University of Minnesota Athletics
Glen Sonmor - M Club Hall of Fame
Glen Sonmor
Hockey Coach, 1966-1971
HOF Class of 2007
In five seasons as coach, Toronto-born Glen Sonmor took the Gophers from a 9-21-0 season record to conference champs.
Sonmor play professional hockey from 1949 to 1955, coached in the American Hockey League from 1957-58, and then taught physical education and coached high school hockey. After coaching at Ohio State for one season, Sonmor became head coach of the Golden Gophers,
In 1969-70, Sonmor led Minnesota to a 21-12-0 record and its first WCHA Championship in 16 years, and he was named WCHA Coach of the Year. The next season, Minnesota made its first appearance in the NCAA Tournament in 10 years, advancing to the championship game against Boston University, which won, 4-2.
During Sonmor’s tenure, attendance at Gopher games rose 60 percent.
In 1971, Sonmor became head coach of the St. Paul Fighting Saints in the World Hockey Association. He returned to the NHL in 1978 for the first of three appointments as coach of the Minnesota North Stars. Sonmor was awarded the NHL’s 2006 Lester Patrick Trophy for service to U.S. hockey, received an honorary Minnesota letter, and provided color commentary for Gopher broadcasts and scouted for the Minnesota Wild.