Introduction:
Growing up as a youth hockey player, there are plenty of players who I admire for their ability to succeed at all different levels of hockey. It always impresses me that the players who came from Minnesota who were able to find such success, would grow up in places that are not too far from where I grew up. It made me believe as a kid that I could also grow up to be a successful hockey player, and that hockey can take me places that otherwise felt impossible. Even though Neal Broten wasn’t one particular player I grew up idolizing, he still represents the type of Minnesota athlete that inspired me as a kid. The fact that Broten had an impressive hockey career through each stage of his life, showed me that success in hockey is possible even if you’re from small-town Minnesota. Broten’s story is one that makes me proud to be a native Minnesotan, and even more proud to be a former Minnesota youth hockey player.
Early Playing Career:
Neal Broten was born and raised in Roseau, Minnesota, a small town located in Northwest Minnesota. Despite a population of less than 5,000 people, Roseau has a history of breeding strong Minnesota high school hockey talent. Roseau high school, in fact, has won the second most state titles in Minnesota High School hockey history trailing only behind Edina High School. Broten would play in the Minnesota High School State Tournament for 3 out of his 4 years in high school(1977 to 1979), and showed plenty of promise despite never winning a hockey state championship. His record of four assists in one period during a state tournament game in 1978, is a Rosseau record that still stands today
Following his high school career, Broten would choose to play for the Minnesota Golden Gophers, who was coached by Herb Brooks at the time. During his freshman year, he would be voted as WCHA Rookie of the Year and would score 21 goals with 50 assists during that season. The Minnesota Gophers Men’s Hockey team would go on to win the national championship, and he would score a critical goal that would put the Gophers up 4-3 to clinch the game. He would continue to play for the Gophers until the 1981 season, and won the Hobey Baker award during his last season. He would go onto the NHL following the 1981 season, but he would accomplish one of his most legendary feats prior to the 1981 season.
Miracle On Ice/International Playing career:
As Broten wrapped up his freshman year, he was selected to try out for the 1980 US Men’s National Hockey Team who was also coached by Herb Brooks. Given that in 1980, the U.S. National team drew most of its talents from young, top amateur prospects, it was tough to see them going very far in the Olympics. Broten would make the team along with eight fellow teammates from the University of Minnesota. He played a critical role in the development of the team during its Olympic run. Despite going up against the highly favored Soviet Union, he and his teammates would defeat the Soviet Union 4-3 in the Olympic Semi-Final game, prompting one of the greatest hockey moments in U.S. Olympic History. The team would eventually go onto win gold against Finland, making Broten an NCCA Champion and Olympic Champion before even reaching the NHL. Broten would also play in the 1990 Ice Hockey World Championships, along with the 1981 and 1984 Canada Cup games.
NHL Playing Career:
Before joining the Miracle on Ice team, Broten was drafted by the Minnesota North Stars in the 2nd round of the 1979 NHL Draft. Broten would play for around 16 season, including when the franchise moved from Minnesota to Dallas in the mid 1990’s. His best statistical season with the North Stars would be the 1985-1986 season, where he would score 105 points and make the NHL All-Star Game. He was the first American player in the NHL to score over 100 points in a season, and would also make an All-star appearance in 1983. He was eventually traded to the New Jersey Devils in 1995, and would win a Stanley Cup with the Devils in the same year. Broten would retire from the NHL in 1997 after playing for 17 seasons. He would be inducted into the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame in 2020.
Conclusion:
In short, Broten is one of the most accomplished U.S. hockey players in history. He is the only player to have won the Hobey Baker(top college player award, Olympic Gold Medal, and Stanley Cup. Despite living in quiet retirement in River Fall, Wisconsin, he continues to inspire players from across Minnesota and the Midwest to this day.