The name “John ‘Bah’ Harrington” still resonates with fans around the
State of Hockey. That’s what happens if you’re a Minnesota native that
played a part on the 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey team.
Middle-aged men still get giddy when they see him. One gentleman spotted
Harrington at the Minnesota Hockey golf fundraiser this summer. He
scurried over quickly to ask for the Miracle on Ice forward’s autograph
while gleefully recalling his exact location during the Americans’
improbable victory over the Soviet Union at Lake Placid during the 1980
Olympics.
Harrington earned the assist on Mike Eruzione’s game-winning goal in the
semifinal as the U.S. marched on to win the Gold Medal under head coach
Herb Brooks.
But “Bah” Harrington’s contributions to hockey have gone far beyond
providing a memorable moment for every American that witnessed that
historic game. He would eventually begin a successful career behind the
bench, and now a career working with youth hockey players.
After most recently coaching in Europe the past few years, he’s returned
to make a big impact in the State of Hockey, once again by helping,
teaching and guiding young players.
That’s what he needed as a young player, and that’s what he wants to
give back to the hockey community.
“I think I was a person that needed to learn a lot about hockey to be
good at it,” Harrington said. “I certainly want to continue to try to
give that back to other young players that have goals and aspirations
about where they want to play. I can’t see myself not being in coaching
or teaching players in some fashion.”
His current roles are with familiar ties. The Herb Brooks Foundation, in
partnership with Flexx Hockey Institute of Training (FHIT) Players,
named Harrington the Hockey Director of the Herb Brooks Training Center
this past October.
“How do you not bring John Harrington aboard?” Herb Brooks Foundation
Executive Director John McClellan said. “This was a no-brainer.”
Harrington oversees all Herb Brooks Foundation hockey operations,
including Miracle Gold off-season Triple-A development teams, the
inner-city Rink Rat program, Herbie’s Heroes camps for military families
and other newer programs in early planning stages. He also assumes the
Director of Hockey Development role with FHIT Players, a hockey
advancement and development organization for teams and individuals based
in the Herb Brooks Training Center at the National Sports Center’s
Schwan Super Rink in Blaine.
