Herb Brooks
St. Cloud State to Name Arena in Honor of Herb Brooks
4/17/2013 5:18:00 PM | Men's Hockey
ST. CLOUD, Minn. – St. Cloud State University officials and a representative of the Herb Brooks family today announced that the National Hockey and Event Center is renamed the Herb Brooks National Hockey Center.
Renaming the 23-year-old arena honors the late hockey coach's vision and legacy at St. Cloud State. The university is working with sponsors on commercial naming rights for the arena, as well as naming opportunities within the arena.
“Just as Herb Brooks saw Division I hockey as important to the State of Minnesota, St. Cloud State University sees this facility as important to Central Minnesota,” said St. Cloud State President Earl H. Potter II.
Dan Brooks said of his father: “He wasn't a flashy guy. He wasn't a materialistic guy. It wasn't about the money for him. He was grass roots, build the game from the ground.”
“He looked at the opportunity at St. Cloud, to turn that into a Division I hockey program, and he took it on 110 percent,” said Dan Brooks. “He was his happiest when he was in St. Cloud.”
Brooks coached the 1986-87 Huskies (25-10-1) to third-place at the NCAA Division III Men's Ice Hockey Championship. And, acting on a promise he made to the late hockey great John Mariucci, Brooks worked with St. Cloud State officials to elevate Husky Hockey to a NCAA Division I program. He also helped secure construction funding for the arena that bears his name.
Two assistants from Brooks' 1986-87 team, former coach Craig Dahl and current coach Bob Motzko, have guided the program in the Division I era, creating one of college hockey's top programs, with a combined nine NCAA Division I tournament berths and a 2013 Frozen Four appearance.
While the word “event” is no longer in the arena name, the Herb Brooks National Hockey Center will host events of all kinds.
The $14.7 million renovation and expansion, including a four-story atrium, expanded suites, club-level seating and more, is expected to be complete by mid-June. A campaign to fund remodeled locker rooms and a training area for men's and women's hockey is under way. Plans call for additional suites, club lounges and further development of a concert and event-ready facility.
Renaming the 23-year-old arena honors the late hockey coach's vision and legacy at St. Cloud State. The university is working with sponsors on commercial naming rights for the arena, as well as naming opportunities within the arena.
“Just as Herb Brooks saw Division I hockey as important to the State of Minnesota, St. Cloud State University sees this facility as important to Central Minnesota,” said St. Cloud State President Earl H. Potter II.
Dan Brooks said of his father: “He wasn't a flashy guy. He wasn't a materialistic guy. It wasn't about the money for him. He was grass roots, build the game from the ground.”
“He looked at the opportunity at St. Cloud, to turn that into a Division I hockey program, and he took it on 110 percent,” said Dan Brooks. “He was his happiest when he was in St. Cloud.”
Brooks coached the 1986-87 Huskies (25-10-1) to third-place at the NCAA Division III Men's Ice Hockey Championship. And, acting on a promise he made to the late hockey great John Mariucci, Brooks worked with St. Cloud State officials to elevate Husky Hockey to a NCAA Division I program. He also helped secure construction funding for the arena that bears his name.
While the word “event” is no longer in the arena name, the Herb Brooks National Hockey Center will host events of all kinds.
The $14.7 million renovation and expansion, including a four-story atrium, expanded suites, club-level seating and more, is expected to be complete by mid-June. A campaign to fund remodeled locker rooms and a training area for men's and women's hockey is under way. Plans call for additional suites, club lounges and further development of a concert and event-ready facility.
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