Author Topic: Glen Sonmor, the pride of Moose Jaw, Manitoba, 86  (Read 853 times)

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Offline Libertas

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Glen Sonmor, the pride of Moose Jaw, Manitoba, 86
« on: December 14, 2015, 05:05:47 PM »
http://www.startribune.com/glen-sonmor-former-u-and-north-stars-head-coach-dies-at-86/361797651/#1

 :'(

He was a good guy, a stickler for fundamentals and he could be maniacal in his passion for hockey and his reputation for not taking any guff.  A legend, a type never to be seen again.  He liked his hooch and it got him in trouble on occasion, but this was this generation, practice hard, play hard, party hard.

His days at Birmingham of the WHA peaked his "take no guff" attitude.  His four leading tough guys were lampooned in a Cincinatti newspaper cartoon -

The cartoon carried the headline "Glen's Goons," and showed Sonmor leading four of his players into a rink. The players were in chains and there was also blood dripping hither and yon.

"Those gentlemen were Dave `Killer' Hanson, Frankie `Never' Beaton, Gilles `Bad News' Billodeau and Steve Durbano," said Tommy Thompson, the Wild's director of player personnel. "Durbano didn't need a nickname. …

Dave Hanson was cast as "Jake Hanson" of "the Hanson brothers" fame in the movie Slap Shot with Steve and Jeff Carlson as the other Carlson brother Jake was unavailable as his current team was in the playoffs.

Played in the Canadian Juniors, USHL and NHL until a puck to the head cost him an eye.  Coached the UofM, St Paul Saints, Birmingham and the North Stars where the team made it to its only Stanley Cup final in 1981 and lost to the Rangers.  Did radio broadcasts of Gopher hockey and worked as an NHL scout for the Wild.

A legend is gone.

R.I.P. Glen.

We are now where The Founders were when they faced despotism.

Online ToddF

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Re: Glen Sonmor, the pride of Moose Jaw, Manitoba, 86
« Reply #1 on: December 15, 2015, 06:11:32 AM »
RIP.  They don't make 'em like this, anymore.