The Herb Brooks Foundation has established an Internet-based, Minnesota Youth Hockey Hall of Fame. Individuals—folks highly devoted to youth hockey development—are nominated and inducted into the Hall at the annual awards celebration. Organizations are eligible, too.

Duane Koepp

A longtime youth hockey coach in St. Cloud received the Herb Brooks Youth Hockey Hall of Fame Award .

Duane Koepp has been a coach for the St. Cloud Youth Hockey Association since 1976. The association came into existence in 1974.

Koepp has spent the last 25 years as the lead coach for the junior mite program, which is for players ages 5-6. That is the first age group for youth hockey players and includes a lot of beginning skating instruction.

Koepp "has not only helped all of those players, but coaches like myself, learn how to play, work and have fun in the game," SCYHA coach and The Rink Live's Mick Hatten said in introducing Koepp. "When he's talking to junior mites in a large group or one-on-one, he gets down on one knee so that he's talking to them at their level.

"I'm not sure I've ever heard Duane raise his voice, much less yell, at a player. And I've never seen him in a bad mood around the kids and he brings an upbeat attitude, inspires enthusiasm from the kids as each practice starts and gives clear direction and instruction to everything he does."

The Strelow Family

Like Herb Brooks, Warren’s love of hockey began on the East Side of St. Paul. While attending St. Paul Johnson, Warren was awarded all-state in 1951 and later went on to play collegiate hockey at the University of Minnesota. Strelow realized that teaching and coaching was his calling and later went on to create the high school hockey program and Mahtomedi High School.

Strelow then served as an assistant coach to Herb Brooks at the University of Minnesota from 1973-1979, a period that included three national championships. Shortly after, Coach Strelow joined Brooks to coach the 1980 US Olympic Team. In 2004, Strelow was inducted into the United States Hockey Hall of Fame, along with the rest of 1980 U.S. Olympic Team. After international success, Warren became the goalie coach for three different professional teams: the Washington Capitals, New Jersey Devils, and San Jose Sharks until his passing in 2007.   

Warren’s legacy and commitment to youth hockey shines brightly today through his two sons, Tom and Rick who assisted Warren in running the family goalie school which developed nearly 300 goalies annually. Tom, an assistant coach at Mahtomedi, led the high school hockey program to win its first ever Minnesota Class A state championship in 2020. Team captain, Colin Hagstrom, went on to win the prestigious Herb Brooks Award the same year.  

Matt Olson 

Matt Olson was recognized and honored with the Herb Brooks Youth Hall of Fame Award joining an illustrious list of people who have contributed to the game. The 23-year-old suffered a spinal cord injury three years ago that confined him to a wheelchair. His commitment to the hockey community remains strong. Matt’s dedication, inspiration, high-moral character and perseverance to the game of hockey makes him this year’s award. 

Bob Suter
After winning the 1980 Olympic Gold medal under the direction of Herb Brooks, Bob Suter signed with the Minnesota North Stars in 1981, but retired in 1982 without playing any NHL games. 

He returned to Madison after his retirement and opened a sporting goods store called Gold Medal Sports. He also coached youth hockey in Madison after his retirement and became a part-owner and director of Capitol Ice Arena in Middleton, Wis. Ten months after Bob Suter's death the Capitol Ice Arena was renamed in his honor and is now known as "Bob Suter's Capitol Ice Arena."

“My dad is probably upstairs with Herbie right now,” said Ryan Suter. “They’re both probably smiling and wondering what the big deal is.”

“When my dad was alive I really didn’t appreciate all the people he was able to help, and to give a chance to play hockey. And even if they didn’t play hockey to just put on skates and get out and skate. Now that he’s gone I’m finding out all the cool things he did and stood for. His big thing was that it’s all about the kids.”

Suter's Gold Medal Sports was the hub of youth hockey in the Madison area and was a big contributor to the development of arenas and hockey programs which reached out to players of all skill levels, not just the elite athletes.

The Brodt Family
The Brodt family has made a tremendous impact by growing the game of hockey in Minnesota, with family members achieving excellence at the youth, high school, collegiate, professional, and even international level. The Brodts have an accomplished history in many generations of Minnesota hockey, and continue to influence the progression and development of Minnesota’s top hockey talents today.

In her acceptance speech on behalf of the Brodt family, Winny remembered the impact of legendary coach Herb Brooks upon her own family and Minnesota hockey generally.

“The ‘Brooks’ name has been a household name in our kitchen since I was seven years old, when my brother went to play for Herb,” Winny said.

Winny attributed much of the development of Minnesota women’s hockey to the influential power of Brooks.

“It’s because of Herb that all these girls are playing hockey today, because he pushed it at the collegiate level. It needed to be pushed,” Winny said. “All these players that I’ve coached, I’ve been able to do that because of Herb.”

The Brodt hockey tradition is immense, and the impact the Brodts have had on the Roseville community and Minnesota hockey in general is tremendous.

Steve "Moose" Younghans
The 2016 winner, Steve "Moose" Younghans has been a fixture in the St. Paul Johnson hockey community since 1979.  A highly successful youth hockey coach, his Bantam A teams made 11 State Tournament appearances and took home three State Championships in 1982, 1989, and 1992.  He served on the Johnson Youth Hockey Association Board of Directors in every position for over 30 years.

Younghans took over as the bench boss for the St. Paul Johnson Governors in 1993 where he led his team to the State Tournament in 1995.  He was honored as Section Coach of the Year in 1995, and again in 2009, and was voted as the John Mariucci Coach of the Year in 1995 at the Class AA level.  And he added the Don Clark Lifetime Achievement Award from Minnesota Hockey in 2010 to his long list of achievements.

Bill Butters
The 2015 Hall of Fame honoree was Bill Butters, a Minnesota hockey icon who played in the World Hockey Association, National Hockey League and coached at various levels. After retiring from hockey, Butters has assumed a leadership role with Hockey Ministries International and in that role has mentored many young hockey players.

Chuck Grillo
The 2014 honoree was Chuck Grillo. For 50 years, the Hibbing, Minn. native has put his stamp on all levels of hockey, from youth up through the National Hockey League. The Hibbing High School and University of Minnesota-Duluth graduate was a pioneering Minnesota high school coach, in both hockey and baseball. At Bemidji High School, he took his hockey team to the state tournament four times and the baseball team to state seven times, including one state title. Following his stint up north, he moved to the Twin Cities, where he built the Rosemount High School hockey program from 1976-1980.

In Minnesota however, Grillo is best known for his influence on youth hockey. As the creator and still owner-operator of the Minnesota Hockey Camps, a summer youth hockey camp based in Nisswa, Minn., Grillo has tutored young players in hockey skills, life lessons and the value of being a good teammate. From its creation in 1976 through the present, over 35,000 kids have come through the Minnesota Hockey Camps program.

Larry Hendrickson
The 2013 honoree was Larry Hendrickson, long-time Minnesota hockey coach and hockey booster. Hendrickson’s Foundation grows the game of hockey by providing coaching and other resources to children and adults with cognitive-developmental limitations, physical disabilities, paralysis and amputee limitations, and military veterans with combat and non-combat related injuries.

Janet Marvin
The Herb Brooks Foundation is honored to induct Janet Marvin into the Youth Hockey Hall of Fame. Janet was a past director of the Herb Brooks Foundation's Rink Rats program, after dedicating and serving tireless hours toward growing the game and working with kids.

The Rink Rats program, in conjunction with the Minneapolis Police Activities League and Minneapolis Public Schools, is dedicated to providing inner-city children the chance to play, learn and love the game of hockey at no cost. Since its inception in 2009, the Rink Rats program has rapidly grown, serving nearly 2,000 kids in just a few short years.  

Janet, who received the award at the 2012 Herb Brooks Memorial Golf Classic in June, will be dearly missed.

Jim McDonough
East Sider has made game fun, accessible to kids for almost 30 years

Saint Paul, MN – The Herb Brooks Foundation announced this week Jim McDonough will be inducted into the Youth Hockey Hall of Fame. 

The Herb Brooks Foundation Youth Hockey Hall of Fame recognizes individuals who have volunteered their time and energy to provide youth an opportunity to play hockey. The award focuses on efforts made for the kids prior to reaching the high school age. 

"Jim McDonough has made ice, shoveled snow, cleaned toilets and organized opportunities for kids to play for many years," Herb Brooks Foundation Board Member Bill Weller said. "He truly exemplifies the spirit and service that Herbie stood for. We are honored to induct him."

Known by many as a behind-the-scenes guy, McDonough has volunteered on the East Side of Saint Paul for almost 30 years, including initiating and running the Eastside Mite Hockey Association for 20 years while providing equipment and funding to help reduce costs.

He also served as the lead coordinator for Hockey Day Minnesota in 2009, when the event was held at Phalen Rec Center. McDonough was a key figure in securing a refrigerated rink at Phalen Rec Center to provide longer periods of quality outdoor ice for neighborhood youth hockey. He also served for 20 years on the Johnson Area Hockey Association. 

McDonough helped bring together Ramsey County, St. Paul Public Schools and the City of St. Paul to spearhead renovations for Gustafson Phalen Arena, which is used by squirts, peewees, bantams and high school teams. He now serves as Ramsey County Commissioner representing District 6.

This award will be presented by Let’s Play Hockey President Doug Johnson at the 2011 Herb Brooks Memorial Golf Classic on Friday, June 24 at Victory Links Golf Course in Blaine. Visit herbbrooksfoundation.com to learn more about the golf tournament.

"I am humbled and honored to have been nominated and inducted into the Herb Brooks Foundation's Youth Hockey Hall of Fame," McDonough said. "Over the past 29 years, I have had the pleasure to have worked with thousands of youth hockey players. That in itself is quite rewarding. To be recognized by the organization that continues Herb Brooks' vision for youth hockey is quite an honor."

Cal, Tut and Jack Marvin

Tut Marvin was a great supporter of the game of hockey for many years as he involved himself in all aspects of the sport. He did everything from serving as a youth coach to managing the Warroad Lakers.

He was instrumental in the success of arena association sponsored events such as Timber Day and Water Frolic. His strong commitment was prevalent when he made significant donations to both the Olympic Arena and The Gardens. He was a fixture in The Gardens as he supported all levels of the game no matter who wore the jersey for both girls and boys. His influence on hockey will carry on for generations. 

Jack Marvin was Secretary/Treasurer for Warroad Minor Hockey for many years. Jack always furnished a car and gas for transportation of youth hockey teams to out of town games. When youth teams needed uniforms or equipment he made it happen. He helped construct three indoor ice arenas in Warroad. 

During his lifetime Cal Marvin promoted and supported hockey at numerous levels. He was the founder, a board member, and president of Minnesota Amateur Hockey. He founded the Warroad Lakers and was with them for fifty years, served 38 years as president of the Warroad Arena Board, and 36 years as president of Warroad Minor Hockey. He was a director for USA Hockey for twelve years, coached the 1958 USA National hockey team and was manager of the 1965 National hockey team. Cal was a member of the USA Hockey Hall of Fame, UND Hall of fame, and the Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame.

Rudy Krampotich

In 1971, Rudy became the Secretary of Hibbing Youth Hockey Association, a post he held for 25 years. Rudy has also been the ice scheduler for youth hockey for 37 years, a position he still holds today.

Rudy has been volunteering his time as a youth hockey coach for 37 years. He is the coach of the Hibbing Pee Wee A's, a team comprised of 11 and 12 year olds. For 6 months out of the year, from mid October to mid May, they practice 3 times a week, hold weight training once a week and have games on the weekend. When they compete in tournaments, they are often there the entire weekend. 

When asked why he’s been coaching the Pee Wee's for 37 years, Rudy responded "I do it for the kids…I love working with kids."

Stan Hubbard

The second Herb Brooks Foundation (HBF) Hall of Fame inductee is Stan Hubbard.

The Herb Brooks Youth Hockey Hall of Fame Award recognizes individuals who have contributed to the development of youth hockey prior to high school level - ages 5-15. These are the grassroots heroes who have devoted their time and money to build and maintain the foundation for hockey in Minnesota. 

Many of you know Stan Hubbard as the Chairman of Hubbard Broadcasting, Inc. and past Chairman of U. S. Satellite Broadcasting. Tonight we honor Stan for his efforts to build and maintain the St Mary's Point youth hockey facility. Stan purchased the land and built the indoor and outdoor rink on St Mary's Point in the 1970's He has since maintained the facility for the past 30 years by providing all the funding for maintenance, repairs, utilities. 

Without his generous contribution, St Mary's Point would not have an indoor facility. This has been a wonderful gift to the community and to the kids that use the St Mary's Point Facility. It is fitting that the Herb Brooks Youth Hockey Hall of Fame Award is given to a man who has provided a neighborhood facility that gives kids an opportunity to play hockey with their friends.

Wes Barrette

The Herb Brook Foundation established the Youth Hockey Hall of Fame award in 2005. The purpose of the award is to recognize the unsung heroes of youth hockey who donate their time and energy year after year to create more positive opportunities for our youth. The inaugural Herb Brooks Foundation (HBF) Hall of Fame inductee is Wes Barrette.

As a youth coach on the East Side of St. Paul, Minn., Wes Barrette taught ice hockey for 45 years while instilling valuable life lessons to generations of players, who today are fondly referred to as "Wessy's Boys." A caring disciplinarian who was deeply devoted to his players, Barrett passed away in 1998 at age 70.

Barrette sought to provide extra playing opportunities. His midget teams were largely composed of those cut from the rosters of high school squads. Some players willingly passed up a season or two of high school hockey just to get the chance to play for him. Over the years, Barrette recorded more than 600 victories and his charges went on to reach success at the college, professional and Olympic levels.

Barrette started Hayden Prosperity, the first hockey team east of Phalen Lake in St. Paul in 1953. In 1984, Barrette was instrumental in creating the Metro Hockey League. The Wes Barrette Award was later established by the MHL in 1997 and is awarded annually to the league's coach of the year.

In recognition of his lasting contributions to the sport of ice hockey, Barrette twice received the President's Award from MAHA. USA Hockey also awarded the William Thayer Tutt Award to Wes Barrette in 1999.