Chris Stewart
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Chris Stewart is a former professional ice hockey forward. He played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Colorado Avalanche, St. Louis Blues, Buffalo Sabres, Minnesota Wild, Anaheim Ducks, Calgary Flames, and Philadelphia Flyers. He played junior hockey with the Kingston Frontenacs of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). Stewart is the younger brother of Anthony Stewart, who also played in the NHL. Both Chris and Anthony are proud alumni of Minnesota Hockey Camps.
Prior to the 2004–05, Stewart's older brother Anthony, who was the captain of the Kingston Frontenacs, contacted the head coach about his brother Chris. Later that season Chris got the chance to try out with the Frontenacs as an undrafted free agent and Stewart made the team in training camp, allowing the brothers to play together on the same team.
In 2005–06, Stewart had a breakout season, as he was named as an assistant captain, while scoring 37 goals and 87 points in 62 games to finish second in team scoring, helping Kingston to a playoff berth. That summer, Stewart was drafted 18th overall in the first round of the 2006 NHL Entry Draft by the Colorado Avalanche.
Stewart made his professional debut with the Albany River Rats of the American Hockey League (AHL) at the end of the 2006–07 season. In 2007–08, the Avalanche moved their AHL affiliate to Cleveland, Ohio, and renamed the team to the Lake Erie Monsters. Stewart spent the entire season with Lake Erie, scoring a team-high 25 goals, while finishing third in points with 44.
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Stewart was then called up to the Colorado Avalanche on December 5, 2008. On December 9, 2008, Stewart scored his first career NHL goal and added an assist in a 6–1 victory. On January 21, 2009, he earned his first ever Gordie Howe hat trick, which is a goal, an assist and a fight in the same game.
On February 19, 2011, the Avalanche traded Stewart to the St. Louis Blues. He finished with 13 goals and 30 points in 36 games with Colorado.
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The Blues traded Stewart on February 28, 2014 to the Buffalo Sabres. But then on March 2, 2015, minutes before the 2015 NHL trade deadline, Stewart was traded to the Minnesota Wild. Stewart then signed a two-year deal with the Minnesota Wild.
During the 2017–18 season, having been placed on waivers by the Wild approaching the trade deadline, Stewart was claimed by the Calgary Flames on February 26, 2018.
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On June 8, 2020, Stewart became a founding board member of the Hockey Diversity Alliance, whose goal is to address intolerance and racism in hockey. On September 27, 2020, Stewart announced his retirement after 13 professional seasons. Remaining in hockey, Stewart continued within the Flyers organization remaining with the club as a player development coach.
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Stewart now resides in Northern Minnesota, with his wife Holley and their three sons, Christian, Connor and Cannon. Stewart’s new goal, while investing in Minnesota Hockey Camps, is to provide a platform and elite training facility to help the next generation of players reach their ultimate goal. His passion for the game will continue to be passed on, through his mentorship, hard work and dedication to player development, with his partnership in Minnesota Hockey Camps.
Craig Larson
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In the Summer of 2003, Coach Craig Larson began coaching at Minnesota Hockey Camps. That first Summer he worked with our Bantam, High school and Junior level players, during his first 3 weeks. He ended up staying with us for an additional 4th week, that summer and also worked with the college and pro-am camps, that final week. It was easy to see his dedication and passion for teaching player skill development, so when Summer 2004 came around Coach Larson stayed for 10 weeks. He has been a staple at MHC now, working no less than 8 weeks each Summer, ever since. Coach Larson specializes in Power Skating techniques and Hi tempo practice planning. His coaching experiences span over 22 years, with stops in Junior Hockey, High School Hockey. He also has experience with professional and Junior scouting.
Since 2013, Craig has served as head boys High School Hockey Coach, for the Northern Lakes Lightning, playing out of Breezy Point, MN where he has held that position for 8 years. He also served as General Manager for the Breezy Point North Stars for 5 years. Prior to arriving in Breezy Point, coach Larson was Coach and General in the NA3HL and MNJHL junior hockey leagues. During those seasons, he worked with the Minnesota Flying Aces and Granite City Lumberjacks, where also during that time his teams advanced over thirty players to the college level and higher level junior ranks.
During the 2009-2010 season Craig served as a Minnesota scout for the Alexandria Blizzard (NAHL), as well as a U.S. regional amateur scout working for the International Scouting Service. As a regional scout for ISS, Craig evaluated and filed reports on players eligible for the NHL Draft.
During the 2008-2009 season Craig was the associate head coach and director of scouting for the Granite City Lumberjacks of the Minnesota Junior Hockey League. While there, he scouted, recruited, and helped form the expansion team now playing out of St. Cloud, Minnesota. His role with the Lumberjacks helped bring the expansion team to a third place finish at the 2009 USA Hockey Junior A Tier III National Championships in Marlboro, Massachusetts.
Craig has also served as head coach for the St. Cloud Apollo High School boy’s hockey team from 2000-2007. He has also continued to serve as a coach/evaluator for the USA Hockey Advanced program for Minnesota from 2000-2019 and the Northern Plains district in 2011-2013.
Craig continues to spend his summers working as a private skills coach, South Dakota Evaluation Camp Director and Minnesota Scout, for the Kenai Brown Bears, of the NAHL. With a real passion for the game, he helps to develop elite players from bantam to college age and even Professionals in on/off ice training. Craig is married to his wife of 11 years, who he married on the grounds of Minnesota Hockey Camps. They have one son, two happy high energy dogs and reside in Nisswa, MN.