Herb Brooks
Herb Brooks behind the bench at a St. Cloud State hockey game, 1986/87
Construction of the Herb Brooks National Hockey Center, 1989
Herb Brooks National Hockey Center, 1990
Hockey game at the Herb Brooks National Hockey Center, 1991
"Slap Shot," by Cork Marchesch on the west side of the Herb Brooks National Hockey Center, May 1992
Biography
Herb Brooks was born in St. Paul, MN, where he grew up and played hockey for Johnson High School when they won the 1955 state hockey championship. He then played hockey for the University of Minnesota from 1955 to 1959. Brooks was a member of the 1960 Olympic team, but was cut a few weeks before the start of the games. From 1960 to 1970, he played for eight different national and Olympic teams (1964 and 1968). He then retired as a player and worked as a coach. Brooks led the Minnesota Gophers to three NCAA championships (1974, 1976, 1979).
In 1980, he coached the men's U.S. Olympic hockey team to an epic "miracle on ice" win over the Russian team that ultimately led to the gold medal. After a coaching stint in Switzerland, Brooks coached for the New York Rangers from 1981 to 1985. Brooks coached a single season (1986/87) at St. Cloud State. He returned to the NHL to lead the Minnesota North Stars from 1987 to 1988, the New Jersey Devils from 1992 to 1993, and the Pittsburgh Penguins from 1999 to 2000. He was a scout for the Penguins from the mid 1990s and worked as their director of player personnel from 2002 until his death. He also coached France's Olympic hockey team in 1998 and again the U.S. Olympic hockey team in 2002.
Brooks was inducted into the United States Hockey Hall of Fame in 1990, the International Hockey Hall of Fame in 1999, and the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2006. He married Patti Brooks in 1965 and they had two children. Brooks died in a car accident near Forest Lake, MN, on August 11, 2003.
Herb Brooks National Hockey Center (1989)
Opened in December 1989, the Herb Brooks National Hockey Center was designed by architect Ellerbe Becket. It has served as the home for St. Cloud State’s men’s and women’s Division I hockey programs.
The hiring of the 1980 gold medal Olympic winning men's hockey head coach Herb Brooks to lead St. Cloud State’s Division III program in May 1986 was a turning point in St. Cloud State athletics and in its physical space. Brooks spearheaded St. Cloud State’s hockey program move to Division I as well as lobbied for the construction of a new on-campus arena. In response, the state of Minnesota appropriated $9.5 million in June 1987 to build the National Hockey Center.
In October 2013, a new addition opened on the south side of the National Hockey Center, as well as interior renovations throughout the arena. Total cost was $14.5 million. The building was named to honor Brooks in 2013.
For more information, see the individual profiles for the Herb Brooks National Hockey Center on the University Archives’ website.