Pete Carlson receives Herb Brooks Foundation Youth Hockey Hall of Fame Award

by Bryan Zollman, Let’s Play Hockey

There aren’t many people in the state of Minnesota who have provided as many hockey opportunites for youth hockey players than Pete Carlson.

Carlson may not have ever won a big trophy as a player. He never served behind the bench of a Minnesota blueblood program. He never led a team to a title from the front office.

But he played an integral role in the fabric of hockey in Minnesota by managing the country’s largest indoor hockey facility for 29 years.

In those years Carlson was responsible for filling 18,000 hours of ice time per year. And he did so by sticking to three principles: saying yes, having a purpose, and creating opportunities.

Carlson was the recipient of the Herb Brooks Foundation Youth Hockey Hall of Fame Award, presented August 3 at Dellwood Country Club.

“He is a real hero in the game of hockey,” said Dan Brooks, son of legendary coach Herb Brooks, before presenting Carlson with the prestigious honor that began in 2005. “His biggest impact on the game wasn’t something that was glamorous, but very much needed and under appreciated.”

Carlson operated behind the scenes to ensure the Super Rink stayed busy, providing opportunities for players, teams and leagues from all over the world. He oversaw the transition from four sheets of ice to eight, and was largely responsible for making sure those sheets stayed full not just during the hockey season, but the summer months.

Carlson worked extensively in helping creating ice time through camps, clinics and tournaments, giving players a year round venue in the heart of the metro. When it was built in 1998 there wasn’t a facility of its stature anywhere in the country. There still isn’t.

In 2006, in addition to four more sheets of ice, Carlson helped spearhead the Herb Brooks Training Center and the addition of more locker rooms.

Carlson said he was humbled to be given an award in a room where members of the 1980 Olympic team, former NHL players, and other Minnesota hockey legends were in attendance for the annual Herb Brooks Foundation Golf Tournament.

“My career has been behind the scenes,” Carlson said to the crowd upon receiving the award. “I haven’t won a state tournament, I haven’t won a national championship. I haven’t won a Stanley Cup or a Gold Medal. And all of that is in this room. And I think why am I up here?”

Carlson said it was because he said yes, had a purpose, and that led to creating opportunies. He recalled meeting with hockey legends Larry Hendrickson and Ted Brill about creating opportunities for youth hockey players.

“And then Herb stepped in and I said ‘no way, I am sitting here with Herb Brooks,’” Carlson recalled. “Herb didn’t tell us what we should do, he asked us what we were going to do. What is it we should do to get kids on the ice. I learned the word opportunity from Herb.”

Throughout his 29 years at the Super Rink, Carlson helped provide ice time for tens of thousands of hockey players of all ages, but specifically had a huge impact on youth hockey. Over the past three decades hockey has boomed in the northwest metro and the Super Rink has served as home ice for several area associations.

“We provided tons of opportunity for these kids,” he said. “Camps and clinics and tournaments…people from around the world coming to the Super Rink. Seeing the players, the coaches, the logos, the D1 teams, scouts scouting kids. I’ve seen them all. It’s been fantastic.”

All because he said yes to the job.

“The opportunities were amazing, and it really gave me purpose,” he said. “Every single day at the super rink I had purpose and when you have purpose you can do some fun things.”

Carlson retired from the Super Rink this past winter and has since taken on the job as director at Heartland Hockey Camp in Deerwood, Minnesota. He is still working with young hockey players and living by his steadfast principles.

“Say yes, create opportunity, have a purpose,” he said. “I am going to continue to do that.”

Past winners of the Herb Brooks Foundation Youth Hockey Hall of Fame Award

2025: The Funk Family
2024: The Grendahl Family
2022: Duane Koepp
2021: The Strelow Family
2019: Matt Olson
2018: Bob Suter
2017: The Brodt Family
2016: Steve “Moose” Younghans
2015: Bill Butters
2014: Chuck Grillo
2013: Larry Hendrickson
2012: Janet Marvin
2011: Jim McDonough
2010: Cal, Tut & Jack Marvin
2009: Rudy Krampotich
2008: Stan Hubbard
2005: Wes Barette