U.S. Hockey icon Bob Suter died from a heart attack at age 57 in Madison, Wisc. on Tuesday.
Suter was a defenseman for the “Miracle on Ice” team that won gold for the United States in 1980. He also won an NCAA title with the University of Wisconsin in 1977. He’s the father of Minnesota Wild defenseman Ryan Suter.
Ryan told ESPN that he’d bring Bob Suter’s gold medal to school frequently, even forgetting it one day. His father was humble enough about that accomplishment that Ryan never watched the “Miracle on Ice” as a child:
“Because my dad’s a humble guy, he doesn’t talk about it,” Ryan Suter said back in 2009. “I still, to this day, haven’t seen the game. He said he lent out his game tapes and the people never returned them or they were stolen or something.
“I haven’t seen it. I just hear about it through other people. I didn’t really realize it until probably seeing the HBO special on it and realizing how significant it was.”
Fellow “Miracle on Ice” legend Mike Eruzione shared his condolences.
Sad news at the passing of Bob Suter a great teammate on1980 Olympic team he will be missed by so many RIP BamBam
— MIKE ERUZIONE (@MERUZIONE) September 9, 2014
The Wild released this statement:
We are very saddened by today’s news that Minnesota Wild Scout Bob Suter suddenly passed away. The Wild organization sends its condolences to the entire Suter family during this difficult time. Not only was Bob a great hockey ambassador, he was a terrific person off the ice who will be greatly missed by all of us.
#mnwild statement on the passing of Bob Suter: http://t.co/lrAQvPZy5u pic.twitter.com/ROO5TE6xhq
— Minnesota Wild (@mnwild) September 9, 2014
This sad news surfaced very recently, yet testimonials are already pouring in about his impact on the game in America. The Globe & Mail’s James Mirtle points out that Suter had a big impact on Phil Kessel and his family, along with that obvious influence on his son:
Bob Suter was a big-time mentor to the Kessel brothers growing up. Huge figure in Madison hockey circles. Only 57 years old.
— James Mirtle (@mirtle) September 9, 2014
Some of the most enjoyable stories I've written the past 2 years involved Bob Suter talking about Ryan's childhood and the rise of his son
— Michael Russo (@RussoHockey) September 9, 2014
Olympic Talk’s Nick Zaccardi tweeted this great photo of Suter basking in that gold-medal glory:
Bob Suter in front of his Gold Medal Sports & Bait sporting goods store in Madison, Wis., in November 1980. pic.twitter.com/HaF6kN5qYf
— Nick Zaccardi (@nzaccardi) September 9, 2014
(Main post image via the University of Wisconsin.)