacity (2019-2021). He also served as the director of hockey operations at Western Michigan in 2018-19 after working in the department as a student assistant from 2015-2017.
He graduated from Western Michigan in 2017 with a bachelor's degree in human resource management.
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Visit DenverPioneers.com for complete coverage of all 18 of DU's NCAA Division I sports
Like Denver Pioneers and Denver Hockey on Facebook
Follow @DU_Pioneers and @DU_Hockey on X
Follow @DenverPioneers and @DU_Hockey on Instagram
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