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16 M H J ON L I N E . C O M | F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 9 A welcoming culture Brown grew up in the Rosemount Area Hockey Association, becoming a superstar at Rosemount High School and compiling 56 goals through 51 games his final two sea- sons in an Irish sweater. He went on to play two seasons at the University of Minnesota Duluth, helping the Bulldogs capture the program's first-ever national champion- ship in 2011 and earning Frozen Four Most Outstanding Player honors along the way. From there it was six seasons between the Tampa Bay Lightning and their American Hockey League affiliate in Syracuse before spending the second half of the 2017-18 season with the Anaheim Ducks. He signed a two-year contract with the Wild this past summer. With each new locker room, coach and team, Brown remains adamant that he never felt like he stood out, a credit to those he sur - rounded himself with all of his life. "I feel like I had a good group of coaches, friends and family support, so even when there were issues or things were said on the ice, I had a good grouping of people to support me," Brown explained. "I know that's not what everyone has, and everyone's situation is different, but for my situation it was good to have those kind of people that I could talk to and be around." For C.J. Suess, the experiences were sim - ilar. The Forest Lake native was playing organized hockey for the first time at age 6, continuing up through his senior year of high school (playing baseball the entire way, too). From Forest Lake to Minnesota State University, Suess always felt a part of the hockey family and community. "I definitely felt like I was part of the hockey culture and wasn't standing out by any means," said Suess who is playing his first professional season with the Winnipeg Jets AHL team in Manitoba. "As a kid there was maybe one or two instances that happen where someone says something they shouldn't, but you just can't let that both- er you. I feel like USA Hockey, Minnesota Hockey and the game itself is doing a great job of weeding that out." One goal A large part of hockey's inclusiveness seems to be the team-first mentality. Anyone who knows the game quickly realizes what a true bond every team must have to be successful. "I think hockey is an ultimate team sport," said Brown who's dad, Ted, was a member of the Minnesota Vikings from 1979-86. "If you look at other sports, individuals can kind of take over. In hockey, you need the person next to you just as much as they need you. "Once you're on a team, everybody has the same goal. Nobody cares what your race is, what your religion is, everybody can have their own separate beliefs. I think we're all here for the same purpose, no matter what level of hock - ey be it high school, juniors, college, pros, everybody has the same goal and I think as a team, at least from my point, nobody has ever cared if you're white, black, Asian. You're welcomed in with open arms and I would say other guys feel the exact same way." Suess again echoes Brown's sen - timents. "Everyone's out there to do the same thing," he said. "The color of your skin shouldn't play a matter in that." Everyone's out there to do the same thing. The color of your skin shouldn't play a matter in that." 'I'M A HOCK E Y PL AY E R' – Manitoba Moose forward C.J. Suess