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Hockey Family Loses A Coaching Legend

By Minnesota Hockey, 11/12/15, 11:00AM CST

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Coaching legend Bob O’Connor, former coach-in-chief of Minnesota Hockey and USA Hockey, passed away this morning in Edina, Minn.

O’Connor received the USA Hockey Builders Award in December of 2014, significant of an individual who has made lasting contributions to the long-term growth and success of USA Hockey. He was just the seventh person to be recognized with that honor and is the only individual to be recognized with three of USA Hockey’s major awards (Wm. Thayer Tutt, Walter Yaciuk).

O’Connor served Minnesota Hockey and USA Hockey for several decades, including 14 years as Coach-in-Chief of Minnesota Hockey, formerly Minnesota Amateur Hockey Association (1980-94); as director of USA Hockey’s Coaches Section for 10 years (1994-2004) and as USA Hockey’s National Coach-in-Chief for two campaigns (2004-06). He also was a member of USA Hockey’s Youth Council for eight years (1996-2004) and was voted director emeritus in 2004.

Originally from Rhode Island, O’Connor was a standout player in high school and played collegiately at Providence. After college, he moved to Edina, MN where he first started coaching under the watchful eyes of fellow Edina coaching legends Willard Ikola and Bart Larson. O’Connor fell in love with coaching during his time at Edina, coaching at nearly every age level from youth through high school over a period of more than 25 years.

O’Connor also helped guide many U.S. national teams during his coaching career. He served as an assistant coach for the U.S. Olympic Men’s Ice Hockey Team at the 1984 Olympic Winter Games in Sarajevo, Yugoslavia, as well as the U.S. National Junior Teams in 1991 and 1992.

In addition to his vast coaching achievements, O’Connor was known throughout the hockey world for his desire to learn from others and his habit of stockpiling hockey resources.  He amassed an astounding collection of coaching materials throughout his career, including tips and drills from nearly every country.

O’Connor assisted USA Hockey in created the most renowned hockey coaching library in the world, and in his honor, they named it the USA Hockey Bob O’Connor International Resource Center. Braemar Arena in Edina is also home to a coaching resource center, which was expanded and named after O’Connor this past season.

Bob is survived by his wife Alice, and two grown children, Mike and Paul. Funeral services are pending.

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Coaching legend Bob O’Connor, former coach-in-chief of Minnesota Hockey and USA Hockey, passed away this morning in Edina, Minn.

O’Connor received the USA Hockey Builders Award in December of 2014, significant of an individual who has made lasting contributions to the long-term growth and success of USA Hockey. He was just the seventh person to be recognized with that honor and is the only individual to be recognized with three of USA Hockey’s major awards (Wm. Thayer Tutt, Walter Yaciuk).

O’Connor served Minnesota Hockey and USA Hockey for several decades, including 14 years as Coach-in-Chief of Minnesota Hockey, formerly Minnesota Amateur Hockey Association (1980-94); as director of USA Hockey’s Coaches Section for 10 years (1994-2004) and as USA Hockey’s National Coach-in-Chief for two campaigns (2004-06). He also was a member of USA Hockey’s Youth Council for eight years (1996-2004) and was voted director emeritus in 2004.

Originally from Rhode Island, O’Connor was a standout player in high school and played collegiately at Providence. After college, he moved to Edina, MN where he first started coaching under the watchful eyes of fellow Edina coaching legends Willard Ikola and Bart Larson. O’Connor fell in love with coaching during his time at Edina, coaching at nearly every age level from youth through high school over a period of more than 25 years.

O’Connor also helped guide many U.S. national teams during his coaching career. He served as an assistant coach for the U.S. Olympic Men’s Ice Hockey Team at the 1984 Olympic Winter Games in Sarajevo, Yugoslavia, as well as the U.S. National Junior Teams in 1991 and 1992.

In addition to his vast coaching achievements, O’Connor was known throughout the hockey world for his desire to learn from others and his habit of stockpiling hockey resources.  He amassed an astounding collection of coaching materials throughout his career, including tips and drills from nearly every country.

O’Connor assisted USA Hockey in created the most renowned hockey coaching library in the world, and in his honor, they named it the USA Hockey Bob O’Connor International Resource Center. Braemar Arena in Edina is also home to a coaching resource center, which was expanded and named after O’Connor this past season.

Bob is survived by his wife Alice, and two grown children, Mike and Paul. Funeral services are pending.

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