Post by CFF on Aug 11, 2003 21:01:34 GMT -5
...from CNN.com
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Herb Brooks, who coached the U.S. hockey team to the "Miracle on Ice" victory over the Soviet Union at the 1980 Olympics, died Monday in a car wreck. He was 66.
Brooks led that team that won the gold medal in Lake Placid, N.Y., at the height of the Cold War. He returned to lead the 2002 U.S. Olympic hockey team to a silver medal.
He was killed when his 2000 Toyota minivan rolled and he was ejected at the intersection of Interstate 35E and 35W north of the Twin Cities about 2:40 p.m., police said. Weather didn't appear to be a factor.
"My gut reaction is Minnesota lost its head coach today. Herb Brooks was a Minnesota legend, a Minnesota treasure," said Gov. Tim Pawlenty, a well-known hockey fanatic.
Earlier in the day, Brooks attended a U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame celebrity golf event in northern Minnesota. He said had a commitment in Chicago and left for the Twin Cities around noon, said Tom Sersha, executive director at the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame, which is based in Eveleth, Minn.
"He was in perfect health as far as I know," said Sersha, referring to a television report that the accident may have been health related.
Brooks coached the Minnesota North Stars (1987-88), the New Jersey Devils (1992-93) and New York Rangers (1981-85), where he reached the 100-victory mark faster than any other coach in franchise history. He also coached the French Olympic team in Nagano 1998.
Born in St. Paul, Brooks played hockey at the University of Minnesota, where he later coached from 1972-79, winning three national titles and left with a 167-99-18 to lead the Olympic team.
"Today's a sad day for hockey," said Minnesota Gopher coach Don Lucia, who said he was recruited by Brooks in high school before deciding on Notre Dame. "It's a monumental loss for the University of Minnesota."
Brooks was inducted into the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame in 1990.
In the historic U.S.-Soviet Union hockey matchup, Brooks told his players: "You're meant to be here. This moment is yours. You're meant to be here at this time."
The U.S. team won 4-3 in a game often referred to as one of the greatest sports moments of the century.
When he decided to coach the U.S. team at Salt Lake City, he was asked why he would return after writing the most improbable story in hockey history.
"Maybe I'm sort of like the players -- there's still a lot of little boy in me," Brooks said then. "And maybe I'm a little smarter now than I was before for all the stupid things I've done."
Brooks was the last player cut on the 1960 U.S. gold medal teams, but made it onto the 1964 and 1968 Olympic teams.
Last season, Brooks was the director of player development for Pittsburgh Penguins. He rejected a multimillion dollar offer to coach the New York Rangers last summer, saying didn't want to be away from his wife and family in Minnesota.
For that reason, the Penguins also couldn't persuade Brooks to return after he was their interim coach during the 1999-2000 season. Brooks, who had replaced Kevin Constantine in December 1999, led the Penguins into the second round of the playoffs.
He had an NHL career coaching record of 219-221-66-2, including a 29-23-5-2 record with Pittsburgh.
"It's a great loss for USA hockey," said Bob Allen, who operated the Olympic Center during the 1980 Winter Games. "He was a master motivator, a great thinker."
In a recent interview at his White Bear Lake home, Brooks described to the Minneapolis Star Tribune about watching one of his favorite movies, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.
"You know, Willy Wonka said it best: We are the makers of dreams, the dreamers of dreams," Brooks said. "We should be dreaming. We grew up as kids having dreams, but now we're too sophisticated as adults, as a nation. We stopped dreaming. We should always have dreams.
"I'm a dreamer."
Brooks is survived by his wife, Patti, and two children.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Brooks was a great coach, and the world lost a great man today. RIP .....
CFF
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Herb Brooks, who coached the U.S. hockey team to the "Miracle on Ice" victory over the Soviet Union at the 1980 Olympics, died Monday in a car wreck. He was 66.
Brooks led that team that won the gold medal in Lake Placid, N.Y., at the height of the Cold War. He returned to lead the 2002 U.S. Olympic hockey team to a silver medal.
He was killed when his 2000 Toyota minivan rolled and he was ejected at the intersection of Interstate 35E and 35W north of the Twin Cities about 2:40 p.m., police said. Weather didn't appear to be a factor.
"My gut reaction is Minnesota lost its head coach today. Herb Brooks was a Minnesota legend, a Minnesota treasure," said Gov. Tim Pawlenty, a well-known hockey fanatic.
Earlier in the day, Brooks attended a U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame celebrity golf event in northern Minnesota. He said had a commitment in Chicago and left for the Twin Cities around noon, said Tom Sersha, executive director at the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame, which is based in Eveleth, Minn.
"He was in perfect health as far as I know," said Sersha, referring to a television report that the accident may have been health related.
Brooks coached the Minnesota North Stars (1987-88), the New Jersey Devils (1992-93) and New York Rangers (1981-85), where he reached the 100-victory mark faster than any other coach in franchise history. He also coached the French Olympic team in Nagano 1998.
Born in St. Paul, Brooks played hockey at the University of Minnesota, where he later coached from 1972-79, winning three national titles and left with a 167-99-18 to lead the Olympic team.
"Today's a sad day for hockey," said Minnesota Gopher coach Don Lucia, who said he was recruited by Brooks in high school before deciding on Notre Dame. "It's a monumental loss for the University of Minnesota."
Brooks was inducted into the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame in 1990.
In the historic U.S.-Soviet Union hockey matchup, Brooks told his players: "You're meant to be here. This moment is yours. You're meant to be here at this time."
The U.S. team won 4-3 in a game often referred to as one of the greatest sports moments of the century.
When he decided to coach the U.S. team at Salt Lake City, he was asked why he would return after writing the most improbable story in hockey history.
"Maybe I'm sort of like the players -- there's still a lot of little boy in me," Brooks said then. "And maybe I'm a little smarter now than I was before for all the stupid things I've done."
Brooks was the last player cut on the 1960 U.S. gold medal teams, but made it onto the 1964 and 1968 Olympic teams.
Last season, Brooks was the director of player development for Pittsburgh Penguins. He rejected a multimillion dollar offer to coach the New York Rangers last summer, saying didn't want to be away from his wife and family in Minnesota.
For that reason, the Penguins also couldn't persuade Brooks to return after he was their interim coach during the 1999-2000 season. Brooks, who had replaced Kevin Constantine in December 1999, led the Penguins into the second round of the playoffs.
He had an NHL career coaching record of 219-221-66-2, including a 29-23-5-2 record with Pittsburgh.
"It's a great loss for USA hockey," said Bob Allen, who operated the Olympic Center during the 1980 Winter Games. "He was a master motivator, a great thinker."
In a recent interview at his White Bear Lake home, Brooks described to the Minneapolis Star Tribune about watching one of his favorite movies, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.
"You know, Willy Wonka said it best: We are the makers of dreams, the dreamers of dreams," Brooks said. "We should be dreaming. We grew up as kids having dreams, but now we're too sophisticated as adults, as a nation. We stopped dreaming. We should always have dreams.
"I'm a dreamer."
Brooks is survived by his wife, Patti, and two children.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Brooks was a great coach, and the world lost a great man today. RIP .....
CFF
