Herb Brooks National Hockey Center

Hockey arena in Minnesota

Herb Brooks National Hockey Center
Construction


Former names	National Hockey Center (1989-2008), National Hockey and Event Center (2008-2013)
Location	One Herb Brooks Way St. Cloud, MN 56301
Owner	St. Cloud State University
Operator	St. Cloud State University
Capacity	up to 8,000 (Ice Hockey)
Surface	200' x 100' sheets (Ice Hockey)
Opened	December 1989
Architect	JLG Architects (2013 Addition)
Tenants
St. Cloud State Huskies Men's Hockey (NCAA) (1989–present) St. Cloud State Huskies Women's Hockey (NCAA) (1998–present) St. John's Johnnies Men's Hockey (NCAA) (1990–present)

The Herb Brooks National Hockey Center, also known as the Brooks Center, is a 6,000+ seat hockey arena that can seat up to 8,000 in St. Cloud, Minnesota. It is home to the St. Cloud State University Huskies men's & women's ice hockey teams, and the Saint John's University Johnnies ice hockey team. The main rink is named for the late university President Brendan J. McDonald, who advocated the team's move to Division I hockey. The arena consists of a lower and upper deck on the sides the ice. The west end features a few seats, while east contains no seating.

Although it is recorded as having a 5,159 seating capacity, Husky hockey games often draw crowds of more than 6,000. In 2024 Donald Trump held a rally, requiring an expansion to 8,000 indoors and thousands more outdoors. It is also a concert venue, with a capacity of up to 7,763. Graduation ceremonies have also been held at the arena.

The Brooks Arena was once regarded, by a visiting team, as a difficult place to play in the WCHA and NCHC. The notorious "Dog Pound" (St. Cloud's Student Section) regularly attends games.

In 2013, the arena was renamed in honor of former St. Cloud State, University of Minnesota, and Miracle on Ice hockey coach Herb Brooks. The same year, the National Hockey Center reopened after an extensive addition and renovation by JLG Architects which included a new atrium and entrance, west-end seating, expanded suites and club level seating, wider concourses, a new team store and improved training facilities. In 2019, St. Cloud State received further funding for the project, via a $600,000 campaign, that allowed them to finish building a high quality strength and conditioning area; this was originally part of the 2013 renovation, but initial funding fell just short of finishing it at the time.

In 2022, St. Cloud State received $1.3 million in gifts to significantly improve the fan experience at the Brooks Center; these funds were used to replace the analog video scoreboards with the latest in digital technology, add new video boards above the entrances from the concourse in the rink, and to improve the audio and acoustics of the building.

References

"Wisconsin Edges St. Cloud". USCHO.com. November 22, 2008. Retrieved 2013-02-11.
"SCSU renames its hockey arena after Herb Brooks". Star Tribune. Minneapolis. April 18, 2013. Archived from the original on July 12, 2015. Retrieved April 22, 2013.
"St. Cloud State University : Herb Brooks National Hockey Center". Stcloudstate.edu. Retrieved 2016-04-18.
"Herb Brooks National Hockey Center - MASC Facility". Mnsports.org. Retrieved 2016-04-18.
"St. Cloud State University : Herb Brooks National Hockey Center". Stcloudstate.edu. Retrieved 2016-04-18.
"SCSU Rethinking Phase 2 Of National Hockey Center Renovation [AUDIO]". Wjon.com. 2014-04-11. Retrieved 2016-04-18.
"SCSU's $600,000 strength and conditioning area opens at Herb Brooks National Hockey Center". Grand Forks Herald. Grand Forks. August 14, 2019. Retrieved October 24, 2022.
"St. Cloud State receives $1.8M for Huskies Hockey". Stcloudstate.edu. June 9, 2022. Retrieved October 24, 2022.

External links

v t e St. Cloud State Huskies men's ice hockey
Playing venues	J. C. Brown Athletic Field (1931–1972) St. Cloud Municipal Athletic Complex (1972–1989) Herb Brooks National Hockey Center (1989–present)
Head coaches	Ralph Theisen (1931–1932) Ludwig Andolsek (1932–1935) Robert DePaul (1935–1936) Walter Gerzin (1936–1937) Benedict Vandell (1937–1938) George Lynch (1938–1942) Roland Vandell (1946–1950, 1951–1952) Ray Gasperline (1950–1951) George Martin (1952–1953) Brendan McDonald (1953–1954) Jim Baxter (1954–1956) Jack Wink (1956–1968) Charlie Basch (1968–1984) John Perpich (1984–1986) Herb Brooks (1986–1987) Craig Dahl (1987–2005) Bob Motzko (2005–2018) Brett Larson (2018–Present)
Seasons	1931–32 1932–33 1933–34 1934–35 1935–36 1936–37 1937–38 1938–39 1939–40 1940–41 1941–42 1946–47 1947–48 1948–49 1949–50 1950–51 1951–52 1952–53 1953–54 1954–55 1955–56 1956–57 1957–58 1958–59 1959–60 1960–61 1961–62 1962–63 1963–64 1964–65 1965–66 1966–67 1967–68 1968–69 1969–70 1970–71 1971–72 1972–73 1973–74 1974–75 1975–76 1976–77 1977–78 1978–79 1979–80 1980–81 1981–82 1982–83 1983–84 1984–85 1985–86 1986–87 1987–88 1988–89 1989–90 1990–91 1991–92 1992–93 1993–94 1994–95 1995–96 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–00 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09 2009–10 2010–11 2011–12 2012–13 2013–14 2014–15 2015–16 2016–17 2017–18 2018–19 2019–20 2020–21 2021–22 2022–23 2023–24 2024–25
Conference affiliations	NCHA (1981–1987) Independent (1987–1990) WCHA (1990–2013) NCHC (2013–present)
Rivalries	Minnesota
Culture & lore	North Star College Cup
All-time leaders	Ryan Lasch (183 Points) Mark Hartigan (86 Goals) Dávid Hrenák (82 Wins)
Frozen Four appearances	1987 2013 2021
NCAA Tournament appearances	1987 1989 2000 2001 2002 2003 2007 2008 2010 2013 2014 2015 2016 2018 2021 2022 2023
Conference Tournament titles	WCHA: 2001
Hobey Baker winners	Drew LeBlanc (2013)
St. Cloud State University St. Cloud, MN

v t e St. Cloud State Huskies women's ice hockey
Playing venues	Herb Brooks National Hockey Center (1989–present)
Head coaches	Brian Idalski (2022– )
Seasons	2009–10 2010–11 2011–12 2012–13 2013–14 2014–15 2015–16 2016–17 2017–18 2018–19 2019–20
St. Cloud State University St. Cloud, MN

v t e Western Collegiate Hockey Association women's ice hockey
Teams	Bemidji State Beavers Minnesota Golden Gophers Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs Minnesota State Mavericks Ohio State Buckeyes St. Cloud State Huskies St. Thomas Tommies Wisconsin Badgers
Venues	Sanford Center (Bemidji State) Ridder Arena (Minnesota) AMSOIL Arena (Minnesota Duluth) All Seasons Arena (Minnesota State) Ohio State University Ice Rink (Ohio State) Herb Brooks National Hockey Center (St. Cloud State) St. Thomas Ice Arena (St. Thomas) LaBahn Arena (Wisconsin)
Championships & awards	Awards & honors Champions
Seasons	1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09 2009–10 2010–11 2011–12 2012–13 2013–14 2014–15 2015–16 2016–17 2017–18 2018–19 2019–20 2020–21 2021–22 2022–23 2023–24 2024–25

v t e National Collegiate Hockey Conference
Current teams	Arizona State Sun Devils Colorado College Tigers Denver Pioneers Miami RedHawks Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs North Dakota Fighting Hawks Omaha Mavericks St. Cloud State Huskies Western Michigan Broncos
Future teams	St. Thomas Tommies (joining in 2026)
Venues	Mullett Arena (Arizona State) Ed Robson Arena (Colorado College) Magness Arena (Denver) Steve Cady Arena (Miami) AMSOIL Arena (Minnesota Duluth) Ralph Engelstad Arena (North Dakota) Baxter Arena (Omaha) Herb Brooks National Hockey Center (St. Cloud State) Lawson Arena (Western Michigan)
Future venues	Lee and Penny Anderson Arena (St. Thomas)
Seasons	2013–14 2014–15 2015–16 2016–17 2017–18 2018–19 2019–20 2020–21 2021–22 2022–23 2023–24 2024–25
Awards	Player of the Year Rookie of the Year Goaltender of the Year Herb Brooks Coach of the Year Forward of the Year Defensive Forward of the Year Defensive Defenseman of the Year Offensive Defenseman of the Year Scholar-Athlete of the Year Sportsmanship Award All-NCHC Teams

45°32′48″N 94°09′08″W / 45.54667°N 94.15222°W / 45.54667; -94.15222

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