University of Minnesota Athletics
Hockey Legend Glen Sonmor To Retire
2/3/2011 12:00:00 AM | Men's Hockey
Former Minnesota hockey coach and current radio analyst Glen Sonmor has decided to retire at the end of this season. Sonmor, who serves as an analyst for Gopher Sports Properties, a division of Learfield Sports, has been broadcasting Gopher hockey games with radio booth partner Wally Shaver since the 2001-02 season. Prior to working with Wally Shaver, Sonmor also broadcast Gopher games with Dan Terhaar.
for three seasons and Al Shaver for two seasons.
For many Minnesota hockey fans, Sonmor is more than just an analyst. He is an informed and authoritative voice who has been involved with hockey in the state of Minnesota for more than 45 years.
The 81-year-old Sonmor has literally done it all with Gopher hockey - from coaching to analyzing. Sonmor succeeded the legendary John Mariucci in coaching the Golden Gopher hockey team from 1966 to 1971. He was named WCHA Coach of the Year in 1970 after leading Minnesota to a 21-12 record and a WCHA regular season title. A year later, he led the team to a WCHA playoff title and NCAA runner-up finish. During his time behind the Minnesota bench, he compiled a 77-80-6 record.
The Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, native, who is known as one of the most colorful and popular figures in hockey, played several years of junior and minor league hockey before making his NHL debut in 1953 for the New York Rangers. He played in 28 games during two seasons for the Rangers and tallied two goals. His playing career was cut short after he sustained an eye injury in 1955.
After his coaching tenure with the Gophers, Sonmor had coaching stints with the Minnesota Fighting Saints and Birmingham Bulls of the WHA before a successful head coaching career with the NHL's Minnesota North Stars from 1979 to 1983. He led the team to a playoff appearance in each of his four years and took Minnesota to its first Stanley Cup final appearance in 1981.
Sonmor, who received the Lester Patrick Trophy for outstanding service to hockey in the United States in 2006, has also served as an amateur scout for the Minnesota Wild. He was inducted into the "M" Club Hall of Fame in 2007.
It will be impossible to replace the icon that is Sonmor, but a search for a new radio analyst will begin immediately.
