Herb Brooks Statue

«Great moments are born from great opportunities»
(Herb Brooks)
It was one of the epic moments in American pop culture. Let’s go back to the February 1980 Olympics and the Miracle On Ice. It may have been the greatest sports memory that people of a certain age may have.
A heavily favored team of Russian hockey players was upset by an unlikely gang of American college kids, coached by Minnesota native Herb Brooks. The story of that team was immortalized in the wonderful movie «Miracle» as Kurt Russell was amazing in his portrayal of Herb Brooks.
Sadly, Brooks was killed in a traffic accident in 2004, but his memory lives forever in this spectacular statue located in front of the St. Paul River Center. Back in the day, this building was known as the St. Paul Civic Center, and that 1980 Olympic team held many grueling practices here, as they prepared for their rendezvous with destiny.
The statue of Brooks was dedicated in 2004. It shows Brooks beaming with happiness, his arms raised in triumph as the upstart US team won their Gold Medal game. There are two plaques on the base of the statue, summarizing his biography, and listing the many stops along his hockey career.
As a sports fan and a lover of hockey who watched this game on TV, this statue gave me the chills.