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Richard Emahiser Named 2017 Ted Brill Award Recipient

By Minnesota Hockey, 04/03/17, 1:00PM CDT

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The Ted Brill 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.).

As a youth growing up in Mounds View, Dick Emahiser could be summed up in one word: athlete. A three-sport star in football, hockey and baseball, Emahiser led Mounds View to a Bantam State Championship in 1965, followed by a Consolation Championship at the National Tournament.

“Emmy” continued his achievements in high school, where he led Mounds View to the 1968 State Hockey Tournament. He was an All Conference football and hockey player, and a captain of his baseball team. He continued his hockey career in college, playing one year at Bemidji State, and three years at Hamline.

Soon after earning his Bachelor’s Degree in Physical Education and his Masters in Experimental Education, Emahiser began a 40-year coaching career while helping to start high school hockey and youth hockey programs in Eden Prairie. All the while, he was involved as a USA Hockey Coach Education Instructor and has been on the Minnesota Hockey Coach & Player Development staff for 34 years. He’s served as a select coach for USA Hockey and Minnesota Hockey with the Select 15, 16 and 17 teams. He was an Assistant Coach on the 1990 USA Hockey Select 17 National Team, and was the head coach of the 1997 and 1998 Minnkota Select 16 team that won the USA Festival Championships both years. In 1999, Emmy was one of two coaches selected by USA Hockey to go to the Czech Republic and coach in the International Ice Hockey Federation Select 15 camp.

Under the leadership of Ted Brill and Bob O’Connor, Emahiser began the Minnesota Hockey District CEP Coach-In-Chief Program, as well as the STP summer hockey development program.

Along with 2016 Ted Brill Award winner, Pat Westrum, Dick has been the District 6 CEP instructors and player development directors. He and Westrum are also in charge of evaluating the Minnesota Select 16 players in the CCM Minnesota Hockey High Performance Spring Festival.

The Ted Brill Award will be added to Emahiser’s lengthy list of awards and accomplishments. In 1996, he was named the first USA Hockey Developmental Coach of the Year. In 2002, he was awarded the prestigious USA Hockey Walter Yaciuk Award for his involvement in the Coach Education Program. He was recognized four times by the Minnesota High School Coaches Association as the Section Assistant Coach of the Year in 1998, 2007, 2009 and 2011. He was the Class AA Assistant Coach of the Year in 1998 and the Class A Assistant Coach of the Year in 2009. He was also recognized by the MHCA in 1998 with the Dave Peterson Award for his dedication and commitment to developing Minnesota Hockey.

While doing all this, as well as teaching for 34 years in Eden Prairie, Dick has been backed by the “ultimate hockey wife of 49 years,” Diane. The couple has two kids (Rob and Jennifer) and five grandkids.

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