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Herb Brooks

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Herb Brooks
Hockey Hall of Fame, 2006 (Builder)
Brooks with the New York Rangers in 1983
Born (1937-08-05)August 5, 1937
Saint Paul, Minnesota, U.S.
Died August 11, 2003(2003-08-11) (aged 66)
near Forest Lake, Minnesota, U.S.
Coaching career
Biographical details
Alma materUniversity of Minnesota
Playing career
1955–1959Minnesota
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1970–1971Minnesota (assistant)
1971–1972Minnesota Junior Stars
1972–1979Minnesota
1980US Olympic Team
1980–1981HC Davos
1981–1985New York Rangers
1986–1987St. Cloud State
1987–1988Minnesota North Stars
1991–1992Utica Devils
1992–1993New Jersey Devils
1995–2002Pittsburgh Penguins (scout)
1998France Olympic Team
1999–2000Pittsburgh Penguins
2002US Olympic Team
2002–2003Pittsburgh Penguins (Dir. of Player Development)
Head coaching record
Overall192–107–19 (.634)
Tournaments8–1 (.889)
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
1974 Big Ten Champion
1974 WCHA Tournament Champion
1974 NCAA National Champion
1975 Big Ten Champion
1975 WCHA Regular Season Champion
1975 WCHA Tournament Champion
1976 WCHA Tournament Champion
1976 NCAA National Champion
1979 Big Ten Champion
1979 WCHA Tournament Champion
1979 NCAA National Champion
1987 NCHA Regular Season Champion
Awards
1974 WCHA Coach of the Year
Medal record
Men's ice hockey
Representing the  USA
World Championships
Bronze medal – third place 1962 United States (Player)
Winter Olympics
Gold medal – first place 1980 Lake Placid (Coach)
Silver medal – second place 2002 Salt Lake City (Coach)

Herbert Paul Brooks Jr. (August 5, 1937 – August 11, 2003) was an American ice hockey player and coach. His most notable achievement came in 1980 as head coach of the gold medal-winning U.S. Olympic team at Lake Placid. At the Games, Brooks' American team upset the heavily favored Soviet team in a match that came to be known as the "Miracle on Ice."

Brooks also coached multiple National Hockey League (NHL) teams, as well as the French team at the 1998 Winter Olympics. He ultimately returned to coach the U.S. men's team to a silver medal at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City. Brooks died in a car accident in 2003. At the time of his death, he was the director of player personnel for the NHL's Pittsburgh Penguins. He was posthumously inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame as a builder in 2006.

Early years

The 1958–59 Gopher Hockey Team, including Lou Nanne, Larry Smith, and Herb Brooks (#9, seated bottom left).

Brooks was born in Saint Paul, Minnesota, to Pauline and Herbert Brooks Sr. He attended Johnson High School, where his team won the 1955 state ice hockey championship.[1]

Brooks continued his ice hockey career with the University of Minnesota Gophers from 1955 to 1959.[2] He was a member of the 1960 Olympic team, only to become the last cut the week before the Games started. Three weeks later, Brooks sat at home with his father and watched the team he almost made win gold in Squaw Valley. Afterwards, Brooks went up to the coach, Jack Riley, and said, "Well, you must have made the right decision—you won". This humbling moment served as further motivation for Brooks, an already self-driven person.[3]

From 1960 to 1970, Brooks set a record by playing for the U.S. national team eight times, including the 1964 and 1968 Olympic teams.[4] While playing for the Rochester Mustangs in the United States Hockey League in the 1961–62 season, he formed part of the highest-scoring forward line in USHL history at the time, along with Bill Reichart and Ken Johannson.[5]

Careers

Coaching career

After retiring as a player, Brooks became a coach, notably leading his alma mater, the Minnesota Golden Gophers, to three NCAA championship titles in 1974, 1976, and 1979. Brooks finished his collegiate coaching with a record of 175 wins, 101 losses, and 20 ties.

Soon after Minnesota won its third college championship, he was hired to coach the 1980 Olympic team. Hand-picking his team, he named several of his Minnesota players to the team, as well as several from their rivals, Boston University and the University of Wisconsin-Madison. To compete with the Soviet Union team specifically, Brooks developed a hybrid of the rugged, physical North American style and the faster European style, which emphasized creativity and teamwork. He also stressed peak conditioning, believing that one of the reasons the Soviet team had dominated international competition was that many of their opponents were exhausted by the third period.

After his team's Olympic gold medal win, Brooks moved to Switzerland to coach HC Davos in the National League A. However he resigned from this position in January 1981, only six months after being hired, with the team having a poor record and Brooks facing criticism for what were described as "rough practices".[6] From 1981 to 1985, he coached in the National Hockey League for the New York Rangers, where he became the first American-born coach in Rangers' team history to win 100 games. After a brief stop at then-NCAA Division III St. Cloud State University, he returned to the NHL to coach the Minnesota North Stars (from 1987 to 1988), New Jersey Devils (1992–93), and Pittsburgh Penguins (1999–2000). He was a long-time scout for the Penguins from the mid-1990s, and held the role of Director of Player Personnel from 2002 to the day of his death. His hiring by the North Stars in 1987 was the last time a college coach was selected to coach an NHL team until North Dakota coach Dave Hakstol was tapped to coach the Philadelphia Flyers in May 2015.

Brooks also coached two more Olympic hockey teams: Team France at the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, and the U.S. hockey team again at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City. The 2002 team defeated the Russians in the semi-finals en route to a silver, losing in the gold medal game to Canada. The U.S. win over Russia came exactly 22 years to the day after the famous 'Miracle on Ice' game.[7][8]

Brooks was inducted into the United States Hockey Hall of Fame in 1990,[9] and the International Hockey Hall of Fame in 1999. He was honored posthumously with the Wayne Gretzky International Award in 2004, and inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.[9][10]

On January 13, 2000, Brooks confronted Colorado Avalanche announcer John Kelly for suggesting that Matthew Barnaby faked an injury after being hit by Alexei Gusarov with 27 seconds left.[11] He was suspended two games for that confrontation on January 18,[12][13][14][15][16] having been suspended indefinitely since January 15.[17][18][19][15][20] The night before Brooks got suspended, Gusarov was suspended two games for the hit.[21][15]

Broadcasting career

After he was fired by the Minnesota North Stars, Brooks then spent two years doing TV color commentary for SportsChannel America[22][23][24][25] along with play-by-play announcer Jiggs McDonald.

Personal life

Brooks was married to his wife Patti since 1965 and they had two children, Dan and Kelly.[26]

Death and legacy

A statue of Brooks outside RiverCentre, in Saint Paul

On the afternoon of August 11, 2003, six days after his 66th birthday, Brooks died in a single-car accident on Interstate 35 near Forest Lake, Minnesota.[27] It is believed that he fell asleep behind the wheel before the accident, and neither drugs nor alcohol were responsible. Brooks was not wearing his seat belt at the time of the crash, and according to the Minnesota State Patrol, it is likely he would have survived the crash if he had been.[28]

George Nagobads was the team physician when Brooks coached the US men's national team and Minnesota Golden Gophers men's ice hockey, and described Brooks by saying, "I really appreciated the way Herbie always treated the players, and for me, he was just like my son".[29]

In 2004, Disney released a film about the 1980 Olympic team called Miracle featuring Kurt Russell playing the part of Brooks. (Karl Malden had previously played Brooks in a 1981 television film called Miracle on Ice.) Brooks served as a consultant for the Disney film during principal photography, which was completed shortly before his death. At the end of the movie there is a dedication to Brooks. It states, "He never saw it. He lived it."

On the 25th anniversary of the Miracle on Ice, the Olympic ice arena in Lake Placid, New York, where the United States won the gold medal, was renamed Herb Brooks Arena. A statue of Brooks depicting his reaction to the victory in the 'Miracle' game was erected at the entrance to the RiverCentre in Saint Paul, Minnesota, in 2003.

The Herb Brooks Award is awarded at the conclusion of the Minnesota State High School League's state hockey tournament to "the most qualified hockey player in the state tournament who strongly represents the values, characteristics, and traits that defined Herb Brooks."[30]

The Herb Brooks Training Center is located at Blaine, Minnesota.

The National Hockey Center at St. Cloud State University in Minnesota was renamed for Brooks in April 2013.[31]

The Herb Brooks National Hockey Center was named in honour of Brooks in 2013

In 2006, Brooks was posthumously inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in the Builders' category. The inscription reads: "A man of passion and dedication, Herb Brooks inspired a generation of Americans to pursue any and all dreams."[9]

Brooksisms

Brooks's original expressions were known by his players as "Brooksisms", some of which were included in Miracle. According to Olympians John Harrington, Dave Silk, and Mike Eruzione, these are a few.[32]

  • "You're playing worse and worse every day and right now you're playing like it's next month."
  • "You can't be common, the common man goes nowhere. You have to be uncommon."
  • "Boys, I'm asking you to go to the well again."
  • "You look like you have a five pound fart on your head."
  • "You guys are getting bent over and they're not using Vaseline."
  • "You look like a monkey tryin' to hump a football!"
  • "You're looking for players whose name on the front of the sweater is more important than the one on the back. I look for these players to play hard, to play smart and to represent their country."
  • "Great moments are born from great opportunity."
  • "You know, Willy Wonka said it best: we are the music makers and we are the dreamers of dreams."
  • "This team isn't talented enough to win on talent alone."
  • "If you lose this game you'll take it to your grave ... your fucking grave."
  • "You were born to be a player. You were meant to be here. This moment is yours."[33]
  • "Write your own book instead of reading someone else's book about success."[7]
  • "Boys, in the front of the net it's a bloody nose alley."
  • "Don't dump the puck in. That went out with short pants."
  • "Throw the puck back and weave, weave, weave. But don't just weave for the sake of weaving."
  • "Let's be idealistic but let's also be practical."
  • "You guys don't want to work during the game?"
  • "The legs feed the wolf."
  • "We walked up to the tiger, looked him straight in his eye and spat in it."
  • "Tonight."
  • "Again."

Head coaching record

College

Statistics overview
Season Team Overall Conference Standing Postseason
Minnesota Golden Gophers (WCHA / Big Ten) (1972–1979)
1972–73 Minnesota 15–16–3 12–13–3 / 5–4–3 6th / 3rd WCHA First Round
1973–74 Minnesota 22–11–6 14–9–5 / 5–4–3 2nd / t-1st NCAA National Champion
1974–75 Minnesota 31–10–1 24–8–0 / 8–4–0 1st / 1st NCAA Runner-Up
1975–76 Minnesota 28–14–2 18–13–1 / 4–8–0 3rd / 3rd NCAA National Champion
1976–77 Minnesota 17–21–3 13–16–3 / 5–7–0 7th / 3rd WCHA Semifinals
1977–78 Minnesota 22–14–2 18–13–1 / 6–6–0 4th / 3rd WCHA First Round
1978–79 Minnesota 32–11–1 20–11–1 / 10–2–0 2nd / 1st NCAA National Champion
Minnesota: 167–97–18 119–83–14 / 43–35–6
St. Cloud State Huskies (NCHA) (1986–1987)
1986–87 St. Cloud State 25–10–1 13–6–1 t-1st NCAA Third Place Game (Win)
St. Cloud State: 25–10–1 13–6–1
Total: 192–107–19

      National champion         Postseason invitational champion  
      Conference regular season champion         Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
      Division regular season champion       Division regular season and conference tournament champion
      Conference tournament champion

†Minnesota played jointly in the Big Ten and WCHA from 1959 to 1981

NHL

Note: G = Games, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, Pts = Points

Team Year Regular Season Postseason
G W L T Pts Finish Result
NYR 1981–82 80 39 27 14 92 2nd in Patrick Lost in Division Finals (NYI)
NYR 1982–83 80 35 35 10 80 4th in Patrick Lost in Division Finals (NYI)
NYR 1983–84 80 42 29 9 93 4th in Patrick Lost in Division Semifinals (NYI)
NYR 1984–85 45 15 22 8 (38) (fired) —
MIN 1987–88 80 19 48 13 51 5th in Norris Missed playoffs
NJ 1992–93 84 40 37 7 87 4th in Patrick Lost in Division Semifinals (PIT)
PIT 1999–2000 58 29 24 5 (63) 3rd in Atlantic Lost in Conference Semifinals (PHI)
Total 507 219 222 66 504   5 playoff appearances

Other leagues

Note: GC = Games coached, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, OL = Overtime loss, Pts = Points, Pct = Winning percentage

Season Team League GC W L T OL Pts Pct
1980 USA Olympic Men's Team IIHF Gold Medal
1980–81 HC Davos Swiss-A 28 11 16 1 — 23 0.411
1991–92 Utica Devils AHL 80 34 40 6 — 74 0.463
1998 France Olympic Men's Team IIHF 11th-place finish
2002 USA Olympic Men's Team IIHF Silver Medal

See also

References

  1. ^ Dohrmann, George (March 22, 2004). "High School Heaven: Never mind the Twins, Vikings, T-Wolves and Wild – there's nothing in Minnesota to match the state hockey tournament". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved October 24, 2008.
  2. ^ America's Coach, Ross Bernstein 28
  3. ^ Calio, Jim (October 3, 1980). "A Solitary Soul on Ice, Coach Herb Brooks Drove His Young Olympians to Glory : People.com". People. People Magazine. Archived from the original on March 10, 2011. Retrieved May 30, 2011.
  4. ^ America's Coach, Ross Bernstein 33-34
  5. ^ Remmel, Lee (February 15, 1962). "History-Making Rochester Line Bars Cats' Title Path". Green Bay Press-Gazette. Green Bay, Wisconsin. p. 13.Free access icon
  6. ^ Hardy, Stephen; Holman, Andrew C. (2018). Hockey:A Global History. Urbana, Illinois: University of Illinois Press. p. 444. ISBN 978-0-252-08397-6.
  7. ^ a b "USA holds off Russia 3-2 to advance to gold medal game". CNN. Retrieved May 4, 2010.
  8. ^ "Roenick foils Russia's bid to tie game". CNN. Retrieved May 4, 2010.
  9. ^ a b c "Hockey Hall of Fame: Herb Brooks".
  10. ^ "Wayne Gretzky International Award". U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame. Retrieved March 19, 2018.
  11. ^ "DenverPost.com - Terry Frei". extras.denverpost.com. Retrieved July 21, 2021.
  12. ^ "Chicago Tribune: Chicago news, sports, weather, entertainment". chicagotribune.com. Retrieved July 21, 2021.
  13. ^ "ESPN.com - NHL - Brooks has a game left to serve". www.espn.com. Retrieved July 21, 2021.
  14. ^ Martin, Susan. "BROOKS' SUSPENSION TO END AFTER TONIGHT'S GAME VS. BLUES". The Buffalo News. Retrieved July 21, 2021.
  15. ^ a b c "Solving Sabres' Problems Starts From the Inside Out". Los Angeles Times. January 18, 2000. Retrieved July 21, 2021.
  16. ^ "N.H.L.: PITTSBURGH; Brooks's Suspension Extended a Game". The New York Times. Associated Press. January 19, 2000. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved July 22, 2021.
  17. ^ "Herb Brooks suspended by NHL". UPI. Retrieved July 21, 2021.
  18. ^ "ESPN.com - NHL - Barnaby grateful that coach defended him". www.espn.com. Retrieved July 21, 2021.
  19. ^ "ESPN.com - NHL - Brooks suspended indefinitely by league". www.espn.com. Retrieved July 21, 2021.
  20. ^ "N.H.L.: ROUNDUP; Brooks Suspended For Tirade". The New York Times. Associated Press. January 16, 2000. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved July 22, 2021.
  21. ^ "NHL suspends Alexei Gusarov". UPI. Retrieved July 21, 2021.
  22. ^ Schuster, Rachel (May 11, 1989). "NBC's O'Neil known for boldness, making changes". USA Today. p. 3C.
  23. ^ Mirlis, Eric (May 2018). I Was There!: Joe Buck, Bob Costas, Jim Nantz, and Others Relive the Most. ISBN 9781683582120.
  24. ^ Serby, Steve (October 24, 2020). "Mike 'Doc' Emrick reflects on legendary broadcast career in chat with Post". New York Post.
  25. ^ Markus, Don (November 1, 1991). "He's baaack: Herb Brooks leaves sales for pro hockey". The Baltimore Sun.
  26. ^ "Herb Brooks Foundation" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on April 11, 2008.
  27. ^ America's coach, Ross Bernstein 159
  28. ^ http://www.startribune.com/cars/11355856.html[dead link]
  29. ^ Feldman, Jason (September 29, 2017). "Miracle On Ice doctor has fond memories of brooks, U". Post-Bulletin. Rochester, Minnesota. Retrieved July 9, 2021.
  30. ^ "2006–2007 MSHSL Athletic Rules and Policies Manual". Minnesota State High School League. December 6, 2006. Archived from the original on September 24, 2007. Retrieved March 11, 2007.
  31. ^ "Hockey arena renamed". Archived from the original on November 2, 2013. Retrieved August 9, 2013.[dead link]
  32. ^ America's Coach, Ross Bernstein 77
  33. ^ Coffey, p. 45
Sporting positions
Preceded by Head coach of the New York Rangers
1981–85 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Head coach of the Minnesota North Stars
1987–88 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Head coach of the New Jersey Devils
1992–93 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Head coach of the Pittsburgh Penguins
1999–2000 		Succeeded by
Awards and achievements
Preceded by WCHA Coach of the Year
1973–74 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Hobey Baker Legends of College Hockey Award
2011 		Succeeded by
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