PAL visit highlights mission of the Herb Brooks Training Center

By Barclay Kruse, NSC Chief Communications Officer

Last week, 29 kids from the Police Athletic League in North Minneapolis ran through a one-hour training session at the Herb Books Training Center (HBTC) at the Schwan Super Rink. HBTC coaches led the drills, suppported by five Minneapolis police officer coaches.

Janet Marvin was in charge of the delegation.

"We skate outside with them 3-4 days a week on the park ice rinks," she said. "We got an invitation to come out here. We'll be here for 10 weeks, until May 29."

The delegation from the Police Athletic League in North Minneapolis takes a break for a team photo during their training session at the Herb Brooks Training Center. (photo by Ron Guild)

Marvin knows her hockey. She grew up as a member of the famous Marvin hockey family in Warroad, Minn. (Her father is Cal ; Gophers' star Gigi Marvin her neice and St. Cloud State forward Aaron her nephew.)

"I don't know if the kids knew what to expect when they came out," Marvin said. "None of them have ever been to this facility. We have a couple kids who have been to the Super Rink itself, but not inside the dry-land training facility. They're having a great time just shooting pucks at the net. I think the end results will help them out as a player, and probably as a person too."

The HBTC hopes the spring program for the PAL is just the first of many community groups that utilize the state-of-the-art facility.

"Part of our mission is to find funding for people who don't have the income to pursue hockey," said Larry Hendrickson, HBTC Program Director. "That was one of Herbie's dreams."