Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/456031
FEBRUARY.2015 // MINNESOTAHOCKEYJOURNAL.COM 09 09 hen Brock Nelson was 2, almost 3, his mother signed him up for a figure skating lesson at the John Rose Oval in Roseville. His older sister was taking lessons and his mom, Jeri, thought it'd be a good way to get him on the ice. In the 20-minute session, the 2-year-old Brock did everything but listen to the instructor. Jeri later apologized for his behavior, but the instructor stopped her short. It was pretty clear at such a young age that Brock was a natural skater; he was fine on the ice by himself. When the three Nelsons returned to the car, Brock whined, "Mom, when I told you I wanted to skate, I wanted to play hockey. Not figure skate." "He was so mad at me," Jeri laughed upon recounting the story. Brock got his wish as his mom signed him up for Centennial Youth Hockey Association's initiation program in the north metro area of the Twin Cities. All they asked of the 2-year-old was that he picked himself up if he fell. Almost immediately, Brock and hockey became inseparable. "He wanted to play hockey since he was old enough to speak it," Jeri said. "When he got his first pair of hockey skates, he wouldn't let me take them off his feet. So he slept with them and when he fell asleep I took them off. When he got up he wanted them on again. He would put them on all day long and walk on the carpet. When they talk about hockey genes, he definitely has hockey genes." Hockey family USa The sport truly is in his blood. Jeri's maiden name is Christian, of the famed Christians of Warroad, Minnesota. Her brother, Brock's uncle Dave, played for the 1980 U.S. Olympic team of "Miracle on Ice" fame. BROCK NELSON IS THE NHL'S NEWEST YOUNG GUN FROM MINNESOTA. GIVEN HIS LINEAGE, THAT'S NO SURPRISE. BY KELLY ERICKSON fUll W NELSON "When he got his first pair of hockey skates, he wouldn't let me take them off his feet. So he slept with them and when he fell asleep I took them off. When he got up he wanted them on again." — Jeri Nelson Brock Nelson's hockey future looks bright. Alongside three other Minnesotans, Nelson has established himself on a surging New York Islanders team.