Herb Brooks

Herbert Paul Brooks Jr. was born on August 5, 1937 in St. Paul, Minnesota to Herbert Brooks Sr. and Pauline Brooks. Growing up, Herb dreamed of playing professional hockey like most young players. He went to Johnson High School in St. Paul and won the 1955 State Championship on the hockey team there. Herb went on to play hockey for the University of Minnesota Gophers from 1955 to 1959 and then tried out for the 1960 US Olympic hockey team only to be cut a week before the games. Herb then sat at home and watched his team win the gold medal (They would have to wait until 1980 for their next one). He was also a member of the 1964 and 1968 US Olympic teams.

Later on, Herb coached the University of Minnesota Gophers hockey team and led them from the bottom of the league to NCAA championships in 1974, 1976 and 1979. With Herb's great successes with underdog teams, USA Hockey asked Herb to coach the 1980 US Olympic Hockey Team; they had not won the gold medal since 1960 against the Soviet Union. Herb hand picked his 26 man roster in the early stages of the tryouts even though they had a week of it. He wasn't looking for the best players; he was looking for the right ones. Herb also picked his assistant coach, Craig Patrick. After exhibition games and practices, Herb was left with a 20 man roster.

Going into the Olympics, the Soviet team was the dominant favourite after winning every gold medal since 1956, except one, the one medal that Herb Brooks sat home and watched his US Team win in 1960. The Soviets had the best goalie in the world at that time in Vladislav Tretiak. They also had talented players such as Boris Mikhailov and Valeri Kharlamov. Many of the Soviet players had been playing together for the last 15 years as opposed to the US underdog team which consisted of college kids whose average age was 21 years old.

In their group the United States went 4-0-1 knocking off West Germany, Romainia, Czechoslovakia and Norway and tying the Swedes. The Soviet Union went 5-0 beating Japan, Poland, the Netherlands, Canada and Finland by a combined score of 51-11! Then in the semi-finals the two teams were to face each other.

On February 22, 1980 the sold out Lake Placid Arena and all of America was ready for a miracle. The teams were firing back and forth at each other and the game was turning into a full out battle. This was more than just a hockey game, all of America's hope rested in this game; this country was ready to believe. The score was 3-2 for the Soviets going into the third period. Mark Johnson scored to tie the game at 3 and then Mike Eruzione scored the game winning goal! They had done it!

With the final seconds counting down Al Michaels made what I believe to be the most famous call in Olympic hockey history.

"Eleven seconds, you've got ten seconds, the countdown going on right now! Morrow, up to Silk. Five seconds left in the game. Do you believe in miracles? YES!"

Herb's boys completed the "Miracle on Ice" by beating Finland 4-2 and winning the gold medal. Herb later went on to coach in the NHL from 1981-2000 with the Rangers, North Stars, Devils and Penguins. He became the first coach in the New York Rangers franchise to win 100 games. Herb coached the 2002 US Olympic hockey team as well, picking up a silver medal in Salt Lake City. Herb was inducted into the International Hockey Hall of Fame in 1999 and was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto posthumously in 2006. Herb tragically passed away in a car crash on August 11, 2003. He was 66. He is survived by his wife Patti and his 3 children.

The Herb Brooks foundation was established in 2003. This foundation was made to help provide more opportunities for kids to play hockey. The foundation supports programs that emphasize the development of young hockey players and coaches all over America. It also helps provide more hockey facilities to benefit the youth hockey players. Two of Herb's children, Kelly and Dan are currently on the Board of Directors.

Herb is my hero because by beating the best team in the world he makes me think anything is possible. He gives me hope and courage. Herb pushed his teams to the breaking point in practice, and that's how he took last place teams like the Minnesota Gophers and the underdog US team and turned them into champions. Herb changed the game of hockey by taking the European and Soviet style of hockey of constantly moving around (weaving) and opening up options, and combining it with the North American style of play of dump and chase to create a hybrid. He then used this type of hockey to beat the Soviets at their own game.

The 1970s were depressing and struggling times for Americans. It was disco time in America, but that was broken up by wars and nuclear troubles. Revolutions and hostages across seas in countries like Iran spelled WAR as well as the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.

"On one weekend in Lake Placid in February of 1980, when the world and America was watching, Herb and his boys gave America a chance, not only to dream, but for one night, a chance to believe." 2003 movie "Miracle" dedicated to Herb Brooks