Badger athletics lost a close member of its family Tuesday afternoon, as the Wisconsin men’s hockey team issued a release announcing the death of former Badger hockey player Bob Suter. He was 57.
Suter was a standout defenseman during his time with the Badgers, from 1975-’79. He was a member of the 1977 National Championship team and registered an assist in the overtime 6-5 victory over Michigan in the title game.
Filling the role of the hard-nosed blue liner, Suter led the Badgers in penalties and penalty minutes in three different seasons. He graduated as Wisconsin’s all-time penalty leader.
Suter is perhaps best known for his time with the 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey team, the Miracle on Ice team. He is the first member of the historic team to pass away.
“This is a heart-breaking day. Bob was the ultimate teammate,” said Wisconsin women’s hockey head coach Mark Johnson, a Wisconsin and Olympic teammate of Suter’s, in the release. “He could skate like the wind and was as hard of a competitor that I ever knew. He has passed much too young.”
After his decorated amateur career, Suter rejected a contract from the Los Angeles Kings and never played in the National Hockey League. He instead played in the Central Hockey League for a short time.
Suter’s post-playing career brought him back to Madison for good, where he briefly coached the now-revived USHL Madison Capitols. He then co-owned and directed the Capitol Ice Arena, where the Wisconsin State Journal has reported he suffered a fatal apparent heart attack.
“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,” said Wisconsin men’s hockey head coach Mike Eaves, also a teammate of Suter’s, in the release. “Whether its high school, onto college or onto the professional ranks, he touched a lot of kids and gave them an opportunity.”
Suter was the eldest of an important family to Badger hockey. His brother Gary played for Wisconsin from 1983-’85 and went on to an 18-year, five-time all-star career in the NHL. His son Ryan, also a Badger and also a defenseman, is a current all-star for the Minnesota Wild.
“The Suter name is synonymous with Badger hockey,” athletic director Barry Alvarez said in the release. “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.”
