Bob Suter, 'Miracle on Ice' defenseman, dies

Minneapolis, MN (SportsNetwork.com) - Bob Suter, who patrolled the blue line for Team USA's gold-medal winning "Miracle on Ice" team in 1980, died on Tuesday at the age of 57.

The Star Tribune reported Suter, father to Minnesota Wild defenseman Ryan Suter and older brother to former NHL backliner Gary Suter, died of an apparent heart attack in his hometown of Madison, Wisconsin.

"We are very saddened by today's news that Minnesota Wild scout Bob Suter suddenly passed away," the Wild said in a statement. "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 was the second member of the 1980 team to die and the first of its players. Head coach Herb Brooks died in a single-car accident in September 2003.

Standing just 5-foot-9 and weighing 178 pounds, Suter was an offensive presence at Wisconsin, tallying 21 goals and 69 points in 82 games from 1977-79. He added 18 points in 38 games for the U.S. Olympic team, which memorably beat the Soviet Union in 1980 and then won gold by topping Finland.

Suter was drafted twice in 1977 -- by the NHL's Los Angeles Kings and the WHA's Birmingham Bulls -- and both times in the seventh round, but never made it beyond the original Central Hockey League, playing his last professional season in Nashville during the 1981-82 season.