Minnesota Hockey has named Pat Westrum the 2016 Ted Brill Award winner. The award was established with great respect and fond memories of one of our most influential leaders. It is presented annually to an individual who has at least ten years of service to any of the various player development programs (STP, HEP, High Performance/Selects, High School All-Star Series, etc.).

Due to his continued role in the Boys' High Performance programs, Westrum was unable to attend Minnesota Hockey Awards Banquet where the award is usually presented. Therefore, he was presented with the award during the Boys' HP 16 & 17 Spring Festival at Plymouth Ice Center while surrounded by his peers. 

Pat Westrum grew up in Minneapolis, MN where he fell in love with the game of hockey. He played for Roosevelt High School before going on to play at the University of Minnesota.

Following graduation, Westrum played 237 regular season games as a defenseman in the World Hockey Association for the Minnesota Fighting Saints, Calgary Cowboys and Birmingham Bulls between 1974 and 1978. He was also selected to be a member of the United States National Team at the 1978 Ice Hockey World Championships in Prague.

Since retiring, Westrum has dedicated over 25 years to developing players at the grassroots levels as a coach at all levels of youth and high school hockey. He has served as a district coach-in-chief, coordinating USA Hockey’s Coach Education Program, for the past 15 years. He has been involved as a coach and evaluator with Minnesota Hockey and USA Hockey player development camps for 20 years. Recently, he played a key role in helping develop the CCM High Performance 14/15 fall programs throughout Minnesota.

Westrum’s keen eye for talent and player development also led to a role as an amateur scout in the NHL. He served eight years in that role for the Phoenix Coyotes and has spent the last ten with the Montreal Canadiens.

One of his proudest moments, as a coach and as a father, came in the 1996 Minnesota State High School Hockey Tournament. While coaching Apple Valley with Larry Hendrickson, Westrum watched his son Erik score a hat trick in the longest game in state tournament history – five overtimes, 93 minutes and 12 seconds – against Duluth East.  Apple Valley, whom Westrum had coached since they were in Mites, went on to win its first and only state title.

Thank you Pat for your unwavering dedication towards helping hockey players in Minnesota reach their potential on and off the ice!