MN Hockey Coach Crafts Specialized Gifts For Special Recipients

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – High school boys hockey coach Kurt Weber is a busy man. His Lakeville South team finished the year with a 16 – 9 record. They're the second seed in their section and host Owatonna Thursday night for sectionals.

And when he isn't coaching, Weber is teaching engineering at the high school.

But it's what he is doing in his free time that's catching the attention of some pretty big names.

Weber's clients include sports names like Justin Morneau, Jesse Crain, the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Xcel Energy Center.

Weber was always a handyman when his kids were young, making them train sets.

After his daughter, Alisha, married Twins all-star pitcher Glen Perkins, his little hobby of handmade products has catapulted into gift giving for all kinds of all-stars.

On a snowy February morning, a day off from the classroom for Weber means of a day of work in his woodshop.

In the Lakeville South High School Hockey coach's wood shop lay baseball bats and hockey boards all used for his many custom-made products.

"My daughter [Alisha] and sons will tell you I tend to overdo things," Weber said.

Weber has made shuffleboards, poker tables, even bed frames made out of hockey boards.

For his granddaughters, he made, with love, a music box that doesn't just play a tune but serves a night light at bedtime.

"You can see it has an engraving of them on the front and it just says sisters forever," Weber said.

His most memorable project thus far, believe it or not, doesn't have a connection to sports, but rather music.

Weber created a handmade guitar for James Taylor.

"The guitar is engraved with the song words all the way around the outside of the guitar," Weber said.

The guitar, fully equipped with copper wire, was commissioned by the Xcel Energy Center for Taylor's concert last fall. Weber even personally delivered the piece.

"When I gave it to him he actually tried to strum it right away, and the strings are of copper, so I'm like 'Don't do that!' So, he thought it was a real guitar until he started looking at it," Weber said.

A lot the work that Weber does goes to charity. He designed a custom poker table for the Minnesota Timberwolves last year that they auctioned off.

Currently, Weber is working on another custom shuffleboard, as well as a hockey bedroom set similar to one he designed for Justin Morneau.