Bob Suter

Robert Allen Suter (May 16, 1957 – September 9, 2014) was an American ice hockey defenseman and member of the U.S. national team that won the gold medal at the 1980 Winter Olympics.

He was the brother of former National Hockey League (NHL) player Gary Suter and father of current NHL unrestricted free agent Ryan Suter who last played for the St. Louis Blues. Another son, Garrett, played for the University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point in the Northern Collegiate Hockey Association. His nephew Jeremy Dehner is a defenseman with most of his career spent in European professional leagues.

Career Born in Madison, Wisconsin, Suter attended Madison East High School. He played college hockey at University of Wisconsin–Madison and was a member of the 1977 NCAA hockey champion Wisconsin Badgers. He was mostly noted for his rough play, setting several Badger records for penalty minutes before leaving in 1979. He initially joined the Tulsa Oilers under a tryout contract for a few games in late 1979, but soon joined the 1980 US Olympic hockey team on a full-time basis, winning the gold medal.

Death Suter died on September 9, 2014, of a heart attack suffered at Capitol Ice Arena. In July 2015, Capitol Ice Arena was renamed as Bob Suter's Capitol Ice Arena in his memory.

In popular culture Suter was not featured in a 1981 TV movie about the 1980 U.S. hockey team called Miracle on Ice, except in archival footage of the gold medal ceremony.

In the 2004 Disney film Miracle, he is portrayed by Pete Duffy.

Career statistics Regular season and playoffs Regular seasonPlayoffs Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM 1972–73 Madison East High School HS-WI — — — — — — — — — — 1973–74 Madison East High School HS-WI — — — — — — — — — — 1974–75 Madison East High School HS-WI — — — — — — — — — — 1975–76 University of Wisconsin WCHA 37 3 13 16 60 — — — — — 1976–77 University of Wisconsin WCHA 38 3 15 18 107 — — — — — 1977–78 University of Wisconsin WCHA 42 5 20 25 105 — — — — — 1978–79 University of Wisconsin WCHA 40 16 28 44 105 — — — — — 1978–79 Tulsa Oilers CHL 7 0 3 3 8 — — — — — 1979–80 American National Team Intl 31 7 11 18 61 — — — — — 1981–82 Nashville South Stars CHL 79 12 21 33 160 3 0 2 2 11 WCHA totals 157 27 76 103 377 — — — — —

International Year Team Event GP G A Pts PIM 1980 United States OLY 7 0 0 0 6 Senior totals 7 0 0 0 6

Awards and achievements Award Year All-WCHA Second Team 1978–79

Gold medal at the 1980 Winter Olympics