Bob Suter, former UW and ‘Miracle on Ice' star, dies at 57
The news spread quickly through the Wisconsin hockey community and left friends of former UW defenseman Bob Suter stunned, struggling to find the right words to share.
Suter died Tuesday of an apparent heart attack. He was 57.
“We are all stunned,” UW women’s hockey coach Mark Johnson, who played with Suter on UW’s 1977 NCAA championship team and on the U.S. team that won the gold medal at the 1980 Olympics in Lake Placid, N.Y., said in a statement released by UW. “Everyone is shocked.
“It’s a sad day for not only the community of Madison but the hockey community who knew Bob and all of the players who he touched and who he gave an opportunity to play hockey and climb up the ladder.
“Whether it’s high school, onto college or onto the professional ranks, he touched a lot of kids and gave them an opportunity.”
UW men’s coach Mike Eaves teamed with Suter and Johnson to lead the Badgers to the ’77 NCAA title in Detroit.
“This is a heartbreaking day,” Eaves said in the release. “Bob was the ultimate teammate. He could skate like the wind and was as hard of a competitor that I ever knew.
“He has passed much too young.”
Suter, a native of Madison who played at UW from 1975-79 under legendary coach Bob Johnson, suffered the heart attack at Capitol Ice Arena in Middleton.
He used the facility for his work with the Madison Capitols youth program. Suter worked with the program for years and helped develop hundreds of boys and girls.
“It is unfortunate that this happened at such a young age,” Johnson said, “and there are a lot of people who are going to miss him.”
Suter, who attended Madison East High School, is the father of Ryan Suter, who played at UW in 2003-04 and last season completed his ninth season in the National Hockey League.
Ryan Suter, who played with the Milwaukee Admirals in 2004-05, spent seven seasons with the Nashville Predators and the last two with the Minnesota Wild.
The Wild issued a release Tuesday:
“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.”
Bob Suter is the brother of Gary Suter, who played at UW from 1983-85 and played 18 seasons in the NHL (1985-2002). Gary Suter helped the Calgary Flames win the Stanley Cup in 1989.
“I was extremely saddened to hear of the passing of Bob Suter,” UW athletic director Barry Alvarez said in the UW release. “The Suter name is synonymous with Badger hockey.
“Bob did tremendous work in the Madison and UW community to grow the sport of hockey. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Suter family.”
This story was originally published September 10, 2014 at 2:20 AM.