By RACHEL BLOUNT
Tuesday, November 21, 2006
About eight or nine years ago, Bill Weller and his cousin, Herb Brooks, spoke to a youth hockey group in North St. Paul, Minn. They shared their vision for a new way of doing things, one that would encourage more kids to participate and develop their skills while having plenty of fun.
Brooks had long been dismayed by a youth hockey culture that revolved around elite traveling teams playing overstuffed schedules.
"We talked about revamping the way things were done," Weller said. "They listened politely, but nothing changed."
Weller, of course, knew that skepticism never stopped Brooks. The man who made a miracle in 1980 kept working to improve and expand his beloved game. When Brooks died, his family and friends took up his cause; today, the Herb Brooks Foundation is spreading his message of strengthening the game by starting with the kids.
In January, the Herb Brooks Institute will begin skill-development programs for young players. The 12,000-square-foot training center, being built at the National Sports Center in Blaine, Minn., is the first piece of a plan that also includes outdoor rinks for unstructured play, programs to cultivate leadership and character, and training for parents and coaches.
"Herb had a game plan for everything he did, and we're just following his plan," said Weller, who is on the foundation's board along with Brooks' son, Dan, and daughter, Kelly Paradise. "He had a great passion for youth hockey, but he believed it needed to change. We hope we can plant a seed that will change the way people think."
Brooks believed that the fundamentals of hockey began with fun. His devotion to the game took root at St. Paul's Phalen Park, where he and his pals spent entire days playing on an outdoor rink.
The coach built the Miracle on Ice with a similar breed of rink rat. But as youth hockey later became more regimented, Brooks grew concerned.
Kids were playing more games, which meant less time to develop skills through practices or unstructured play. An emphasis on elite teams, even for very young players, shifted a disproportionate amount of attention and resources to a handful of children. Many kids quit before they had begun to develop physically.
"We are on a slippery slope in youth hockey today with the 'AAA' and 'Showcase' concepts," Brooks once said. "We have to broaden the (player pool), recognize the latent talent of individuals, and value and understand the need for preparation and skill development. ... Kids love to play, and we need to give the game back to them."
The late John Mariucci inspired Brooks to work toward that end. In the months before Mariucci's death in 1987, Brooks spent many hours with his mentor and former Gophers coach, who had devoted his life to expanding opportunities for American players.
Brooks shared Mariucci's zeal and became an advocate for all levels of the game. As he called for reform in youth hockey, Weller said they realized the system was so entrenched that they would have to create their own program. They had begun to discuss ideas when Brooks was killed in a car accident in August 2003.
Dean Talafous, who played for Brooks with the New York Rangers, will oversee the programs at the Herb Brooks Institute. His "Total Hockey" program, taught at training centers around the country, mirrors Brooks' philosophy of emphasizing skill development and fun among youngsters no matter what their talent level.
"Herb wanted people to enjoy the game," said Talafous, a Duluth, Minn. native who also played for the North Stars. "We hope to provide kids with a positive program that helps them enjoy the game. I'm thrilled and humbled to be able to help carry out Herb's dreams."
The institute will include on-and off-ice training and will offer programs throughout the year. Talafous expects many of the first participants will come from youth hockey associations based at the National Sports Center, but programs will be open to all.
"He had such a passion for the game, and he was a grass-roots guy," Dan Brooks said. "I hope by celebrating his legacy, it can serve as an inspiration."
For more information on the Herb Brooks Foundation and its programs, go to www.herbbrooksfoundation.com.
