Herb Brooks killed in car accident

Mpls Star Tribune ^ | 8/11/03 | Star Tribune

[Johnny Gage]

Herb Brooks, 66, former University of Minnesota hockey coach, was killing this afternoon in car crash near Forest Lake, Minn., on Interstate 35.....

[Johnny Gage]

More as it becomes available.

[Nexus]

"Miracle on Ice" coach, also U of Minn and Penguins

[discostu]

First Gregory Hines and now Herb Brooks. This week is really starting to suck.

So long Herb, thanks for the miracle.

[Howlin]

Herb Brooks gave me one of the most exciting nights of my life.

God bless him.

[Alberta's Child]

Also coached the New Jersey Devils for one year, before the start of the Jacques Lemaire era.

This is a shame, even though my only encounter with Herb Brooks involved him throwing me out of a Devils practice session. :-(

[Dog]

Should you be telling us about it on an open forum....:-)

[GreenLanternCorps]

Ditto that. I was not a hockey fan, but I remember that game well...

Too sad for words...

[Howlin]

Please tell me you're not too young to remember!

[Bluntpoint]

Herb Brooks gave me one of the most exciting nights of my life.

Geesh! I the guy is not even in the ground and his groupies are writing about their affairs with him.

[ecurbh]

[Saundra Duffy]

So sad. God bless the family.

[MEG33]

That was one of the most thrilling wins ever.I'm sad for his family and friends and thank him for the memory.

[breakem]

now I understand your freeper name. lol!

[Dog]

I remember..

[Amelia]

Would this be the northern equivalent of a beloved college football coach dying?

[sharkhawk]

I think the miracle on ice game helped set the stage for Reagan's election. All of a sudden it was hip to be chanting USA again, and waving the flag was not a criminal offense. Americans looked at that Hockey team, looked at the total defeatist in the White House, and realized that America IS the greatest country on earth, and elected someone who recognized the greatness.

I have a copy of the tape that was played on ESPN classic a few years ago, and Jim McKay related the story of his daughter who said "the last time I saw that many American Flags they were being burned". RIP Herb

[Howlin]

Everybody loved Herb Brooks that night. Everybody.

[jimbo123]

[Howlin]

Way to drag a sad thread into the gutter.

[Ramius]

Nag, nag, nag... :-)

[Miss Marple]

In a way, Herb Brooks contributed to the election of Ronald Reagan in 1980. Mired in the Carter Malaise, and demoralized by the on-going hostage crisis in Iran, the American people needed to know that there was hope.

Into that demoralized time came Herb Brooks and the American Ice Hockey Team, who did for the United States what Seabiscuit did in the 1930's...gave us pride in hard work, perseverance, and the American Dream.

He never got a gold medal, because coaches don't get Olympic Medals. But his coaching and his character were certainly worthy of admiration and respect. God rest his soul; he will be missed.

[dogbyte12]

[My Favorite Headache]

The HBO movie on this is on tonight about the miracle game of 1980. It is on HBO at 7PM EST.

[jimbo123]

[RoughDobermann]

Was he the coach of the 1980 Olympic team?

[Howlin]

Herb Brooks

The Short List

• Head coach of the 2002 U.S. Olympic Hockey Team
• Head coach of the 1980 "Miracle on Ice" U.S. Olympic Team that won the gold medal in Lake Placid
• Inducted into the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame in 1990 and the IIHF Hall of Fame in 1999
• Member of the 1964 and 1968 U.S. Olympic hockey teams (team captain in 1968)

Did You Know?

• This fall received the 2002 Lester Patrick Award, which is named after former New York Rangers player, coach and general manager Lester Patrick. The award is presented annually to players, coaches, officials and executives who have provided an "outstanding service to hockey in the United States."
• Now in his sixth season as a member of the Pittsburgh Penguins' scouting staff. He briefly took over bench coaching duties to close out the 1999 season.
• Coached the French Olympic hockey team at the 1998 Olympics in Nagano.
• Coached the Minnesota North Stars during the 1997-98 season and the New Jersey Devils during their 1992-93 campaign.
• Brooks served as coach of the New York Rangers from 1981-85, leading the club to four playoff appearances. Brooks reached the 100-victory mark faster than any other coach in Ranger history.
• Named Sportsman of the Year in 1980.
• Before the 1980 Olympics, Brooks won three NCAA Division I titles (1974, 1976, 1979) as head coach of the University of Minnesota Gophers.

Herb Brooks Today
Brooks is revered as the architect of the 1980 Miracle on Ice, called the "Greatest Sports Moment of the Century." Today's NHL Olympians believe Brooks still is capable of leading another miracle. "There is nobody better than coach Brooks to give everybody a system and responsibilities," said current U.S. Olympic player Brian Leetch. Another current Olympian, Brett Hull believes in Brooks also. "Coach Brooks (has) got such a great positive attitude," said Hull. "He really makes you have such enthusiasm for the challenge ahead of us."

[zarf]

Sad. He will be remembered always. He and his squad pulled off the greatest upset in sports history. The most exciting sporting event I have ever seen.

Godspeed Mr. Brooks.

[skeeter]

That was one of the most thrilling wins ever.

It was the most exciting sporting event I have ever seen. And I'm not a hockey fan.

[demnomo]

Very sad. He wasn't that old. For some reason, I thought Herb Brooks was in his late seventies. I'll never forget the "Miracle on Ice." A few years ago, I watched a replay of the game on ESPN Classic. Wow. What a night. What a game.

Back in 1980, I would have been just as thrilled had the American team not won the gold soon after because I was so proud that a bunch of college kids actually beat the vaunted USSR hockey team. Of course, Coach Brooks wanted more and got more from his team. Bless him and his family.

[jimbo123]

[Howlin]

Oh, yeah.

[Bluntpoint]

I want people to joke at my funeral.

[Spruce]

Led the Gophers to 3 NCAA Hockey tiles.

[Howlin]

Such a quiet man.

[dogbyte12]

Do you believe in Miracles?

Longish wav file. Still gives me shivers.

[MNlurker]

This is going to rip the guts out of a lot of people in MN tonite. Very loved up here. Was coming back from a golf outing for the US Hockey Hall of Fame.

Was a report on Ch. 5 that there may have been a medical emergency before the crash? Has not been confirmed.

If you get a chance to watch that show on HOB I highly recommend it. Very emotional to watch and I was 7 when it actually happened.

[Howlin]

I'm right there.

[jimbo123]

[Dan from Michigan]

The coach of the Miracle on Ice.

[MNlurker]

HOB=HBO

[jimbo123]

[Bluntpoint]

http://www.montgomeryinnribs.com/inn_the_news.htm#The%20Ribs%20King%20gets%20em%20one%20last%20time

[CyberAnt]

I couldn't agree more!

[Spruce]

I was just getting into hockey in the early 70's and the Gophers were MY team! They won the NCAA in 74, 76, and 1979. When they selected Herb to coach the 1980 Olympic team I KNEW they were gonna get the gold!

[Nachum]

He will be missed.

[Spruce]

Gophers on Team USA in 1980: Steve Janaszak (G), Les Auge (D), Mike Ramsey (D), Bill Baker (D), Rob McClanahan (F), Neal Broten (F), Steve Christoff (F), Eric Strobel (F), Buzz Schneider (F), Phil Verchota (F), and head coach Herb Brooks.

[John W]

Al Michaels was just on Pat Sajak last night and talked a little about "The Game"-when Pat would let him get a word in.Before we knew who he was going to be we watched Eruzione play for Toledo against our Fort Wayne Komets-hated him,but,you had to hate Toledo in the old IHL.Also,a memory from USA versus Soviets-Our local ABC anchor man-and hes still there believe it ir not-gave this newsbreak update during the telecast:"The USA beats the Soviets in Olympic hockey."

[Spruce]

In celebration of the United States Hockey Hall of Fame's 30th Anniversary, the Hall will formally induct the 1980 Olympic Gold Medal Hockey Team at the United States Hockey Hall of Fame in Eveleth, Minnesota on Saturday, October 18th, 2003.
The 1980 Olympic Gold Medal Hockey Team is the second team to be inducted into the Hall. The 1960 Olympic Gold Medal Hockey Team was the first team to be inducted in 2000.