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Chuck Grillo, left, and his son, Dean, take a break after another busy summer season at Minnesota Hockey Camps in Nisswa.
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High School (boys’ hockey) coaches and numerous changes at the (Essentia Health Sports Center) civic center,” Chuck said. “We’ve survived, but I don’t know if I would have believed it if someone had told me we would be her 37 years after Herb Brooks and I started the camp.” “We’re proud that former players now want their kids to be part of our camp. What also makes us most proud is that parents bring their kids here, and leave them with a good comfort level.” Chuck and Clairene are now in their 70s, which has resulted in a gradual transition of management at the camp. “Our kids have expressed an interest in keeping the camp’s legacy alive,” Chuck said. “They know our family, and how deeply entrenched we are in the game. Our kids witnessed what all went into owning this place.” Chuck and Clairene, along with their son, Rob and his wife, Carol, are part of the ownership team. Rob is currently in his 21st season as a scout with the San Jose Sharks. Dean, a former University of North Dakota skater who was drafted by the
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resort was for sale,” Chuck recalled. “His first reply was no, but when we upped the amount, he couldn’t refuse. The transaction was initiated with a signature on a napkin and I called Herb (Brooks) and told him we just bought a resort.” “We wanted a hockey facility, and we believed the resort would bring families closer to their children, and get the families more involved with the hockey training.” Minnewawa Lodge, which is one of the state’s oldest resorts dating back to 1898, originally hosted people in the performing arts and later became a fishing resort for visitors from the St. Louis area. The facility was ideal for hosting hockey players of all ages with the sleeping quarters and recreational opportunities of Clark Lake. Campers would skate at the Essentia Health Sports Center (formerly the Brainerd Area Civic Center). A relationship for renting ice time started with (former arena owner) Bob Olson, then the city of Brainerd, and now with Essentia Health. Minnewawa Lodge provided strength training, personal growth sessions, dry-land training and dorms for the players, who were transported by vans to various ice sessions in Brainerd. Brooks was a partner with the camp for its initial years before Chuck and his family assumed sole ownership, although Brooks continued to support the camp until his death in 2003. “Over the years all six of our children have worked at the camp,” Chuck said. “And my wife, Clairene, is the reason the camp is where it is today. She ran the camp while I was traveling 200 nights a year as an NHL scout for 31 seasons.” The camp has grown over the years, with now more than 40 staff working during the peak summer months. The camp has consistently hosted around 1,000 youth, high school and college skaters each summer; many of them for multi-week sessions. The developmental training also included minor league and more than 500 NHL players, including stars like T.J. Oshie, Scott Hartnell, Paul Martin and James van Riemsdyk. Minnewawa Lodge was also the training camp home of the San Jose Sharks in 1994 when Chuck served as the team’s vice president/director of player personnel. “We’ve been through five Brainerd
Each office Independently Owned and Operated
2016 Nisswa Destination Guide
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