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10 MINNESOTAHOCKEYJOURNAL.COM // FEBRUARY.2015 But the family's hockey history doesn't end there. His grandfather, Bill, and great uncle, Roger, played for the 1960 Olympic team that captured the country's first-ever gold medal in the sport. The brothers also played on the 1964 team, and eventually formed a company that made hockey sticks, aptly named Christian Brothers. Another great uncle, Gordon Christian, played for Team USA in the 1956 games and earned silver, starting the family's Olympic legacy. The Christians aren't the only Warroad residents to play in the Games or excel at hockey's highest levels. In the 2014 Olympics, Gigi Marvin and T.J. Oshie each represented Warroad on Team USA. Marvin helped the women's team earn silver. In addition to the Christians and Nelson, two other former National Hockey League players call Warroad home: Henry Boucha, who played in the 1972 games, and Alan Hangsleben. In total, the small community claims nine players of Olympic or NHL fame. But of course, love for the game starts young. Warroad High School has won four boys' state tournament titles, most recently in 2005, and two girls' championships, back-to-back in 2010 and 2011. Several of their young players have gone on to compete at the collegiate level, including Brock's sister, Billye, who played at Hamline University in Saint Paul. "It's a very special place; it's definitely passionate about hockey," Brock said. "It starts at a young age. Kids are able to skate all the time, whether it's indoors or outdoors — it's quite the place for only 1,700 people. The passion they have for hockey is incredible." To Warroad We Go So, when Brock showed a keen interest for the sport at such a young age, the Nelsons decided that if they were going to dedicate their time to hockey, the best place to do it was in Warroad. At the age of 4, Brock moved from the Twin Cities to Hockeytown USA, the root of his family and hockey DNA, and truly began his journey with the sport. "It's what everybody does," Jeri said. "Having three kids play, we spent many, many hours at the arena. It's always a good place to be … It's the live, eat, sleep, hockey thing — they really do." While it may be something in the water, with it's location on Lake of the Woods and Warroad River coursing through it, hockey is simply a natural way of life for the town. "I don't know what the secret is, I wish we knew," Brock said. "It's good to see that and have kids that go on and play after high school. Most of the kids in Warroad play hockey, but compared to other cities, the numbers aren't there. But to have the production that it's had, I think it just goes to show you that being there and the hockey environment — being able to skate and play all day — it goes a long ways for developing passion for the game. I think many kids have grown over the years, being able to be successful." "I compare it to the perfect storm," his mom added. "You have hockey genes, a supportive community, the support of the family, and you've got the desire. They made it possible for him to skate as much as he wanted to skate and be at the rink as much as he wanted to be. It all works together." TakinG iT oUTSide Finding ice was never an issue. Between open skate and the outdoors, Nelson's love for the game only continued to grow. That constant access to ice allowed him to hone his skills and inspired him to work hard to develop his game. Naturally being near so much water, playing outdoors was a constant in Warroad. For Nelson, that's where it all started. "I remember when I was younger, at Christmas we'd just be out on the river at my Grandpa's and we'd skate for a couple of hours and have a fire to warm up when our toes were frozen," Brock said. "It just brings the memories of having fun and not worrying about anything else, not trying to look at the big picture of it, just trying to enjoy the small moments. I think that helps." While it's been five years since he's donned the black and yellow, Nelson still follows the Warroad team during the season — particularly last year when his younger brother, Blayke, was a senior. Warroad helped nurture Nelson's love for hockey, but before he could dream of "I remember when I was younger, at Christmas we'd just be out on the river at my Grandpa's and we'd skate for a couple of hours and have a fire to warm up when our toes were frozen." — Brock Nelson Nelson took time to develop his game in college. After high school, he spent two years excelling with the University of North Dakota. fUll NELSON PHOTOS: GETTY, JAMIE SNOWDEN, UND ATHLETICS / ERIC CLASSEN