Chuck Grillo inducted in to Minnesota Hockey Coaches Association Hall of Fame
I do not have the longevity, as a high school coach that qualifies some for this honor. This a very humbling experience. I've had the unique opportunity of participating in eleven state tournaments in Hockey and Baseball as an assistant and head coach at Bemidji High School.
These, along with serving my country in the Marine Corps, are some of the most memorable moments in my life. I was one of the builders of two programs in Bemidji and Rosemount High Schools with countless hours spent in the youth programs and building rinks. I am equally proud of building the Greenhaven outdoor rink in Hibbing, MN with my father, Dominic Grillo and neighbor, Matt Berklich in 1954. This rink continues to be the foundation and cornerstone for young players to develop, providing that basic psychological need for young people having a quality place to hang out and have fun.
We've had the opportunity to rub elbows with people who have an unbelievable net worth. We're convinced that they have no more net worth than Dominic and Doris Grillo. All the money in the world would never replace their old fashion value system. Their "quiet gift of giving" has provided opportunities for countless young men and women to form relationships create memories and develop their philosophy of life at the Greenhaven Rink. We can't think of a healthier atmosphere. "This environment is why I am doing what I do. Ironically the formal education my parents thought I needed so badly had less to do with my present position in life than their old fashioned value system and that warming shack with the pot belly stove. The education opened some doors and I am grateful for that.
"My parents epitomize the foundation of our country. They are two very special human beings who feel they were put on this earth to serve others and they have been exceptional in devoting their lives to that cause. Unfortunately there aren't many like them around anymore. This is why our country and so many communities are going to suffer." I dedicate this award to them.
My career in high school was cut short because of my aspirations to be part of the NHL, a life long dream. I chose to have what now amounts to a twenty-seven year NHL career in management, scouting and development. We forever remind our players to set their aspirations high, so our players understood when I chased my dream in the same manner I asked them to chase their dreams. Personal and professional growth has always out weighed winning and losing.
Like so many others, I have been blessed with a wife, (Clairene) and children (Rob, Chas, Tracy, Denise, Rachel and Dino) who empowered me to chase my dreams. I am forever grateful to my coaching partners, players and parents I had the opportunity to work with. I am indebted to people like Red Wilson, Jim Smalley, Horace May, Con Murphy, Des Sagedahl, Jim Lundbohm, Charlie Brown and Bryan Grand as my partners in high school sports.
People like Craig Patrick, Larry Ross, Herb Brooks, Gordon Christian, George Perpich, George Gund, Greg Malone, Jack Blatherwick and Dan Summers went out of their way to help me advance in the game. Players have a way of "making your career" and that is exactly what happened to me. I had memorable experiences with the likes of Gary Sargent, Earl Sargent, Bill Israelson, Bill Himmelright, Keith Hanson, Andy Kannenberg, Tom Reise, Mike Langley, Ernie Blackburn, Richie Glas, Ralph Lovering, Steve Donahue, Charlie Meyers, Jon Quistgaard, Mark Manney, the Howe brothers, Eigner brothers, Granato family (yes, Cammi), John Buckanaga, Jim Conway, E.J. Demery, Tom Forsythe, Rob Grillo, Dino Grillo, Derrick Plante (1st dishwasher @ Minnewawa Lodge to score a hat trick in the NHL) and so many others.
Doc Delcastillo joined us in his sophomore year and remains a loyal friend and colleague after all these years. My memories also include the countless number of coaches, most still active in the game today, that I've had the opportunity to work with during the summer months. It has been gratifying to see them move on and up in the game. Then there are all the draft picks over the years that remain a part of my life. There are all those with longevity at our Minnesota Hockey Camps. Chuck Whalen, Pat Funk, Doc, Roby and Dino devoted over twenty five summers to kids and enjoy doing it, while others continue to return for short periods. Greg Malone, more than a friend, continues to make an impact as Chief Scout of the Pittsburgh Penguins. Ty Eigner is back now that he coaches Brainerd High School. Carl Sneep is our most recent success story. Carl has no doubt set a record for training at our facility, is on his way to Boston College and is the standard bearer for all the core groups coming through.
Mark Manney and Jon Quistgaard are two conspicuous names. They are living proof that we must continually believe in a life after hockey. Being a pilot of Air Force One and President of Bemidji State College are just two examples of thousands of success stories. They are a reminder that developing a productive citizen is the ultimate goal. When I think of the Miracle on Ice team, I think of Bill Baker's accomplishments in the field of Dentistry and the desire of Mark Pavelich to live a simple life.
While working with the NHL over the past twenty-five (25) years, we have maintained my obligation and responsibility to Minnesota players from Mites to the Professional levels. "We have been able to play a significant role in many lives though our friendship, teaching, guidance, discipline, uniqueness, unbiased beliefs and unconditional love and respect for the players we come in contact with." Our Minnesota Hockey Camps resort and training center, founded with Coach Herbie Brooks, continues to be one of the most widely recognized training camps in the hockey world. We are an extension of amateur and professional programs world wide, with our grass roots in Minnesota.
Starting with the early years, we have never been involved in the game for personal recognition. We continue to believe that every student/athlete needs three (3) to six (6) mentors outside of their immediate family and we have filled that void for thousands of young people and support staff. Our passion and love for the game, and development, has not wavered over the past forty (40) years. We have been involved in summer development for nine (9) or ten (10) weeks during every one of those years.
Those early years at summer camp had some unique and talented individuals like Herb Brooks (we still have his hand written manuals), Pops Ross, Ron Novak, Wes Bolin, Bruce Plante, Al Rice, Don Brose, Frank Serratore, Tom Serratore, Bob Gernander, Mike Antonovich, Whitey Aus, Craig Sarner, Brad Bestow, Kevin Hartzell, Dave Morninville, John Sumner, J P Parise, Lefty Curran, Gilles Meloche, Larry Pleau, Marshall Johnston, Craig Patrick, Mike Sertich, John Perpich, Bob Motzko, Craig Dahl, Dean Blais, Dick Emhiser, Jack Blatherwick, Mike Polich, Tom Saterdalen, Tom Osiecki, Jim Pohl, Dan Germundson, Lyle Miller, Bob O'Connor, Bill Halbrehder, Terry Skrypek, Ted Brill, Kevin Constantine, Brad Shelstad, Jeff Shelstad, and Mark Kaufman. The different staffs, at different times in our 38 yrs of working summer camp, learned a lot from each other and they are very well recognized in the hockey world. I have to believe our camp helped them help themselves because the camp tests your passion for the game and life now we have a new group of coaches on our web site that you will hear about in the near future.
Living away from home provides an element of growth that all people need as they develop both professionally and socially. Summer camps offer the unique opportunity to make lasting memories while fostering lifelong friendships, self-reliance and leadership skills.
Young people need to nurture outgoing skills to express their talents, and our camp is committed to meeting that goal while emphasizing the development of better hockey players and better people.
All families need resources to reinforce values learned at home, and it’s vital for young people to broaden their circle of friends beyond their neighborhoods and schools. Camps are where young people learn to discover, develop and critique their skills and abilities and are an important step towards a well-rounded adulthood.
The percentage of young people attending residence camps is far too low considering the unparalleled values gained through such an experience. Our camp is looking for corporations and/or individuals that are generously willing to provide that chance for those who cannot afford to do so.
Success happens to those who are willing and able to prepare for opportunity. Everyone has one or more unique skills. Cultivate them!
Working in the game and owning a camp gives me a reason to celebrate an imperfect life, one where I know in my own mind I could have been a lot better person and a lot better player. I know that this award gives me a reason to celebrate my life and our contribution to society. We celebrate every success story where we played a small to significant role in a person's success.
I have an internal wealth I can take with me forever. This gives me (and us) Peace of Mind.
We measure our success in the 8 x 10's we could hang on the walls of our camp. If we had a picture of every success story in hockey and in life, the walls at MHC would be richly enhanced. We have been able to play a significant role in many lives though our friendship, teaching, guidance, discipline, uniqueness, unbiased beliefs and unconditional love and respect for the players we come in contact with.
I worked at being a good mentor capable of creating awareness, exposing blind spots and showing players what it takes to go to another level and be a pro. Telling players what they don't want to hear is my way of telling them I care about them. When you work with a player, they become a part of your life forever. Love and respect is a two way street. There are two winners or no winners. Nurturing young people makes life worth living and it is also a privilege that we do not take for granted.
We believe every young player should dream of playing in the NHL. Take a sampling of 100 players whose goal is to be an NHL player. Take another sampling of 100 whose goals are to play college. I believe you will have more people make the college team out of the NHL sampling group than the college-sampling group if the talent levels are similar. "Dare to dream while thinking big! While determination ultimately determines the fate of your dream, you can always become more realistic as time evolves."
The great mentors deal with life. Young people relate to people with a passion for the game. My passion for the game has giving me the opportunity to make a life out of hockey. Winning is the end result of developing a foundation about life, the person and bottom line qualities that make a difference. Why is it that people remember the coach more than the teacher? Is it because the teacher spends less time in settings where there is hard work, adversity, winning, losing, laughing, crying and emotional roller coasters? We believe it is. We believe that these situations create more bonding and have much to do with scoring big intellectually over the long haul.
Winning an award as a coach means we took the time to "think and believe big things could happen" and we worked hard to make it happen. With that, comes the reminder of our responsibility and obligation to encourage young people to continue to do the same. When we broke in to the game, Minnesota was one of three suppliers of players who had a dream of playing in the NHL. They took the college route to refine their skills. Things have changed because the world becomes smaller while the player pool became bigger. This is all the more reason for us to continue to recognize that we need to do more so our players in the future have a level playing surface when it comes to advancing in the game of hockey and ultimately the game of life.
Watching Ty Eigner break down because three sets of equipment at a young age translated in to three Division I careers brings back the meaning why we do what we do. My son Dino's presence meant so much because of all the adversity he faced in the game as a youth player on up through pro. He is where he is today because of his hockey experiences and those experiences should be told to the world. Tim Oshie's presence brought back all the memories of working with outstanding Native American athletes.
As I looked down from the podium at Willard Ikola, Lou Cotroneo and Tom Saterdalen while thinking about Pops, Herb and Maroosh, no doubt the most revered in the group for their winning and teaching, I was reminded that we all share one basic psychological need; "We want to be recognized and liked for our effort and things we do well."
Coaches, players, parents and fans share this common bond of feeling good about the success of others. I thank the coaching fraternity for recognizing me in time for my parents to enjoy one better thing in life and I thank the same group for helping me help myself. To think that one day I would be still enjoying this game long enough to have Willard's grand children now attending our camp, makes me a lucky guy who has been blessed by the game I love.
-ole gringo-
24621 So Clark Lake Rd P.O. Box 90 Nisswa, MN 56468-0090
Phone 218.96.2444 Fax 218.963.2325 Email chuck@mnhockeycamps.com
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